Birthing unit closures could put Frome under pressure, says campaigner

A LOCAL health campaigner has expressed concern about the impact cuts to local maternity services could have on Frome’s birthing unit.

Free standing birthing units in Trowbridge and Paulton (Bristol) are set to close in April this year, and campaigner Charlotte Pidgeon, who is also the branch co-ordinator for Frome’s NCT (National Childbirth Trust) group, says that this could lead to a rise in women wanting to give birth at Frome, and some being turned away.

She has also expressed concern that there are no plans to reinstate staffing at the Frome unit overnight, which was cut from the unit in January last year. 

In response to questions from Charlotte about staffing the unit overnight, the joint governing bodies of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (BSW CCGs) said that the impact on Frome’s unit will be ‘regularly reviewed’, which will include ‘a review of Frome opening hours in line with the number of births taking place’ – a response that Charlotte has described as ‘not very comforting’.

“I think this means that no,” Charlotte told Frome Times, “it will not automatically be returned to opening overnight and there is no assurance that its staffed hours won’t be further reduced if births decline. 

“My main concern is that the closures of Paulton and Trowbridge to births will increase the number of women hoping to birth at Frome. 

“This will place pressure on the new continuity of carer model being used at Frome (this is a requirement under the Better Births plan that all maternity systems are supposed to be adopting) and could lead to women being turned away.”

However, Charlotte has welcomed news of a new initiative at Frome’s birthing unit, which will provide one-to-one care for expectant mothers from pregnancy confirmation through to childbirth and for up to 28-days post-natally, directly in their homes. (See story below).

Charlotte said, “We are hopeful that new measures to improve care in women’s homes will have a positive effect but these measures have not been set out in the proposal. I have requested to be included in any future consultation and coproduction events.”

The BSW CCGs approved the closure of Trowbridge and Paulton’s (Bristol) birthing unit at a meeting earlier this month – both will remain open for pre- and post-natal services. The free standing midwifery units in Chippenham and Frome will remain open for births. 

Alongside midwifery units will be created at Salisbury District Hospital and the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

The BSW CCGs has said that the changes will mean, “equal access to choice for women about where to have their babies, a more effective use of resources, a better supported homebirth service and enhanced antenatal and postnatal care.”

Following the decision, Dr Ruth Grabham, medical director for Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group and governing body member said, “We are very grateful to everyone who gave their time and expertise over the last three years as this proposal was developed and refined. From mums and dads who use the services to clinical experts and local organisations – everyone has helped to steer a path through the complexities of service change.

“We know that in both Paulton and Trowbridge there were strong feelings in support of women continuing to be able to give birth in the existing free standing midwifery units and some people will be disappointed by today’s (16th January) decision. However this proposal was approved to help us better meet the needs and choices of women and families across the whole of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

“As a result of feedback we have delayed the closure of four of the community postnatal beds to allow more time to work with mums, families and staff to co-design a new community postnatal offer that will meet the needs of local people. The feedback, for example around breastfeeding and mental health support, will also be used to help shape our future maternity services.”

More information on the changes can be found on the Transforming Maternity Services Together website: www.transformingmaternity.org.uk