STRUCTURE: NHS Bury has decided not to commission a standalone midwife-led unit after hearing staffing it round-the-clock would cost between £450,000 and £700,000 above tariff.

The PCT’s board heard that the cheapest option would be a unit where midwives only attended once a woman was in labour - but even this would need subsidising by £70,000 a year. In addition, there would be capital costs of £948,000 to set up the unit. GP commissioners did not support the case for spending money in this way.

The decision means that from next March - when maternity services are moved from the Fairfield Hospital - the only births in Bury will be home births.

Paul Horrocks, chairman of NHS Bury, said: “We consider there is already adequate provision in the area and spending £900,000 on a unit where we estimate there would be a maximum of 400 births a year – and more likely between 150 and 200 – is not a sensible use of resources.”

The changes are part of a Manchester-wide programme which is concentrating maternity services in a smaller number of hospitals - although antenatal and postnatal services will still be provided locally.

In June last year health secretary Andrew Lansley visited the Fairfield Hospital and announced that the changes would be put on hold while a review took place.

NHS Bury’s decision will now go to the Greater Manchester cluster in September for ratification. 

Source

board papers

Source date

July 20

Topics