Election 'did not feature' in delay to children's service changes

Another controversial consultation on reshaping children's services has been postponed until after the likely date of the next general election.

Greater Manchester strategic health authority announced last week that it had decided to defer consultation on proposals to reshape children's services drawn up by Greater Manchester, East Cheshire and High Peak children and young people's network until summer 2005.

It said the decision was partly rooted in anxieties expressed by local politicians - but insisted the government had played no part in it.

A consultation on reshaping children's and maternity services in North London was blocked by the Department of Health in September amid fears of negative publicity in the run up to a general election, expected in the spring.

Greater Manchester SHA insisted its decision was taken because more work was needed on the proposals, including an independent evaluation of neonatal intensive care and the impact of the recently issued national service framework for children's, young people's and maternity services.

'It was that and because I had a meeting with four MPs, who raised some issues with me, ' chief executive Neil Goodwin told HSJ.

'There was no discussion with the DoH [and] the general election did not feature.'

However, another source was convinced that the general election was one of the factors behind the decision. 'Local MPs are very worried about this, ' he said. 'And it might be sensible to postpone, because we do not want a huge row on the subject, tangled up with the campaign and special interest groups.'

Plans to reshape children's services in Manchester have been drawn up in the past, but never made it past the consultation stage and were abandoned a few years ago.

The latest proposals were developed by the children's network, which involves healthcare professionals, children and young people, families, carers and community representatives.

It undertook a year-long analysis of existing services and carried out 100 research and consultation projects before submitting its proposals to the SHA in July.

The plans would require a cash-injection of£30m over five years and include investment in community services as well as addressing staffing and skills issues in accident and emergency, surgical and overnight care.

However, they would also see midwife-led maternity units established at two hospitals, in Trafford and Bury, and the closure of their special care baby units.

Four local Labour MPs, David Chaytor, Ivan Lewis, Jim Dobbin and Janet Anderson, took part in a march against the potential closure of the SCBU at Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, which local papers said attracted 4,000 protesters.

They also had a meeting with Mr Goodwin shortly before the SHA announced its decision to postpone consultation, which the network hoped would take place later this year.

Mr Goodwin said the MPs had raised issues about 'process, and the need to listen to what people say'.

However, he insisted that the shake-up would go ahead. 'We need to look at neo-natal services and maternity services, but I do not want to lose momentum, ' he said. 'I have increasing concerns about the quality and safety of these services and I do not want to wait for something to happen [before addressing them].'