Local people, service users and interested parties are invited to comment on proposed new arrangements for maternity services across Clyde.
The proposal, already the subject of a pre-consultation and engagement process with a wide range of stakeholders, would ensure that the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde Royal Community Maternity Units (CMUs) remain open and continue to provide essential local maternity services which account for the vast majority of current activity.
The consultation document launched today sets out why, after a detailed review of existing services and appraisal of the four main options described in the document, NHSGGC’s preferred option is to transfer the current birthing suite services from the Inverclyde Royal and Vale of Leven CMUs to a single midwifery led birthing suite service for Clyde, based at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
Under this arrangement, antenatal and postnatal services, including scans, early pregnancy assessment and parenting classes, which account for over 34,000 patient visits, would continue to be provided locally at Inverclyde Royal and the Vale of Leven CMUs.
The vast majority of women in Clyde would therefore experience no change to their existing service as the proposal would affect around 150 women a year who currently give birth at Inverclyde Royal or the Vale of Leven CMUs.
The consultation invites comments on the Board’s analysis and provides opportunity to challenge our proposal. It also asks for views on the full range of options which we have considered and invites feedback on any other options that have not been considered.
Jacquie Campbell, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s General Manager for Clyde Women’s and Children’s Services, said: “Our preferred option would ensure that women across Clyde continue to have the choice to give birth in a midwifery-led birthing unit while still accessing the vast majority of their maternity care in their local area.
“In addition, it would avoid the need to transfer women during labour as currently around a third of women admitted to the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde Royal Hospital Community Maternity Units are transferred to the consultant led unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital during labour.
“We would like to hear local views on the proposed changes and all of the options considered. During the consultation period local staff will organise a number of events and drop-in sessions across Clyde specifically aimed at service users. These will be publicised locally and women who attended previous community engagement events will also be invited to participate.”
Copies of the full consultation paper and summary leaflet can be obtained from our website (www.nhsggc.org.uk/clydematernity) or by calling 0800 027 7246 during normal office hours.
Comments on all aspects of the consultation paper are welcome. You can either email your comments to us at: clydematernity@nhsggc.org.uk or write to
Clyde Maternity Services Consultation
c/o John Hamilton
Head of Board Administration
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Dalian House
350 St Vincent Street
Glasgow
G3 8YZ
The consultation will end on 19th June 2008.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde inherited a large funding gap when it took on responsibility for Clyde because the cost of providing services every year was £30m more than the budget available. We made a commitment that we would tackle this shortfall within three years by reviewing existing services to ensure they are delivered in the most cost-effective, efficient and clinically appropriate way.
While there is high demand for the antenatal and postnatal services provided by the Community Maternity Units (CMUs) at Inverclyde Royal and the Vale of Leven Hospitals, the birthing suites at both of these Units are underused. We do not believe this makes effective use of limited NHS resources or best use of the skills of experienced midwives who currently staff these birthing suites 24hrs a day.
After exploring and assessing a number of possible options, a review group, which had patient and public representatives and midwives from all three Clyde CMUs, recommended that the birthing suite service from the Inverclyde Royal and Vale of Leven CMUs should transfer to the Royal Alexandra Hospital. This option came out top as it maximises the use of resources and avoids the need to transfer women from the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde Royal Units during labour.
Under this arrangement the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde Royal CMUs would remain open and continue to provide essential local maternity services which account for the vast majority of current activity. For example, in 2006 there were more than 14,000 episodes of care provided locally from the Vale of Leven CMU and 20,000 episodes of care from the Inverclyde CMU for routine antenatal checks, day care, scans, early pregnancy assessment, parent education and post natal checks.