Campaigners reject maternity unit cuts

The North West Strategic Health Authority has voted to shut maternity units at Salford Royal, Bury and Rochdale hospitals, despite predictions of rising birth rates.

The decision will leave only eight units to deliver as many as 40,000 babies a year across Greater Manchester, when even now women in labour can be turned away due to every bed being occupied.

Sarah Davies, midwife and UCU member, called the decision a disgrace: “We will appeal to Andrew Lansley on the grounds that before the election Tory policy was for smaller units not baby factories, and we are exploring a judicial review.

“We are setting up a group of midwives to monitor the changes and the impact on quality of care.

“Within a year the health service will have to re-visit this and create more capacity.”

The campaign against these cuts will continue.

Paul Gerrard