Final decision on first births
Subsequent to recent discussions with Mark Winstanley, PCT chairman, concerning the temporary closure of Southport’s Midwifery Led Unit (MLU) CARES asked the following questions
1. When did the local hospital trust ‘initially’ decide to re-instate first births for Southport mothers in the town?
2. Did pressure from campaigners or politicians have any bearing on the assessment or was this decided beforehand by the health trust?
This is the reply CARES received from Mr Winstanley:
Mark Winstanley:
"The criterion was extended from May 2004. Pressure from the campaigners and politicians did not have any bearing on this decision as it was always the original intention.”
(Email to CARES, Fri, 26 Aug 2005)
Mark Winstanley:
“It was always the intention to allow first births (for women without expected complications) at the Midwifery-led Unit.”
(Email to CARES, Fri, 26 Aug 2005)
Furthermore, NHS chief executive Jonathan Parry appears to reinforce Mr Winstanley’s reply with the following comments:
“With regard to promotion of the unit, we chose to relax the protocols in May 2004 to allow first time births and at the same time asked the midwives in the MLU to devise a publicity campaign to raise awareness both of the new protocol and of the opportunity for mums to be.”
(Letter to the NCT Chair for Southport, Formby and Ormskirk, 23rd Aug. 2005
These responses from the PCT/NHS appear to strongly conflict with claims made on Southport MP John Pugh’s political website concerning exactly ‘who’ it was that influenced the reinstatement of ‘first birth’ facility in Southport.
Quote John Pugh MP website:
"Save our Services campaigners have already persuaded the local hospital trust to re-instate first births for Southport mums in the town."
http://www.johnpughmp.com/health.htm
CARES have and will always be motivated by the public’s requirements in what health services urgently need to be returned to Southport.
These vital heath issues should not be used as a vehicle for any kind of political promotion, especially when material used is apparently incorrect.