DON'T MOVE OUR MUMS

I am very concerned to learn in today's Whitehaven News that the future of the maternity unit at West Cumberland Hospital is under review again.

One of the most difficult decisions of my life concerned a proposal to merge two maternity units when I was a Health Authority member.

The proposal was backed very strongly by all three consultant obstetricians at the hospital and they made me realise that the arguments about how to provide safe an sustainable care can be much more complex and difficult than they at first appear. But in that case the two hospitals concerned were ten miles apart and connected by some of the best roads in the country.

West Cumberland and the nearest alternative maternity hospitals are forty miles and at least an hour's drive apart, sometimes rather longer, on some of the most difficult main roads on the country.

I believe that taking maternity away from WCH is not a runner for that reason. The trust must find a way to continue to provide safe maternity cover locally in West Cumbria.

The Whitehaven News reports next month an independent team of experts is coming to West Cumberland Hospital to look at the maternity department, speak to staff and then compile a report for health bosses to consider.

More details on my hospitals blog at
http://savewestcumbriahospitals.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/dont-move-our-mums.html
or you can read the Whitehaven News or go to their website.

I hope they get full support from the local community for their "Don't Move Our Mums" campaign.

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