The MP spoke out after asking the Government for guidance on the kind of staff cover needed for units where a baby might need to be resuscitated.
Health minister Anne Keen replied that there needed to be resuscitation equipment ‘available and ready for use at all times’ and process to have a specialist doctor at birth.
And she said there had to be "a process for 24 hour availability in obstetric units, within 30 minutes, of a consultant paediatrician (or equivalent staff and associate specialist grade) trained and assessed as competent in neonatal advanced life support”.
Mrs Spelman said the response ‘challenges’ reasons given by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.
Heartlands Hospital is about 15 minutes away – meaning Solihull meets the 30 minutes guidance set out by Mrs Keen.
Bosses who previously pledged to consult before making changes last week temporarily removed doctors from the unit as it said staffing levels could not guarantee resuscitation.
They have pledged a full consultation for later in the year.
Mrs Spelman said: “The 30 minutes guidance would enable the present to continue if the paediatricians wanted it to.”
In a press release she added: “The trust has said: ‘We are determined to ensure that until a full and open dialogue with Solihull residents can take place, a service that puts the safety of mothers and babies first is continued at Solihull.’
“That dialogue should now include this official response to my question.”
Her comments were put to the trust by The Silhillian yesterday. It had not commented at the time of going to press.
Meanwhile, a group on social networking website Facebook has attracted more angry comments and a new petition has also been put online.
Group founder and Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate Maggie Throup said: “Many Solihull residents have posted comments on the Facebook group and contacted me directly to express their support for our campaign which is now spreading out even further.”
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