SOLIHULL’S maternity service will close from Monday until mid July – as fears rise that mums will struggle to go elsewhere.Solihull Hospital will close to all deliveries over managers’ fears that there are not enough staff to meet safety standards.
It had pledged to consult before changes but made the shock move in January because they said standards could not be guaranteed.
It will re-open for midwife led births only and its long-term future will be consulted on in the autumn.
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Heart of England NHS Trust spokesman Louise Berktay told The Silhillian: “The temporary closure is set to begin on Monday and it will be for 12 weeks which will be mid July.”
Until now the trust said the closure would be for a ‘short period of some weeks (possibly up to twelve weeks)’.
It comes as the Conservatives report that maternity was closed twice at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield last year, one of the hospitals Solihull mums would have to go to.
The Birmingham Post quotes shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley as saying: “They have been slow to recruit new midwives and have perversely insisted on closing maternity wings in hospitals.”
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Solihull Lorely Burt said: “This situation underlines the wholly short-sighted and inappropriate strategy of the hospital trust in downgrading Solihull maternity unit.
“The prospect of a journey across the centre of Birmingham when you're in labour would be daunting enough, but the fact that maternity services in Good Hope are inadequate will increase the pressure on Heartlands, where expectant mums are already queuing up to give birth.
“We should be considering expanding maternity services at Solihull, not withdrawing them.”
Mrs Burt, who won the seat in 2005, said in a press release: “I will be making a strong and detailed submission to the consultation whenever it finally comes - to this effect.”
“It is to be hoped that the change of management at the top at the trust will signal a change of direction for this wholly inappropriate and unpopular policy.”
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