Dear Mr Mick Pilling Chairman

Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group,

Thank you for your input to the recent Independent Reconfiguration Panel review of contested proposals to change maternity services across Scarborough and North East Yorkshire. 

I wanted to take this opportunity to advise you that the panel have concluded their review and have now provided their recommendations to the Secretary of State.  The report was published this morning and can be found on the IRP's website ( www. irp anel.org.uk ).  The Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, has accepted the recommendations made.

In its report the IRP concludes that to provide high quality care for women and their families across the whole catchment area served by Scarborough & North East Yorkshire NHS Trust, the first priority must be to sustain a consultant-led maternity service at Scarborough Hospital . The IRP supports the proposal to develop a midwife-led unit on the Scarborough site which will add to the choice and quality of the maternity services provided.

In relation to birth facilities at midwife-led units in Malton, Whitby and Bridlington, the IRP has concluded that retaining these facilities as well as the maternity unit and new midwife-led unit in Scarborough is not sustainable. All three units must continue to provide the full range of antenatal and postnatal services locally and support women who choose to have a home birth. The units' birthing facilities should close, but only once the new midwife-led unit at Scarborough is fully operational. The IRP was impressed by the dedication of the midwives working in these units

The IRP made a total of 9 recommendations relating to this review, including recommendations relating to staffing, transport and funding.  A full copy of the report can be downloaded at www.irpanel.org.uk

Please do contact me if you have any questions or queries and I will direct your query to the right contact in the local NHS.

Many thanks once again for your input to the review.

Alex

Please go to the IRP site to view report: http://www.irpanel.org.uk/view.asp?id=78