Don't do this - plea to bosses at 'inadequate' Walsall Manor Hospital

That was the concern of a Black Country MP after it was announced 500 births will be moved from Walsall Manor Hospital to Wolverhampton's New Cross as health campaigners urged bosses to re-consider amid fears staff would struggle to cope.

Bosses want to reduce the number at births at Walsall Manor after the trust which runs the site was placed in special measures.

The move announced by NHS Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Walsall Healthcare Trust will affect 184 mothers from Staffordshire and 316 from Walsall.

Walsall North MP David Winnick described the decision as 'very unfortunate', adding: "It could be looked upon as the Manor being turned into a less comprehensive hospital in the borough.

"Ten years ago it was decided that the Manor and New Cross should be one combined hospital and I was amongst those who said it wasn't on and fortunately it was dropped thanks to public pressure. So I am very much concerned if facilities now available at the Manor are being transferred across the borough.

"If better services can be provided elsewhere then I understand that the patient and the children come first. But then the question arises why can't the Manor continue to provide services that are first class?"

Meanwhile the Support Stafford Hospital group spoke of its fears that the move, which comes 14 months after the consultant-led maternity unit at County Hospital in Stafford was moved to Stoke, would put a strain on New Cross's resources.

Campaigner Julian Porter said: "I would strongly advise Walsall CCG that they do not go down this road.

"This is absolutely ridiculous. We have seen what has happened in Stafford and we have had births on the motorway and births in the car park.

"How is New Cross going to cope? It is already under pressure.

"It just sounds like they are moving one problem and creating another. It makes no sense.

"I can't see how this is going to be sustainable. It is just going to put more pressure on New Cross and it is not fair on the staff there.

"And where does this stop? It is 500 now but will it be 1,000 next year? And what about others services? Does this mean paediatrics will be moved in the future?"

In January Walsall Manor Hospital's maternity services in particular were criticised by the Care Quality Commission which branded them 'inadequate'. In the wake of the report the hospital's medical director Amir Khan blamed the problem on a lack of NHS funding in the wake of County Hospital's downgrade.

Walsall South MP Valerie Vaz, said she was pleased the hospital trust was putting the health of its patients first. "I am disappointed that its taken a CQC report for the management to work out that something needs to be done but I am pleased to see that the first priority is the health and safety of women and their babies. If this means giving birth becomes easier and safer for Walsall women then I am glad they are looking at an alternative option.

"I raised concerns about the added pressures that would come after the closure of the maternity services at Stafford hospital some time ago so I am obviously disappointing that it wasn't picked up sooner. And it's only being picked up now and moving so quick because of this CQC report,"

Walsall Manor's chief executive Richard Kirby said he hoped the move may not be permanent.

He said: "We are continuing to invest in more midwives and the development of our maternity estate and we are investing £3million into expanding our neonatal unit. By doing so we want to ensure that in the long-term the Trust can care adequately for the population that looks to use it for their care."

Maternity services at Wolverhampton's New Cross hospital were rated overall as 'good' following the trust's latest CQC inspection.

A spokesman for New Cross said: "The Royal Wolverhampton Trust's maternity service already provides for mothers from the Walsall area and will continue to provide a caring, healthy and positive birth experience for all expectant mums who will now be coming to us."

Walsall CCG confirmed the 316 affected mothers were registered at Walsall GP practices, all Willenhall-based, which are Croft Surgery, Lockfield Health Centre, Lockstown Practice, New Invention Health Centre, Sina Health Centre and The Keys Family Practice.

It will also affect 184 women from Staffordshire

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A spokesman from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, said the news would have a 'minimal impact' on County Hospital.