10,000 Sign Petition Opposing Downgrading of Maternity Services

A 10,000 strong petition supporting retaining consultant led maternity services across three north Wales Hospitals was yesterday delivered to health board representatives. 

The petition was launched in August in response to the proposed downgrading of maternity services in three North Wales hospitals.

Obstetric (consultant-led) services are currently delivered at three hospitals across North Wales: Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan and Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

However Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board state that: “Despite numerous and repeated efforts to recruit more doctors, we do not have enough medical staff to run three stable hospital rotas. This is because there are issues nationally with a shortage of middle grade doctors who are vital to running our service, and difficulties in recruiting to rural areas such as North Wales.”

If the changes to maternity services at the Wrexham Maelor are found to be preferable, around 1,700 emergency and inpatient gynaecology patients would transfer from Wrexham Maelor Hospital. This would result in more than 1000 babies a year being transferred to the Countess of Chester.

Yesterday a petition consisting of 10,000 signatures was handed into representatives of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Health campaigner and Plaid Cymru candidate for Clwyd South Mabon ap Gwynfor, who was amongst those who delivered the petition said: “Downgrading either of the maternity services in north Wales is likely to put the health and well-being of both mums and babies at risk with significant added travel time, poor public transport and a road network that frankly isn’t up to scratch.

“A large number of the population depend on public transport, consequently mums to be won’t be able to attend antenatal classes adding to potential complications during the pregnancy and birth. Other mums will find that they might require urgent attention in the final minutes of birth, which they will not receive in a midwife led Unit, thus again putting lives and health at risk.

“Instead of downgrading our service, the Government needs to step in and ensure that issues regarding recruiting enough middle-grade doctors are resolved. A Plaid Cymru government has a plan to put right problems in the NSH and that includes developing the medical school in the North, which would allow us to train more doctors to meet our needs.”

The Health Board’s consultation into proposed changes to maternity services will end on October 5th. People wishing to contribute to the consultation can do so by:

– Writing to “Maternity Services in North Wales, FREEPOST RSZZ-SGXY-TSEZ, LL17 0JG”
– Emailing [email protected]
– Or calling Freephone 0800 169 3142 (Monday – Friday 9 – 5

More information on the consultation can be found at www.wales.nhs.uk/nwmaternity