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| 43 maternity units 'under threat' | 43 maternity units 'under threat' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Forty-three maternity units across the UK are under threat, the Conservatives have warned. | Forty-three maternity units across the UK are under threat, the Conservatives have warned. |
| They say 21 midwife-led units and 22 run by consultants have either closed or may do so. | They say 21 midwife-led units and 22 run by consultants have either closed or may do so. |
| Most are in England, and two-thirds are in Conservative, Liberal Democrat or Independent seats, the analysis of the possible closures finds. | |
| But the Department of Health challenged the figures, saying safety and quality demands meant services must change. | But the Department of Health challenged the figures, saying safety and quality demands meant services must change. |
| We are concerned that the financial situation seems to be having a detrimental effect on the choices for pregnant women and their families Royal College of Midwife spokeswoman | We are concerned that the financial situation seems to be having a detrimental effect on the choices for pregnant women and their families Royal College of Midwife spokeswoman |
| Of the midwife-led units the Tories claim are under threat, 16 are operated by trusts which finished the 2005-06 financial year in deficit. | Of the midwife-led units the Tories claim are under threat, 16 are operated by trusts which finished the 2005-06 financial year in deficit. |
| Out of the 22 consultant-led units, 11 are run by trusts which had a deficit. | Out of the 22 consultant-led units, 11 are run by trusts which had a deficit. |
| The Tories compiled their figures from Royal College of Midwives data and from press reports. | The Tories compiled their figures from Royal College of Midwives data and from press reports. |
| They say some closures or downgrading of units will be justified by local needs, but many were being driven by the need to address deficits. | They say some closures or downgrading of units will be justified by local needs, but many were being driven by the need to address deficits. |
| The Tories are now starting a consultation to discover where local health staff and patients are concerned about planned cuts. | The Tories are now starting a consultation to discover where local health staff and patients are concerned about planned cuts. |
| 'Little logic' | 'Little logic' |
| Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Maternity units are the latest frontline service to bear the brunt of Labour's financial mismanagement of the NHS. | Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Maternity units are the latest frontline service to bear the brunt of Labour's financial mismanagement of the NHS. |
| "The government talk about delivering choice to mothers, but cutbacks are taking that choice away. | "The government talk about delivering choice to mothers, but cutbacks are taking that choice away. |
| "There is little logic behind these reconfigurations - the only pattern appears to be that units with fewer than 3,000 births a year are being targeted for closure. | "There is little logic behind these reconfigurations - the only pattern appears to be that units with fewer than 3,000 births a year are being targeted for closure. |
| "Once again, the consequence of deficits is that accessible local services will be denied to patients." | "Once again, the consequence of deficits is that accessible local services will be denied to patients." |
| The government has pledged that, by 2009, every woman should be offered the choice of planning a birth at home, in a midwifery-led unit, or in a consultant-led unit. | The government has pledged that, by 2009, every woman should be offered the choice of planning a birth at home, in a midwifery-led unit, or in a consultant-led unit. |
| A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Our current figures show that 14 maternity units have either been closed, are due to be closed, or will become a midwife-led service." | A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Our current figures show that 14 maternity units have either been closed, are due to be closed, or will become a midwife-led service." |
| She added: "The shape of the NHS is changing, as are expectations of how maternity services are delivered. | She added: "The shape of the NHS is changing, as are expectations of how maternity services are delivered. |
| "Given this, there is obviously a debate to be had around how these needs are met and if services need to be reconfigured. | "Given this, there is obviously a debate to be had around how these needs are met and if services need to be reconfigured. |
| "Better outcomes for patients - that is, increased safety and quality - compel us to organise our services and our hospitals differently." | "Better outcomes for patients - that is, increased safety and quality - compel us to organise our services and our hospitals differently." |
| A spokeswoman for the Royal College of Midwives said: "We accept changes are necessary to provide high-quality care, but we will challenge cuts on behalf of women whose choice would be unduly restricted. | A spokeswoman for the Royal College of Midwives said: "We accept changes are necessary to provide high-quality care, but we will challenge cuts on behalf of women whose choice would be unduly restricted. |
| "And we are concerned that the financial situation seems to be having a detrimental effect on the choices for pregnant women and their families." | "And we are concerned that the financial situation seems to be having a detrimental effect on the choices for pregnant women and their families." |
| 'Close to home' | 'Close to home' |
| Mary Newburn, head of policy research for the National Childbirth Trust, said there were a number of factors which were affecting the future of doctor-led units. | Mary Newburn, head of policy research for the National Childbirth Trust, said there were a number of factors which were affecting the future of doctor-led units. |
| "There are NHS trusts which have a big deficit and which have been told they must take action to tackle that." | "There are NHS trusts which have a big deficit and which have been told they must take action to tackle that." |
| But she said changes to trainee doctors' working hours, because of the European Working Time Directive, were "likely to be more of a factor in many hospitals' decisions about maternity services than money". | But she said changes to trainee doctors' working hours, because of the European Working Time Directive, were "likely to be more of a factor in many hospitals' decisions about maternity services than money". |
| "Some of the smaller units that have relied on junior doctors providing medical cover cannot continue to do so. | "Some of the smaller units that have relied on junior doctors providing medical cover cannot continue to do so. |
| "That means they have to be staffed by qualified doctors and, hence, the service becomes more expensive. | "That means they have to be staffed by qualified doctors and, hence, the service becomes more expensive. |
| "That's one of the factors driving reconfiguration." | "That's one of the factors driving reconfiguration." |
| She added: "We are also concerned that 'concerns' over the safety of staffing levels have been used as a back-door way of closing midwife-led units." | She added: "We are also concerned that 'concerns' over the safety of staffing levels have been used as a back-door way of closing midwife-led units." |