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Maternity units get extra funding | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Extra money will be made available to improve maternity services across NI, the health minister has announced. | |
It follows last week's announcement that the birth rate in NI was at the highest it has been in 17 years. | |
On Wednesday, the minister said only low-risk maternity services would stay at Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn. | |
Michael McGimpsey said extra funding would now be found to ensure hospitals could cope with the increase in the number of babies being born. | |
"Particularly for the Royal (hospital) investment is going in, Craigavon investment is going in, that means that we will have extra capacity in both of those units. | |
"We will certainly not allow capacity to be lost in one unit without at least redressing that capacity issue in other hospitals," Mr McGimpsey said. | |
Unit | |
Meanwhile, a new midwifery-led maternity unit at the Lagan Valley Hospital could be open next year. | |
The Lisburn unit - where about 1,200 babies are born each year - had been threatened with complete closure. | The Lisburn unit - where about 1,200 babies are born each year - had been threatened with complete closure. |
Now it will be turned into a community midwifery unit, which will cater for up to 500 low-risk births a year. | Now it will be turned into a community midwifery unit, which will cater for up to 500 low-risk births a year. |
John Compton, chief executive of the South Eastern Trust, denied it was a U-turn, rather a "proper response" to consultation, giving "extra choice." | |
"Throughout the process this has not been about money, it's been about standards," he said. | "Throughout the process this has not been about money, it's been about standards," he said. |
"We know that in three to five years time it will fail to meet the standards that will be required in a consultant unit. Having a midwifery unit will be a tremendous addition for women." | "We know that in three to five years time it will fail to meet the standards that will be required in a consultant unit. Having a midwifery unit will be a tremendous addition for women." |
He said a midwifery-led unit would open in Downpatrick later this year, and one in Lisburn would give additional choice. | He said a midwifery-led unit would open in Downpatrick later this year, and one in Lisburn would give additional choice. |
"We are relaxed about timing," he said. | "We are relaxed about timing," he said. |
"We will try to do it in 2010, but if it takes a little longer, it takes a little longer. The important thing is that it is done properly and correctly and done in a way which minimises any difficulty for mothers." | "We will try to do it in 2010, but if it takes a little longer, it takes a little longer. The important thing is that it is done properly and correctly and done in a way which minimises any difficulty for mothers." |
Deliveries which need surgical skills will no longer be carried out at the hospital. | |
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