Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Women to go to Barts/Royal London? and Press Links

Well done to Geoff and Helen for getting a story here http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9417235.print/

The BBC have a piece here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16178863

Alwen Williams ONEL chief Exec issued the following earlier which talks about women going to the Royal London/Barts. The first time I have seen this mentioned. It also seems KGH opening a ward is not yet a done deal.

To ONEL OSCs
ONEL LINks
ONEL GPs

You may have seen some media coverage today about maternity services at Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospitals Trust, in particular regarding the arrangements for planned caesarian sections. We have been approached by various journalists asking what was happening, and have issued the following statement:

“Our top priority is the safety of local women and babies,” says Alwen Williams, Chief Executive of the two PCT clusters in north east London. “NHS ONEL, BHRUT and NHS London worked closely together on a maternity plan to address immediate issues with maternity services at King George and Queen’s hospitals which was put in place at the end of September.

“That plan was developed to ease pressure on BHRUT and to provide headroom to address a number of the most urgent concerns. We also needed to be sure that services never became so busy as to be unsafe.

“Since September, BHRUT has been working with key stakeholders on their longer term improvement plan, including timelines, which may include increasing activity at King George Hospital in the future for a limited period.

“Until that improvement plan is agreed with all stakeholders, including the CQC, the recent changes to maternity services will remain in place. This includes planned caesarean sections being carried out by another organisation (either the Homerton Hospital Foundation NHS Trust or Barts and the London NHS Trust).”

I hope this clarifies the situation and enables you to reassure any patients and members of the public who may be concerned.

Please come back to me if you have any queries.ENDS

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