Maternity and paediatric units across the country are bracing themselves for a widespread restructuring of the NHS after a number of schemes to merge services have been proposed.
Under emerging plans, services could be consolidated to form fewer and larger centres of provision covering wider areas and a greater number of patients. While politicians argue such moves would be cost-effective and the medical establishment say it will produce a higher quality of treatment, how are mergers likely to impact on the staff and families at the front line?
Last week, Solihull NHS Care Trust maternity unit closed for three months - with a view to re-opening a centre capable of delivering only low-risk births - as part of a reorganisation planned by NHS Birmingham East and North, the Heart of England Foundation Trust and Solihull NHS Care Trust. Trust chiefs argue the decision was made in the interest of patient safety due to an insufficient level of paediatric care.
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