Archived decisions

Councillor Ray Ellis

Hampshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Hampshire County Council

The Castle

Winchester

18 September 2007

Dear Ray

Maternity Services in South East Hampshire

I refer to a letter I have received from Hampshire PCT outlining their consultation proposals for the future of maternity services in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire. The Portsmouth Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel (HOSC) met on 11 September 2007 to consider the proposals and agreed to delegate authority to me to relay the Panel's views to the PCT. The Panel also asked that I write to you to request that your Committee also considers its views when it comes to formally scrutinise the PCT's proposals.

In bringing these views to your Committee's attention the Portsmouth Panel does appreciate that elements of the proposals are likely to have a greater impact on services and populations outside of Portsmouth's boundaries. However, the Panel felt strongly that it retains an interest in ensuring that Portsmouth women will be able to continue to exercise a full range of birth choices in the future.

Therefore, whilst the Panel is pleased that Portsmouth City PCT has signalled its intention to provide a midwife-led stand alone birth centre on Portsea Island after 2009, Members do recognise that many expectant mothers in the city will still wish to choose a midwife-led co-located unit that has immediate access to the facilities and medical procedures in the main obstetric unit should that be required. As such, the Panel has expressed its firm support for the continued provision of a co-located unit at Queen Alexandra Hospital after 2009. The Panel also expressed support for Hampshire PCT's decision to staff birth centres in south east Hampshire with fully qualified midwives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These views have also been relayed to Hampshire PCT and I hope that your Committee will find them helpful.

Yours sincerely

Councillor David Stephen Butler

Chairman, Portsmouth, Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel (HOSC)

Copy to: Members of Portsmouth HOSP