Forum Topic

Maternity unit at Ealng Hospital

I notice that the decision to close the maternity unit at Ealing hospital is likely to be announced tomorrow afternoon at a meeting of the Clinical Commissioning Group for Ealing. This closure is likely to m make no difference to Acton mums as we have usually chosen Queen Charlotte's as first preference. Unfortunately the Save our Hospitals lobby have tended to include Acton mums in their figures when protesting about this closure. The simple truth here is the people are spending less time in hospital then before and less beds are needed. For my first child, a stay of five days was the norm, today it is more likely to be a few hours. I do hope dinner is included. Hungry work having babies. Of course it is mighty convenient if rearranged services are right next door to you when you need them, and I wish they would hurry up with the public transport changes but this isn't the scary thought Julian Bell would like us to think.

Maire Lowe ● 4194d10 Comments

Interesting the decision to close was deferred again - not the first time. But it doesn't help staff morale at the hospital, especially as I understand that many GPs are not referring mothers to be there due to the uncertainty.

Chris Hurley ● 4192d

The decision was deferred due to remaining concerns about clinical safety. The building works at Queen Charlottes are due to complete May 26th but those of us who have ever employed builders have learnt to be cautious about end dates.After all Julian Bell's alterations have taken seven years apparently. Lots of questions about capacity of the enlarged maternity units. I was surprised to hear that the birth rate in Ealing has gone down for the last two years. They are building capacity for an additional 6000 births per annum into the new system. Whether 6000 is enough for the additional homes planned for the area was raised by Julian Bell and me. An unlikely combination you will agree. Dr. Mark Spencer says it is impossible to accurately model need for homes still at the planning stage. He estimates it will take ten years for the new system to approach full capacity. Healthwatch Ealing raised some questions about transport and the calculations used to decide what will be needed to the west of the Borough. The excellent Dr.Parmar, Chair of Ealing CCG will address those immediately. The CCG admitted some slowness in engaging with staff who are still not sure when their jobs will move but are making up for it now.There was a little understandable grandstanding from some members of the public, but on the whole a very well organised and courteous meeting.

Maire Lowe ● 4193d

Completely agree with you and feel much the same about education.

Maire Lowe ● 4193d

I am working this afternoon so won't be able to join you. I am fed up of the NHS being used as a political football with changes to the system being more important to successive governments that actual patient care. 

Clare Gittins ● 4193d

ClareGood questions and ones I am not sure have been fully answered by the latest NHS England review of the decision to close. I intend to ask to see the projections today. If you have time do join me. Ealing Town Hall.

Maire Lowe ● 4193d

What projections have been made about the number of births over the next decade? I take your point about mothers spending less time in hospital, but has the rapidly expanding population been taken into account? Not to mention all these new homes which are springing up all over the borough.

Clare Gittins ● 4193d

Chris doesn't say so but Save our Hospitals use borough wide births as though all Ealing mothers choose Ealing as first preference.

Maire Lowe ● 4193d

I'm confused. Where does Chris say the Ealing maternity unit is the first choice for all the Ealing Borough mothers to be?I'm sure Ealing Hospital wouldn't be the first choice for mothers from Acton, but have no babies at all from W3 been born at Ealing Hospital?

Clare Gittins ● 4194d

Is it not correct the the vast majority of Acton Mums don't use Ealing maternity unit? If so Chris,isn't it misleading to treat the Ealing maternity unit as though it is first choice for all the Ealing Borough mothers to be?

Maire Lowe ● 4194d

From the Evening Standard 18 Feb: Midwives today warned that pregnant women could be placed at risk by the imminent closure of a London maternity unit.They said the unit, at Ealing hospital, was “rotting away in front of our eyes” due to uncertainty over its future. Staff have quit and about 150 mothers-to-be a month are being left unsure where they will give birth.The letter, endorsed by about 90 of the hospital’s 120 midwives and passed to the Evening Standard, raises new questions about the Shaping A Healthier Future centralisation of A&E and maternity services in west London “super hospitals”.The warning, copied to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said there had been “a systematic erosion of highly-skilled and valued individuals and an indescribable loss to the midwifery profession”.It added: “We fear for our futures and for the future of the women we care for… How many mothers’ lives will be lost?”Save our hospitals will be protesting outside Ealing Town Hall tomorrow (18th) from 1pm - when the CCG meets to decide its future. Please join us if you can.

Chris Hurley ● 4194d