A "REMORSELESS" programme of centralisation was how Harpenden MP Peter Lilley described the decision to move Hemel Hempstead's maternity unit to Watford this week.
His comments followed a meeting of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, the Hertfordshire Partnership Trust and St Albans and Harpenden Primary Care Trust, which was also attended by St Albans district councillor and portfolio holder for environment and health Robert Donald, on Tuesday.
Mr Lilley, who also represented St Albans MP Kerry Pollard who was unable to attend the meeting, questioned the trusts on their decision to follow up plans to move the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) from Hemel Hempstead, with the removal of in-patient maternity, obstetrics and gynaecology to Watford General Hospital in December.
The news, which appeared in the St Albans Observer last week, has met with shock and consternation from pregnant mothers, health professionals and politicians of all political persuasions in the district.
Following Tuesday's meeting, Mr Lilley claimed this decision could "undermine safety", adding it would "hit mothers and children in Harpenden, Redbourn, Wheathampstead and Sandridge as well as St Albans, especially if as seems likely maternity and related services also move from QEII to the Lister Hospital".
He and Councillor Donald also raised concerns about the lack of consultation and the fact that the decision pre-empts a forthcoming strategic review of hospital services in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.
Moving Hemel Hempstead's maternity unit also looks set to have implications for St Albans City Hospital in Waverley Road, which will lose some of its elective surgery, while gaining opthalmic surgery from Watford.
Claims by the trust the movement of SCBU was forced on it by a problem in recruiting trained staff were also questioned by Mr Lilley, who suggested the problem could easily re-occur in Watford.
Meanwhile, Mr Hayden Newton, director of performance for Beds and Herts Ambulance Service said that after improving its response times for attending life threatening calls by 25 per cent in recent months, the service would be placed under greater strain.
He said it could be looking at taking on more staff or increasing the number of vehicles available to meet demand from mums in labour.
A public meeting of West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust is due to be held on Thursday, October 11, at 2pm in the Gurney Lecture Theatre, Postgraduate Medical Centre, Hemel Hempstead Hospital.
A public meeting to which West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Hertfordshire Partnership Trust have been invited has been organised by North West Herts Community Health Council for Thursday, October 11, at 7.30pm at Dacorum Council chambers in Hemel Hempstead.
A public meeting chaired by Mr Pollard will be held at 7.30pm at Trinity United Reformed Church Hall in Beaconsfield Road, St Albans, on Friday, October 12.
An emergency meeting of St Albans District Council's cabinet will take place on Tuesday, October 16, at 6pm in the council offices in St Peter's Street, St Albans, in committee room one to discuss the closure of the maternity unit at Hemel Hempstead Hospital.
October 10, 2001 19:45
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article