Back in October, I noted that Salford Royal (Hope) Hospital had received a superb report, being rated as “excellent” for both quality of services and use of resources. I pointed out at the time that the decision to close the much-needed maternity and neo-natal unit at Hope looked ridiculous in light of the report – in addition to the already strong arguments for continuing maternity services here in Salford.
Today’s report on maternity care by the Healthcare Commission makes the folly of closing Hope’s maternity unit even more stark. Half of all maternity units across the country have been branded “fair” or “weak” by the Commission, including those at Bolton and Manchester to which the Labour Government will expect expectant mothers to travel in the future.
Hope, meanwhile, has been lauded as one of the top ten performing trusts in the country, and yet the reward for Salford Royal is to be shut down by Labour. Bonkers.
I hope you write a letter to your local paper highlighting all this, it’s truly shocking.
Ellee, this is my letter published in October after the previous report:
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