MP calls for Melton post-natal ward to be retained
Melton MP Alicia Kearns is calling for the post-natal ward at Melton’s baby unit to be retained if a decision is made to close St Mary’s Birth Centre.
Mrs Kearns has written to the local clinical commissioning groups as part of the consultation exercise into major plans to revamp hospital services in Leicestershire and Rutland.
The proposals would see maternity services centralised in Leicester, but the MP believes there is a case to at least retain the Melton service which gives after-care to women who have already given birth and which has been championed by mums who have used it.
In her letter to the CCGs, Mrs Kearns writes: “I know that the post-natal ward is currently very popular, with rates of use far beyond that of the birth unit which suggests it would be sustainable and provides a high-quality service to many women and families across the region given that midwife and nursing staffing will be retained at St Mary’s even in the event that the birth unit was removed?
“Given you intend to continue to provide local post-natal and breastfeeding support services would a post-natal ward not be complementary to this?
“Enabling women to give birth, if your proposals move forward, at Leicester, and then come back to Melton Mowbray for any care required in the immediate post-natal period, as close to home as possible?
“This would also reduce pressures on the post-natal wards at Leicester.”
She welcomes the pledge to retain some community-based maternity services in the Melton area but questions why there was no consideration to retain the post-natal ward at St Mary’s as part of the CCG proposals.