Fears civic chiefs are being ‘softened up’ before permanent birth centre closure
There are concerns civic chiefs are being “softened up” ahead of the temporary closure of Cheltenham’s maternity unit becoming permanent as a decision is not due until next spring.
The Aveta birth centre at Cheltenham General Hospital was closed temporarily in 2022 due to staff shortages and a need to ensure safety, according to hospital bosses.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has since focused on recruitment and hired the equivalent of 25 full time midwives.
However, despite the increase in numbers, they say a review will be conducted before any decision is made on reopening the Cheltenham service.
The health overview and scrutiny committee meeting was told on Tuesday (October 14) no decision on reopening the site will take place until spring next year.
Councillor Andrew Gravells (C, Abbey), who previously chaired the committee, said the issue of maternity service has been a constant issue in recent years.
“It’s always been under the same heading, temporary closure due to staff shortages” he said.
“I just got the impression that we are being softened up as a health overview and scrutiny committee to be prepared for the change from temporary closure to permanent closure for X, Y and Z.
“That was my suspicion, and I look forward to some clarification on that.”
Chief executive Kevin McNamara said the short answer was “no”.
He explained that there has not been a health needs assessment done in the county for more than 15 years.
And hospital chiefs want to have the data and evidence before making a decision on how maternity services will look in the county in future.
“It’s important that we are really honest and open,” he said. “Safety was the issue because of not having enough staff to provide care safely.
“We should remember that two of the cases that were cited in the Panorama programme happened at Aveta.
“So I, as the accountable officer, want to be really careful that we don’t rush to reopen something that in years to come we sit in this same room talking about issues that came.”
He said that does not mean the trust will be in a “holding space forever”.
“We do need to give clarity to the public and yourselves as representatives,” he said.
“There is no softening up, we want to take into account the evidence.”
He said a health needs assessment would be done before any decision.
“This will bring it all up to date,” he said.
“We can then take an evidence-based decision or to develop what the next phase of maternity services looks like for the county.”