20 England Maternity Units Face Closure

Up to 20 maternity units in England may have to shut due to shortages of doctors and rising caesarean section rates, according to NHS Alliance's director for acute care, Matthew Hopkins. The potential closures would affect mostly rural or coastal areas with smaller maternity units that deliver 1,500 to 2,000 babies a year.

There are 155 NHS units in England that are led by consultant obstetricians, but many of the smaller units are becoming increasingly unsustainable. The number of women having either a planned or emergency caesarean section has risen sharply in recent years, adding to the pressure on these units.

Matthew Hopkins has warned that centralising childbirth services into fewer hospitals is considered “inevitable” and the “right thing” to ensure safe care. However, this move is likely to lead to a political backlash against unpopular changes. Ministers must “grasp the nettle” that as many as 20 of England’s NHS units will need to shut or change their role, Hopkins added.

The government’s maternity taskforce is due to publish a report on improving childbirth care before Christmas. Hopkins has urged ministers and MPs to show “courage” by backing major changes to where maternity services are located, even though reconfigurations will lead to mothers-to-be in affected areas being forced to travel further to have their babies.

## Why it matters The potential closures of maternity units in England will have significant implications for mothers and babies in rural and coastal areas. The lack of obstetricians and the rising number of caesarean sections are major concerns that need to be addressed to ensure safe and sustainable care. Consolidating maternity services at fewer sites may be the only way to achieve this, but it will require difficult decisions and courage from politicians.

The stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction could be severe. If the current configuration of maternity services is not fit for purpose, then changes must be made to ensure that mothers and babies receive the best possible care. The impending report from the government’s maternity taskforce will be closely watched, and the decisions made in the coming months will have a lasting impact on the future of maternity care in England.