Hospital births to be moved from Causeway to Antrim

Expectant mothers will no longer give birth at Causeway Hospital as the Department of Health has approved the Northern Health and Social Care Trust recommendation to consolidate hospital births on the Antrim Hospital site.

The decision has been taken by the Department of Health’s Permanent Secretary Peter May to 'ensure safe, consistent and sustainable care' for mothers and babies in the Trust area.

Announcing the decision, the Permanent Secretary today said: “An overriding priority for our health service must be the provision of safe care for our population.

“This decision is in the best interests of mothers and babies in the Northern Trust area.

“Maintaining the current service across both the Causeway and Antrim sites would not be sustainable. Avoiding planned change would simply lead to unplanned and forced change.”

The recommendation to consolidate births at Antrim Hospital on a permanent basis was made by the Northern Trust Board following a public consultation.

The service change relates only to births. Antenatal and postnatal clinics will not only be retained on the Causeway site but will be 'enhanced', according to the Trust.

The unsustainability of the current Causeway maternity unit relates to falling birth numbers at the hospital and associated difficulties of recruiting and retaining consultants and other staff.

As has been well documented, working in hospitals with lower patient numbers can create significant issues for staff. These include rota/on-call pressures inherent in smaller clinical teams and insufficient case mix to support specialisation, experience and skill development.

Reflecting these staffing issues, Causeway maternity unit has become reliant on locum and temporary staff, making the provision of consistent care more difficult.

Crucially, it has become increasingly challenging to maintain adequate consultant cover at the maternity unit - including consultant cover for the transfer of seriously ill babies to a neonatal unit with staff who are specialised and skilled in providing care for sick newborns.

The Permanent Secretary’s approval has been conveyed to the Trust in a letter to its Chief Executive Jennifer Welsh. Conditions of the approval include making planned capacity changes at Antrim Hospital as outlined in the public consultation. The Trust will also be required to prioritise the development of an interim three bedded Alongside Midwife Led Unit at Antrim. This will offer additional capacity in advance of longer-term plans for a new build Women and Children’s unit.

Setting out the Department’s decision-making process, Mr May continued: “I have reviewed the Trust’s consultation outcome in line with the 2019 Department of Health Guidance Change or Withdrawal of Services - Guidance on Roles and Responsibilities.

“I have also received advice and assessment from the Department of Health’s Strategic Planning and Performance Group and the Public Health Agency.

“I am satisfied that my decision is in accordance with Northern Ireland Executive Formation legislation and the associated Guidance published by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

“It is also consistent with the wider health transformation agenda which acknowledges that changes need to be made to ensure sustainability of services.”

Leader of the Causeway Maternity Campaign, Gemma Brolly, has reacted with huge concern but not shock to the news that maternity services will be transferred from Causeway Hospital to Antrim Area Hospital.

Speaking today, Mrs Brolly said: “The decision by the Northern Trust to move maternity services to Antrim comes as no surprise to us unfortunately as the evidence we have acquired demonstrates the lengths of manipulation those at the top level will go to in order to receive their inflated pay. This is putting mothers’ and babies lives at risk.

“This is a reckless decision that needs intervention. Unelected civil servants are making serious decisions that impact the lives of everyone in our community, and yet are not accountable to anyone. Almost 17,000 people have signed our petition against this move. The consultation responses unanimously spoke out against the transfer of maternity services and contrary to the statement released this also demonstrates this decision was made long before the consultation took place and not after as is claimed. We have heard from so many mothers and staff themselves in both Antrim and Causeway who know this goes against everything they believe to be in the best interests of the community.

"The fact is this reduction in services in Causeway Hospital has been on the cards for years, we have the evidence to prove this. We have fought this all the way and we will continue to fight to overturn this decision.

"My thoughts are particularly with the staff on the ground today who as usual were notified less then an hour before the news was released. No respect and no deserving wage but they will of course be expected to drive on and follow the orders from above. I just hope if and when this decision endangers lives, those who have been at the forefront in pushing for this reduction in services for the people of Causeway Coast and Glens will be to the forefront in answering serious questions and taking responsibility.

“We the people, will not sit back and watch the closure of services that will cost lives. We are determined to continue to grow our campaign and fight to overturn this catastrophic decision. The power of a people scorned will never be defeated by the people in power.”