Trust Board Febuary 2010 - Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals

SWBTB (2/10) 035 (a)
Appendix 6
Comments from the Sandwell LINks Health Subgroup (LINks) the Medium Term
Maternity services Review
Response:
Below follows the key concerns of Sandwell LINk towards the consultation;
• Sandwell LINk members were concerned that services were moving away from Sandwell
and worried about the impact that this would have on both staff moral and the moral of
Sandwell as a town.
• There was some concern about whether or not there would be support for Sandwell
women in terms of transport if maternity services were to be relocated to City Hospital.
This concern was particularly heightened for those women who were considered to be
at risk.
• LINk members were concerned that the proposals only cover the interim period
between now and the development of the new hospital, meaning services would change
again after 2015.
• It was raised by a LINk member through the proxy system of contributing to Sandwell
LINk discussions that City Hospital was in fact closer to some residents of Sandwell than
Sandwell Hospital.
Recommendations:
After hearing the three proposals and having the opportunity to have any questions answered
Sandwell LINk make the following recommendations;
• The transport needs of Sandwell women receiving services from City Hospital needs
greater consideration, especially for those who are classified as high risk.
• Changes that take place now should be sustainable after the opening of the new
hospital in 2015.
• If option 3 is selected as the best option then it must be ensured that the stand alone
unit is in a central point and have good transportation links.
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