Glimmer of hope for maternity services at LVH

There is currently a plan to end obstetric services at the Lisburn hospital and establish a midwife-led unit. However, following the Health Minister's announcement, Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said in the light of increasing birth rates this move would be "utter folly" and is urging Mr McGimpsey to reconsider the plan.

Announcing the review the Minister said: "Safe sustainable maternity services are a top priority for my Department. Over recent years our maternity services have been under considerable pressure and I want to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all staff involved in maternity care.

"In Northern Ireland we have one of the safest maternity services in the UK. However, the increasing birth rate and ever increasing standards for maternity services, means the time is right for us to take a comprehensive look at our service."

Mr Donaldson said that he would be seeking an "urgent" meeting with the Health Minister to emphasise to him the need to retain obstetric maternity services at the Lagan Valley.

"In calling this review the Health Minister is acknowledging the pressure maternity services are under in Northern Ireland, with increased birth rate and a growing population, we have one of the youngest populations in Western Europe," said Mr Donaldson.

"At a time such as this it is utter folly for the Department to be reducing the number of maternity units in Northern Ireland.

"That is why I believe the Department and the South Eastern Trust should urgently review their decision to withdraw the obstetric service from the maternity unit at the Lagan Valley Hospital.

"The current proposal is for a midwife-led unit to be retained at the Lagan Valley but in light of the current pressures that exist on services and the fact that the Lagan Valley has the safest record of any maternity unit in Northern Ireland, I believe obstetric services should also be retained in Lisburn," he continued.

"This would help to ease the pressure on maternity services in the greater Belfast area and would be a sensible decision.

"I have asked for an urgent meeting with the Health Minister to put the case for the retention of obstetric services at the Lagan Valley Hospital," concluded Mr Donaldson.