A proposed shake-up of maternity services currently under consultation is causing concern for the future of Paulton Hospital’s maternity beds.

With staff covering empty wards and increasing numbers of high-risk pregnancies, Clinical Commissioning Groups for Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are looking at the best use of their resources.

Deborah Forward, Senior Commissioning Manager spoke at the committee on behalf of Bath & North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group and B&NES Counci last week: “The Royal United Hospital has the right level of staff – the issue is getting them in the right place at the right time. It’s not a good use of staffing resources.

“The RUH has to deploy its workforce across different sites, including community sites, where there may be no births. It has to support that arrangement 24 hours a day.

“If the obstetrics unit gets busy, they may be called in at short notice. That’s difficult for staff; it has an effect on morale. A lot of trained midwives are hardly getting any practice in the community settings.”

CCG figures from March 7th give a snapshot of staffing levels. At the RUH, there were seventeen members of staff on hand for five births. There were seven people working at the birth centre in Paulton, but no babies were born, although the staff did carry out six clinics and two home visits.

There are five postnatal beds in Paulton, but the CCG report they are empty 95 per cent of the time.

Labour group leader and Westfield Councillor, Robin Moss, said at the meeting: “There are concerns in the community in Paulton because of this proposal. Don’t underestimate the affection for the hospital from grandmothers, mothers, grandfathers and fathers. Does this mean Paulton hospital is under threat?”

He added that the CCG should look at promoting Paulton, and give more of a definition of what a hub is, as a way of providing some reassurance to residents.

In response to Cllr Moss’ concerns, a CCG spokesperson said in a statement: “We will not make any plans for the space where the birthing unit at Paulton Hospital is based until after the public consultation has finished and the results have been used to make a final decision on the proposed changes to maternity services.

“Whatever the outcome of the consultation, our intention is to maintain and provide, where possible, more health and care services in local hubs that are convenient for people living in our more rural areas.

“The Paulton Hospital site is a valuable community asset, and if space were to become available, we would work with our health and care partners, including local voluntary sector organisations and community groups, to look at how the space could be used to benefit local people.”

A consultation is open until 24th February 2019. Residents can see the plans at Radstock’s Victoria Hall next Monday, 10th December from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. with a two-hour street stall protest taking place in Paulton this Saturday, 8th December. For more information, and to take part in a survey regarding the proposals, visit: www.transformingmaternity.org.uk