The decision on a proposal to transform maternity services across the area, which could see Paulton Hospital lose its maternity beds as a consequence, will be made at a public meeting of the joint Governing Bodies for the three Clinical Commissioning Groups next Thursday, 16th January.

As part of the proposals, Paulton Hospital’s Birthing Centre would close, with expectant parents having to travel to the RUH in Bath, or Frome’s Freestanding Midwifery Unit. The CCG are proposing that instead of the community birthing and post-natal beds at Paulton, support would be offered closer to, or in, women’s homes.

As part of the overhaul of local maternity services, the proposal for Paulton would be to have a new hub on the hospital site - a pilot model providing ’wrap around care’ for new parents. Potentially, it could be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. for local families to access and receive support from midwives, physiotherapists, speech therapists and other health and care professionals.

Money would be invested in the RUH, Bath and Salisbury hospital, which would have new units created for midwife-led births. The birthing unit at Trowbridge would also close as part of the plans.

The final recommendations are to close Paulton and Trowbridge to births in the spring, close Paulton’s postnatal ward in the spring, close Chippenham’s postnatal ward after a period of up to twelve months; and open low risk units, alongside birth units, at Bath and Salisbury in 2022-2023. It would enhance Frome and Chippenham’s labour suites to accommodate women from Paulton and Trowbridge, and retain all ante/postnatal care, home visits and homebirth provision at all four sites.

Local people in the area gathered a year ago at a public meeting with the CCG to speak of their concern, and a petition was raised, gathering over 3,500 signatures. The CCG’s review is the first for around twenty-five years, in which time, they say, the needs of mothers have changed. Those against the plans have criticised the statistics released by the CCG that said beds at Paulton Hospital’s maternity unit had around 4% occupancy during 2017, with the argument being that skilled staff were left with empty beds. The CCG maintain that the proposals are not about saving money, reducing staff or closing buildings, but about delivering services more effectively.

Lucy Baker, Director of Service Delivery across BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire, said:“Over the last three years, we’ve worked with more than 4,500 mums, families, our staff, our partners in the community and those with an interest in maternity to co-create our future vision for maternity services, proposals for change and final recommendations.

"Following extensive consultation and review by an independent expert panel, we are ready for decisions to be made on the future on maternity services in the region.”

Sandra Richards, Transformation Midwife for BSW Local Maternity System, said: “We would like to thank everyone who took part in our consultation and shared their views with us. There were many suggestions for how we can improve maternity care and these have helped inform our future plans.

“Our goal is to provide more options of choice of birth to more women and to build a strong foundation on which to enhance continuity of care so that women see the same midwife or a small group of midwives before, during and after labour.

”The full consultation report and summary, Decision Making Business Case and other supporting materials are available on the Transforming Maternity Services Together website, and the three CCG’s websites as part of Governing Bodies’ meeting papers.

The Governing Bodies meeting will be held at the Roper Room at Dorothy House Hospice Care, Winsley, Bradford on Avon BA15 2LE from 10.00 a.m. to 12 noon on 16th January.

Anyone who wants to attend the meeting should register using this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bsw-ccgs-governing-bodies-in-common-meeting-tickets-52359324148

Questions from the public must be submitted in writing three working days before the date of the meeting.