Following a recent protest on Paulton High Street against a public consultation asking for views on transforming maternity services locally, campaigners took their case to Midsomer Norton last Saturday, both to spread the word and to present a petition to local MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was holding a local surgery. The Care Commissioning Group (CCG) and health professionals want to replace community birthing and post-natal beds at Paulton with a new, Freestanding Unit at the RUH.
The Save Paulton Maternity Service Campaign Group, headed by Grant Johnson amd supported by The Royal College of Midwives, represented by local Chair, Melody Rich, presented a petition to MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg last Friday, which has received almost 3,500 signatures.
They discussed the proposals with him and campaigners hope he will now raise the subject in Parliament on their behalf.
In a letter to the MP, presented with the petition, Melody Rich said: “Whilst all would agree that the local birth centres are currently under-utilised, and the figures presented by the Transforming Maternity Services team are a compelling case for change, it must be acknowledged that one cannot measure the extent to which a local facility is valued within its community.
“Generations have been born at Paulton, and there are many families who would dearly love to continue this part of their tradition.
“Staff at Paulton Birth Centre are dedicated individuals, who are invested in their community and passionate about providing continuity of care for local families.”
The documents associated with this consultation have been criticised by campaigners for ‘dilution’ of figures and for using emotive words.
In her letter, Melody Rich also argues the research involved. She says: “Such alongside units as the one proposed have been shown in research evidence to offer improved outcomes for women and babies at low risk of complication when compared to obstetric settings, but not when compared to freestanding units such as Paulton.
“Indeed, women who are having their second or subsequent babies are at higher risk of intervention and complication when giving birth in alongside midwifery units than in freestanding ones.
“Unfortunately this information is not discussed in the public consultation document.”
She also goes on to add that a “substantial pot of funds” is available for Maternity services at Paulton, care of The Paulton Hospital League of Friends, which would cover the cost of refurbishment, if only its future could be confirmed.
The consultation closes this Sunday, 24th February and those who may have signed the petition are also urged to fill out the consultation as well, as the CCG has said that only responses via this method will be considered, as it offers the space for in-depth opinion.
Readers can view the survey at: www.transformingmaternity.org.uk with a decision on Paulton Hospital’s maternity services, which, under the proposals, would instead become a new hub for pre and post-natal information, potentially announced by September this year.