Meeting to analyse the Downe’s maternity unit moved

Meeting to analyse the Downe’s maternity unit moved

2 March 2016

A MEETING due to be held in Downpatrick on Monday night as part of a review into the town’s midwife-led maternity unit has been rescheduled for next week.

The Health and Social Care Board’s Leadership Centre — which provides a range of management and organisational support to health and social care organisations — is carrying out the review of the unit based at the Downe Hospital.

The review has been ordered by the South Eastern Local Commissioning Group, which is responsible for assessing and planning the health needs of local people, will evaluate the totality of the midwife-led service and produce what is being described as an “over-arching report” with detailed recommendations. 

As part of the evaluation, representatives from the Leadership Centre will engage with a variety of stakeholder groups and a number of public information events are being held including the one next Thursday, March 10, at the Downshire Civic Centre in Downpatrick. It starts at 6pm. The midwife-led service at Lisburn’s Lagan Valley Hospital is also being reviewed.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has welcomed next week’s meeting and praised the service offered by midwives in Downpatrick.

“The unit has been operational for around six years and recorded 84 births last year. It provides an alternative option for many women in the Down and Mourne area to ensure a local delivery of babies, plus pre-natal and post natal care,” said the MP.

Miss Ritchie is also encouraging women contemplating pregnancies to give “favourable consideration” to the options available for all elements of maternity care at the Downpatrick unit. She also confirmed she plans to meet  senior officials from the South Eastern Trust to ensure the midwife-led unit’s future is “underpinned as part of the suite of local medical and health services on offer to women and families in the area.”

Eamonn McGrady, the chairman of the Down Community Health Committee, is urging people to attend next week’s meeting in Downpatrick to make clear their views on the town’s maternity service which was the first of its kind in Ireland to be launched in 2010.

He said it is very important people attend to make clear how strongly they feel about the retention of local hospital services, including midwifery services.

Mr McGrady added: “We had a very successful and valuable maternity hospital that was levelled, flattened to the ground a number of years ago. The new service which has been provided does not suit every mother, but it is a very useful and convenient service for some who have been appropriately screened,” he continued.

“The Down Community Health Committee encourages people to attend next week’s meeting in as large a number as possible to show we appreciate our local services.”