§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement following the warning given by obstetricians and gynaecologists in the North of England that proposals to redistribute such posts around the country will imperil the safety of mothers and babies in maternity units throughout the Northern health region.
§ Mr. MoyleI refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 31st July.
The Northern region has been asked to give up three registrar posts in gynaecology and obstetrics for redeployment to the less well off regions. It will retain more such posts per head of population than the national average, and more than nine other regions. The posts in question are training posts and there need be no reduction in the number of consultant obstetricians, who are primarily responsible for the safety of mothers and babies. The relevant health authorities can replace the registrar posts by additional appointments of doctors in the career grades if they wish. I am confident that the request for the posts—which was part of a scheme endorsed by the chairmen of all regional health authorities, and by the representative bodies of the medical profession—will not do anything to reduce the safety of maternity units.