§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of Slate for Social Services (1) if he will abandon the proposed cuts in maternity services; and if he will improve the services for pregnant women and unborn babies;
(2) if he is considering the closure of inefficient maternity units with a higher than average perinatal infant mortality and neo-natal death rate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungThe Department is committed to maintaining and improving the quality of care for mothers and babies throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Responsibility for providing maternity services rests with health authorities and I expect them to keep the standard of their services under careful review. The closure of any maternity unit must always be considered in the light of local circumstances. Where a particular unit has been found to be in-590W efficient I would expect the health authority concerned to take appropriate action.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will create first-class maternity special and intensive care facilities for the newborn in every health district; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungThe provision of services for mothers and babies before, during and after delivery is a matter for individual health authorities, which must determine levels of provision according to local needs and resources. Normally, a consultant maternity unit and special care baby unit would be provided in every district general hospital—or equivalent. Intensive care facilities for the newly born are required by a small proportion of babies whose highly specialised needs can best be met in a number of regional units where the substantial numbers of medical, nursing and supporting staff and specialised equipment required can most effectively be concentrated.