§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide a more integrated level of hospital-based maternity and community midwifery care; whether he proposes to issue any guidelines to health authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe benefits of integrated hospital and community maternity services were emphasised in the reports of the maternity services advisory committee which was set up in 1981 by my right hon. Friends the then Secretaries of State for Social Services and for Wales to advise on matters relating to the maternity and neonatal services. The three reports were commended to health authorities upon their publication in 1984 and 1985 and remain the basis of policies for NHS maternity services. Their recommendations will inform the negotiation of contracts for maternity services which district health authorities will be undertaking with provider units subject to enactment of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received to make maternity services a core service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe have received a number of representations from doctors and midwives as well as voluntary groups working in maternity and child care. They arise from a misunderstanding about the reasons behind the need to designate certain services as "core" services. Designation will not be an indication of the importance of a service relative to other services nor the sole indicator of a service that has to be provided locally. It will be relevant only where a district health authority has only one sensible option on the location of a service and that service is managed by a National Health Service trust.