§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will set up a full review of the maternity services in those areas affected by the Tomlinson proposals on London teaching hospitals;
(2) if she will meet representatives of midwives in London hospitals to reassure them on future numbers of midwife posts following the Tomlinson proposals;
(3) what steps she will take to ensure that those pregnant women who will be directly affected by the Tomlinson proposals for London teaching hospitals will receive locally based maternity care.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Tomlinson report does not recommend a review of maternity services, but as the Government's main aim is to continue to provide high quality services for Londoners we shall ensure that any proposals for change take into account the full range of services. Access to local services will also be one of the considerations we will take into account when assessing proposals.
I have already made it clear that I will be listening carefully to the views of patients and staff before making a response to Tomlinson's recommendations. Accordingly, I will meet the Royal College of Midwives, representing midwives in London, in the near future.