§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the transfer of maternity services from Hemel Hempstead hospital to Watford will be temporary; [9377]
(2) if he will make a statement on the transfer of the special care baby unit, maternity, gynaecological and children services from Hemel Hempstead hospital to Watford. [9376]
§ Jacqui SmithThe decision to transfer the special care baby unit, maternity and in-patient gynaecology services from Hemel Hempstead to Watford hospital was made following difficulties in recruiting specialist paediatric nurses to the special care baby unit. The decision to transfer these services was made in the best interests of patient care and safety.
649WThis transfer is a temporary arrangement which will be kept under constant review as further attempts are made to recruit the necessary staff.
In the meantime, two reviews are being undertaken across Hertfordshire which may have an impact on acute children's services, namely the Hertfordshire children's services review and the Hertfordshire and south Bedfordshire acute services review.
Any proposed permanent changes to acute children's services which may result from these reviews will need to be the subject of formal public consultation.
Any contested change of service will be considered by the new and independent reconfiguration panel.