- North Central London Integrated Care Board and NHS England make final decision on future arrangements for maternity and neonatal services after 3-year programme of research, planning, modelling and consultation.
- Against backdrop of declining local birth rates, four maternity units – at University College London Hospital (UCLH), Barnet Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and Whittington Hospital – will deliver care. Births will eventually not take place at the Royal Free Hospital.
- Neonatal care at all four hospitals will provide at least Level 2* care for premature and unwell babies, ensuring more specialist support. Plans include £67m capital investment to improve buildings and facilities.
NHS leaders have confirmed a decision which will shape the future of maternity and neonatal services across North London for generations to come.
The signed off plans will see four maternity units serve Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington, as well as those in neighbouring boroughs who choose to use North Central London services.
Although there are no immediate changes and all services remain open, one existing unit, at the Royal Free Hospital, will eventually be subject to closure. Services at Whittington Hospital will remain open.
Local specialist doctors, midwives and NHS managers have been working on the ‘Start Well’ programme for over three years, to inform decisions about how best to deliver sustainable, high-quality, clinically excellent services, improving health outcomes for all.
It has involved a comprehensive programme of planning, research and population modelling, together with engagement and consultation with thousands of people including key community groups, service users, parents, the public and staff.
Dr Josephine Sauvage, a local GP and Medical Director for the Start Well programme, and the North Central London Integrated Care Board, said: “We want to consistently provide the very best quality services for babies, children and parents – wherever they are – across our communities.”
A further part of the proposals will see the expansion of antenatal and postnatal care services out of Edgware Birth Centre, and the closure of the birthing suites at Edgware Birth Centre (which see fewer than 50 births a year, and just 28 in the last financial year), with the space used for additional antenatal and postnatal care.
Dr Sauvage adds that the changing needs of local people have been at the heart of the proposals: “We have a declining birth rate in our area, and the need for more complex support for mothers, pregnant people and their babies is growing.
Frances O’Callaghan, Chief Executive, North Central London Integrated Care Board, said: “As the Board discussion reflected, these have been difficult and significant decisions.
“We know how hard staff work to provide services which are highly valued. However, the current arrangements cannot continue as they are.
She added that the consultation raised some important issues and questions which will form the focus of the next phase of work: “We heard some very important feedback, questions and challenge during the consultation and have taken this on board.
“As we move forward, we are committed to continuing the conversation, working with local residents to ensure our services meet the different needs of our communities, as well as closely supporting staff who might be impacted in the future.”
Paul Najsarek, Chair, North Central London Integrated Care Board, said: “It was right to have a thorough examination of the issues, and I was pleased to see members of the public and staff in attendance, voicing questions and applying the right and appropriate scrutiny.
“It was evident that a great deal of work, thought, consideration and engagement has gone into the recommendations brought forward and there was a clear view from the Board that this is the right direction in which to go, although there is much work still to be done.”
Will Huxter, Regional Director of Commissioning, NHS England, responsible for overseeing the planning, commissioning and delivery of specialist neonatal services across London, said: ““We’d like to thank everyone involved in the delivery of the project so far, and critically, the public, service users and staff who have taken time to give their views.
“This has been a robust and comprehensive process, as was evident in the board discussions. The depth and breadth of feedback and input is extremely valuable.
“The strong base of evidence, consultation and engagement has helped us to make informed long-term decisions about these key services.”
You can find out more about the Start Well programme here.
Notes
- *£67m in capital investment would be focussed on Whittington, Barnet and UCLH sites
- *A Special Care Unit (Level 1) baby unit is a unit for babies who require additional medical attention, but who do not need intensive or a high level of medical care and is only able to care for babies born after 32 weeks’ gestation. Most level one units are 32 weeks however the Royal Free unit is 34 weeks and above.
- *A Local Neonatal Unit (Level 2) is one for babies needing a higher level of medical care, such as short-term intensive care. https://londonneonatalnetwork.org.uk/parents-and-families/types-of-neonatal-unit/
- The decision on the future shape of these services is decided by the board of North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB) and NHS England London region (Specialised Commissioning).
- Neonatal services are categorised as specialised services and currently have different commissioning arrangements across the country to the commissioning of maternity services. Both organisations therefore make decisions about how maternity and neonatal services in North Central London will be configured.