West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust Hemel Birth Centre David Law, Chief Executive Susan Cole, Interim Head of Midwifery ITEM 4 DAVID LAW & SUSAN COLE PRESENTATION

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust Some History HBC opened its doors in spring 2003 Births peaked at 370 per annum Temporary closure December 2005 SHA review summer 2006

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust Maternity Services in west Hertfordshire 5,556 births (06/07) Alexandra Birthing Centre at Watford General Hospital (1184 births 06/07) One of the highest water birth rate in the UK Support home births (2.5/3% current) Staffing levels – WTE midwives MSLC involvement

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust Hemel Birth Centre – the future Criteria for maternity services in Hemel Hempstead –Must be clinically safe, based on evidence of demand and appropriate clinical midwifery practice –Clinically equitable across west Hertfordshire –Must not adversely affect the main west Herts obstetric service –Financially viable and sustainable with a critical mass of more than 500 births per year –Integrated with the community based midwifery service –Must not exceed £200,000 and be contained with existing revenue streams

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust Hemel Birth Centre – the future All options have pros and cons Scenarios for consideration 1.Reopen HBC: open a maternal resource centre, reorganise community midwifery to support service 2.Permanent closure: increase capacity within ABC 3.Permanent closure: open a maternal resource centre with a larger community midwifery team to support home birth

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust A Maternal Resource Centre Centralise midwifery services for NW Hertfordshire in one central base Group practice care would replace GP- based care Comprehensive ante and post natal services, including day assessment, post natal care, breastfeeding support and parent education

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust Engagement and consultation Informal discussion already begun 90 days plus – but in two phases Discussion with service users and service providers and GPs Events planned include; breastfeeding groups, toddler groups, fathers groups, netmums on-line discussion, Baby Café, ante natal yoga groups, NCT classes Information via community midwives, ante natal groups and health visitors MSLC – HBC focussed meeting 18 June NCT support GP liaison Formal consultation Same timescale as Acute Services Review