Chief Executive gives verdict on controversial closure proposal

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 23 May 2006

The Chief Executive of Bury Council has written to the Director of the Greater Manchester, East Cheshire and High Peak Children Young People and Families Network adding the council’s voice on the controversial plans to close Fairfield’s Maternity and Baby unit.

Acting on behalf of the NHS, the network are responsible for conducting the "Making it Better’ consultation with all 14 local authorities affected by the proposals.

Each authority on the Healthier Communities Scrutiny Commission has been asked in turn to submit its feelings regarding the proposals. Five options were offered by the Network, each one proposed the closure of the facilities at Fairfield.

Represented by Councillor John Smith, the council’s committee looked at the impact across the authority. It found serious flaws in the proposed closure which would bring problems to families living in disadvantaged areas without access to a car, those living with a disability and visually impaired residents in particular.

The proposals would have a huge impact on local authority services as much of the care given to new mothers by Fairfield would be redirected to the councils own social services department.

The commission supported the principle of moving care closer to home but raised huge concerns regarding resources such as staffing levels, the administration infrastructure needed to support the changes and finance. If these issues are not adequately addressed it would seriously impact on the health and wellbeing of the parents and their young children.

Bury Council has conducted geographical research to look at the relationship between public transport networks and health service locations in parallel with the Primary Care Trust to examine thoroughly how the services will affect new mothers in the borough.

Mark Sanders Chief Executive said: "We accept that changes need to be made but the Making it Better proposals do not consider any options which retain the services at Fairfield. These proposals will seriously affect residents in Bury, Rossendale and Rochdale and the consequences are giving Bury Council major cause for concern. The closure of Fairfield’s maternity unit could jeopardise the health and wellbeing of mothers and their newborn children and we demand that our voice is heard."