The maternity services at a North London hospital are to close due to a need to provide ‘different kinds, and greater levels of care’, according to the North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB). It cites falling birth rates, increased complexity of pregnancy and births, and staffing challenges as reasons for the decision but a local Greater London Assembly (GLA) member is calling for it to be paused.
The recommendations for the future of maternity and neonatal services in North Central London were agreed yesterday (25 March) following a meeting of the NCL ICB and NHS England London. One of the measures is to close the maternity services at the Royal Free Hospital in Camden, which serves Brent.
NHS England said the decision came after ‘a rigorous process’, which included a public consultation and extensive work with clinicians to develop ways to improve the quality of services and ‘give babies and children the best start in life’.
The NCL ICB told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that it will now undergo ‘detailed planning’ to ensure a ‘carefully managed implementation of these changes’. Due to this, it does not expect the maternity and neonatal services at Royal Free Hospital to close ‘for several years’.
A spokesperson told the LDRS: “Across North Central London there is broad agreement that there needs to be a change in how maternity and neonatal services are set up – in the context of falling birth rates, increased complexity of pregnancy and births and staffing challenges. We need to provide different kinds, and greater levels of care. Doing nothing is not an option.”
However the GLA Member for Brent and Harrow, Krupesh Hirani, said he is ‘disappointed’ by the decision and has urged the NCL ICB to pause the process. He pointed to a review by the Nuffield Trust – commissioned by the Mayor of London – which highlighted ‘significant concerns that haven’t been addressed’.
Mr Hirani is particularly concerned about the impact the closure would have on communities facing health inequalities, such as Harlesden and Willesden. He claims residents of these areas have ‘already suffered’ from the closure of Central Middlesex Hospital’s maternity unit in 2014 and now face ‘longer journeys to overstretched services’ at Northwick Park or St Mary’s Hospital.
Mr Hirani said: “I am extremely disappointed by today’s decision to confirm the closure of the vital maternity unit at the Royal Free Hospital. An independent review has raised serious unanswered questions, particularly about the impact on deprived communities in Harlesden and Willesden. I urge North Central London ICB to pause this decision and address these concerns before proceeding.”
The NCL ICB told the LDRS that it has worked closely with colleagues in the Integrated Care System – which includes the NHS, councils, and voluntary sector organisations – throughout the programme and they have been ‘very supportive’ of the plans. It claimed stakeholders have confirmed that North West London (NWL) units ‘can comfortably accommodate additional patients’ if the Royal Free unit closes.
A spokesperson for NCL ICB said: “There are strong potential benefits for NWL residents in giving birth in the same area that they receive antenatal and postnatal care, in terms of continuity of care. These may be particularly beneficial for vulnerable populations in Harlesden and Willesden, who we know already face health inequalities.”
They added: “We will continue to work with NWL partners as we carry out detailed implementation planning and to ensure clear, accessible communications in multiple languages to residents of Harlesden and Willesden.”
