Maternity row

The unit at the DGH was on 'divert for new admissions', according to a hospital spokesman, on Sunday between 9am and 6pm, due to staff shortages caused by sickness.

Save the DGH campaigner Liz Walke said, "This is going to happen more and more when you don't replace staff when they leave, which has been happening since 2002.

"More staff leave as a result of the stress, and then you are able to close the unit. This is exactly what they want. It is just a self-fulfilling prophecy."

Former DGH consultant Vincent Argent said, "It does seem that the maternity unit is being deliberately run down.

"I agree that there has been a deliberate policy not to replace retiring staff. In the case of doctors, this is completely contrary to the RCOG recommendation for consultant expansion."

MP Nigel Waterson told DGH campaigners it was 'worrying news'.

The DGH spokesman added, "New admissions were diverted to the Conquest or the nearest available unit.

"Diverting new admissions is in accordance with the Trust's Contingency Plan, developed in the interest of the safe provision of care to women and babies.

"It is not uncommon for maternity units to work together to provide a safe level of maternity care across the county.

"Although this is disruptive to the individuals affected, we make no apology for putting mothers and babies' safety first.

"This is a national problem and it needs to be recognised that neighbouring NHS Trusts also find it necessary to divert patients from their Midwifery Units from time to time

"Part of the reason for the current consultation on maternity services is to seek to address the difficulties this Trust, and other Trusts, face when Labour Ward activity is high and staffing is stretched, particularly for Trusts where services are divided between two hospitals.

"In terms of our midwifery workforce, we are up to our funded establishment and currently have no vacancies