Paulton Maternity Unit closes its doors

Hospital services and health-care facilities are being depleted. It is a depressing but undeniable fact. You can get the most amazing care, that is also undeniable. I haven't used a maternity unit lately but have used many other healthcare services through the NHS, and they have all been impeccable. I would like to give especial praise to The Mineral Water Hospital in Bath. I have also needed to get my daughter to an A&E *fast* and arrived at Shepton Mallet Community Hospital (a few years ago now), only to find it 'closed'. Fortunately, if shout 'adrenaline' at a staff nurse, they produce some - in both senses!

To my mind though, any emergency facility that you cannot trust to be there, need not be there. I raised this matter at the time, and was advised (about a fortnight later) of the alternative facilities around. The net value of everything that was written was 'we don't care, call an ambulance'.

The most noticeable development in health services over the past 15-20 years (since the beginning of 'Trust' status) has been the gall of the people writing the PR output. As a specialist nurse, health-care educator and writer I have pulled apart what are basically cost saving/anti-service strategies in their earliest stages in years gone by. Then received vehement denials. Then watched the plans unfold as expected. What is most frustrating are how wafer thin those denials are; You can see straight through them and make out the lack of substance that lies behind. Usually these statements come from non-Health managers who would be as well to find jobs selling dodgy used cars, or from professionals who have either forgotten what they got into the job for to start with, have become so far removed from patients they have forgotten how to advocate, or, and these are the folk I really feel for, are hanging on for dear life in the hope they can make some difference as well as remain employed a little longer.

If you can afford it, get a health care plan. We got used to the fact that if you don't want to look like Shane McGowan from the Pogues, you need private dental. Soon we will have to get used to the fact that if you can possibly afford it, get a health care plan so that you can get the care you need, and that someone who really cant afford it, gets the care they need to.

And all that from someone who has lived and preached socialist ideals all my life! The reality is kicking in and although rhetoric let it happen, rhetoric will not reverse it.

Actually to my knowledge, the reason St Peter's was closed was due to a SIDS occurring which even the parents confirmed as not due to any factors other than fate.

I am concerned though like you both that it might not re-open....? I knew all the midwifery team at St Peter's who were wonderful & highly professional. Then after the closure Sheila went on to lead the team at Paulton so I imagine they must be equally proficient.

I know a number of expectant women and will most definitely be asking them what they think and how they are planning to change their birth plans.

That is exactly the reason they gave when they first closed St Peter's so expect Paulton to follow suit in not re-opening at all...