Barking and Dagenham (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Barking and Dagenham’s only maternity unit has temporarily closed, forcing expectant mothers to give birth in neighboring boroughs due to staffing issues.
According to a statement from Barts Health NHS Trust, Barking & Dagenham Birth Centre on Upney Road is temporarily suspending deliveries and urgent maternity services as of today, June 30.
Mothers in the borough will have to drive to Plaistow to give birth because the trust is “shift[ing] resources” and staff to where they are “most needed” at Newham Hospital’s maternity ward.
“Unacceptable” is how Barking MP Nesil Caliskan has described the decision.
Ms Caliskan said:
“The mothers of Barking and Dagenham deserve better.
I have raised this issue in Parliament with the health secretary, asking for assurance that pregnant women in Barking will be able to give birth in a safe clinical environment.
I’ve also made representations to the local NHS and will continue to work with all parties involved to make sure residents are not only heard but taken seriously.”
In an effort to improve maternity care in Barking and Dagenham, Ms. Caliskan has called for locals to share their experiences with the maternity services available in their communities.
Families can still schedule prenatal and postnatal appointments at Barking Birth Centre, which will include checkups, scans, and support.
According to the Barts website, as more women “experience complex pregnancies and require additional clinical support,” the requirements for giving birth at a freestanding birth center have grown “increasingly difficult to meet.”
However, Queen’s Hospital in Romford or Newham Hospital are the closest possibilities for women in Barking and Dagenham to give birth in a hospital.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Barts Health NHS Trust said:
“We are temporarily pausing the few births requested at Barking Community Birth Centre to shift resources where they are most needed to our busy maternity unit in Newham Hospital.
This means we can offer mothers and their babies the safest possible care, with experienced midwives and doctors on hand.”
The trust further stated that the decision will be “regularly reviewed” and that the suggestions made by the North East London ICB during a maternity review will also be taken into account.
‘Requires improvement’ is the Care Quality Commission’s rating for both Barking Birth Centre and the maternity ward of Newham Hospital.
What are the main concerns raised by campaigners about the unit closure?
The decision to move deliveries to Newham University Hospital, which is a few miles away, raises concerns about potential delays in emergency circumstances and urgent care, which could endanger both women and newborns.
Expectant mothers are forced to travel farther for maternity services as a result of the shutdown, which is especially troublesome for those in emergency situations or with few other transportation options.
Protesters caution that closing the local unit will erode public trust in the NHS and its dedication to helping marginalized areas.
Some of the biggest health disparities in London already exist in Barking and Dagenham, and the closure is thought to make it harder for a vulnerable community to get essential healthcare.