Review into future of maternity services at Scunthorpe General Hospital welcomed by Barnetby GP

A review is under way into the future of maternity services at Scunthorpe General Hospital, prompting a North Lincolnshire GP to give his view.

Dr Ajay Vora, based at Barnetby Medical Centre, said: "I think the sustainable services review is a good idea, as it needs doing to tackle a few problems within health care.

"The review is looking at what can be done cheaper and effectively.

"However, if the review is budget-driven, I would be concerned.

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"If they look at changing services to generate more savings instead of meeting clinical needs, then this will concern me.

"The different members are looking at every service.

"Maternity services are currently a bit disjointed, so this is an area that could be reconfigured.

"Some positives are bound to come out of the review, but there will be some controversial outcomes."

REVIEW OF SERVICES

THE sustainable services review is looking at how health and social care services in Northern Lincolnshire are delivered.

The changes come as health officials look at cuts for services in the region.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Scunthorpe General Hospital, has an annual budget of £275 million.

The trust needs to save around £80m over a three-year period from 2011/12.

Officials say the review itself aims to ensure the NHS locally continues to be able to provide a high quality health and social care service that meets the changing needs of the population while meeting the tight financial targets the NHS has been set by the Government.

Currently, the three main partners – North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, North East Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – say they are working together to collate information and fully understand the health needs of the community.

Bosses say that once this is done, a strategy will be drawn up and public engagement events held in order for residents to have their say on what they think of the plans and what services they would like to see put in place.

According to the NHS, the statistical data will then be combined with public feedback so the partners can draw up a final strategy to take health care in northern Lincolnshire forward in to the future.