Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the long-run sustainability of the maternity unit at Clacton Hospital.

Between May 2010 and November 2014, the number of midwives in England rose by 2,231 or 11.1% and the number of midwives in the East of England area rose by 380 or 20.5%.

The provision of local health services is a matter for local National Health Service organisations. NHS North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), in collaboration with Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, undertook a public consultation on the provision of maternity services locally, including the maternity unit at Clacton Hospital, from 15 October to 10 December 2014.

The purpose of the consultation, called Right Start, is to improve upon the good care already provided and deliver services that are safe, clinically effective and provide a good patient experience. An independently chaired panel will meet on 27 February 2015 to receive the consultation analysis report and make a recommendation to the CCG and Trust boards. Whatever outcome is reached, the CCG and Trust aim to ensure women have a choice of where to have their babies.

All NHS service changes should be led by clinicians and be in the best interests of patients, not driven from the top down. The Government has set out strengthened criteria that we expect any significant changes to NHS services to meet. Proposals should demonstrate support from clinical commissioners, strengthened public and patient engagement, clarity on the clinical evidence base and support for patient choice.