Mum’s the word

Hospital’s maternity addition

A NEW maternity and neonatal unit has been earmarked for The Royal Oldham Hospital, the Chronicle can reveal.

According to Health Minister Phil Hope, £100 million is to be ploughed into new buildings across Greater Manchester to improve facilities for women, children and babies over the next three years.

Health chiefs said last night that the Royal Oldham will play a major role in the development of services for families, young people and babies in Greater Manchester as part of the “Making it Better” programme. Director of Greater Manchester children, young people and families NHS Network Leila Williams said: “As part of the Making it Better changes, local services are set to expand.

“This is a very exciting time for Oldham.”

The Royal Oldham will provide one of three units in Greater Manchester for neonatal intensive care to the region’s smallest and most vulnerable babies.

It will also be one of three units providing a specialist maternity service to women with more complicated pregnancies.

A business plan for the multi-million-pound investment is currently being drawn up by Pennine Acute NHS Trust. No final decisions have been taken but the Chronicle understands they will include new or refurbished maternity, neonatal and children’s units. There will also be more jobs created to improve staffing levels.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said: “This is the next step in making world-class centres of excellence available.

“In Oldham we have the proudest history baby care. Now we can build on that heritage.”
Health Minister Mr Hope said: “In-patient children’s and maternity services will be provided in eight centres of excellence across Greater Manchester and the number of neonatal units will increase from two to three.

“The review was driven by clinicians, in particular the desire of doctors, nurses and midwives to improve safety. I commend them for the work they are doing.”

He said it was exciting times for the Greater Manchester NHS and all MPs will see their constituents benefit from the changes.

The cost of the Oldham scheme has yet to be finalised.