Health: Maternity

House of Lords written question – answered at on 11 June 2007.

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Photo of Lord Hanningfield Lord Hanningfield Deputy Chief Whip, Whips, Shadow Minister, Transport, Shadow Minister, Communities and Local Government

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is standard practice for National Health Service hospitals to operate a quota system for the taking on of new maternity cases according to the expected birth date; and

On what geographical basis National Health Service hospitals take on new maternity cases; and

Where expectant mothers are able to give birth if, once being referred back to their general practitioner, a place at a local hospital cannot be found for them; and

How far they require expectant mothers to travel in order to give birth if their local hospital is no longer taking on maternity patients.

Photo of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Minister of State, Department of Health, Minister of State (Department of Health) (NHS Reform)

Local National Health Service organisations in England are responsible for the development of maternity services. The 2007-08 NHS operating framework requires them to undertake reviews of their maternity services, identify the gaps and barriers to service development and set out their local strategy for delivery of the recommendations in Maternity Matters—Choice, Access and Continuity of Care in a Safe Service, published on 3 April.

Distance should not be the only factor, as safety, risk and travelling times are equally important. Wherever women have their babies, the local maternity network will ensure easy access to, and transfer between, all levels of care in a responsive and timely manner.

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