Mums release emotional video in fight to save Melton baby unit

It is threatened with closure as part of plans to overhaul hospital services across Leicestershire and Rutland and centralise major maternity departments in the city.

A public consultation is currently underway with residents having only until December 21 to make a comment on the proposals, which include Melton’s baby unit being closed and a new midwifery-led service set up at the Leicester General Hospital.

A Facebook campaign has been running in the town for around 12 years and members have helped see off earlier plans to close the birth centre, which the health authority says is no longer viable because it does not have enough babies born there annually.

And as part of a last stand to save the unit, mums who have given birth there have contributed to a moving video in an attempt to sway the hearts and minds of the decision makers at the clinical commissioning groups of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Helen Cliff, from the Facebook group ‘Save St Mary’s Birth Centre’, who helped to create the video, said: “In many ways it is a love letter to St Mary’s. “It’s so important to tell the stories of those who will be impacted the most by the closure of the baby unit.

“People’s stories often highlight factors not thought about before.

“The decision-makers have pages and pages of impersonal facts and figures in columns and what’s been missing in all the excitement of shiny new buildings, are the faces and experiences of those who will be impacted the most.

“That’s what this video is trying to redress.

“We hope all those involved in deciding the fate of St Mary’s Birth Centre, along with ongoing plans for midwife-led care and post-natal support, will take the time to watch and listen to what we have to say.”

The video, which will also be sent to key figures in the health authorities, features testimonials from those who have used St Mary’s Birth centre, as well as a photo wall of placard selfies of support from many people in the community, including business owners, councillors and grandparents.

They highlight the quality of the after-care mums receive from staff there as well as the caring, professional support during birth.

Among the mums filmed is Jenny Chapman, who says: “It took the stress away being local.

“All my births were quite quick.

“I wouldn’t have made it to Leicester without having them en route.”

Samantha Young credits the birth centre for ‘the amazing post-natal care’ she received for being able to breast-feed her son for 14 months.

Mum Claire Baines went to St Mary’s after being discharged from another hospital.

Not long after she arrived the midwives spotted her son ‘grunting’ which led to a diagnosis and treatment of Sepsis.

She says in her video: “I’m very, very aware that if we’d made the decision to come home that day rather than going to St Mary’s Birth Centre, Edward night not be with us.

“So we will be forever grateful for the amazing work that the midwives do there.”

But, as the video makes clear, it’s not just mums who value the birth centre.

Local dad, Matt Wilkinson, says in his video testimonial: “They gave some great after-care and guidance.

“As a father I felt very welcome.@

Go to www.facebook.com/128332727188196/posts/3657129554308478/?vh=e&d=n to watch the video or search for the Save St Marys Birth Centre Facebook page to view it.

A series of online consultation events are being held to help people find out more and ask questions about proposals.

To ensure people who aren’t online are still able to participate, there is an option to listen in by telephone and submit questions in advance.

There have been online question and answer panel sessions able to host 1,000-plus attendees, with people able to ask questions during the event or submit them up to two hours in advance.

The last of these is on December 7.

Online public events will host up to 250 people with people able to ask questions on Thursday, November 21 and 27, December 2, 12 and 13.

In addition, a number of workshops will be held on specific topics so people can get into a discussion with others and give more detailed insights and views. These will be limited to a pre-registered audience of up to 15 people.

The last workshop where Melton’s baby unit is likely to be discussed will be on November 18.

Residents can visit www.betterhospitalsleicester.nhs.uk to complete a questionnaire online or they can call 0116 295 0750 or email [email protected] to get a paper copy posted to them or to get further help in filling it in.

Thousands of people have also already signed two petitions calling for the baby unit to be kept open - go online at www.change.org/p/university-hospitals-of-leicester-nhs-trust-save-st-mary-s-birthing-centre and to www.change.org/p/andrew-furlong-save-our-birthing-unit-from-closure to see these.