MP in birthing centre blast

9:00am Friday 4th August 2006

A NEW Forest MP has blasted health chiefs for the lack of proper public meetings over plans to axe three birthing centres.

Dr Julian Lewis has accused them of failing to let the public air its concerns about controversial proposals to shut maternity units at Hythe, Lymington and Romsey.

It smacks of a manoeuvre designed to prevent the community from having its say

MP Julian Lewis

He said the poorly advertised and poorly attended drop-in and focus group sessions currently being used were "entirely inadequate''.

"It smacks of a manoeuvre designed to prevent the community from having its say,'' he said.

As reported in the Daily Echo protestors say health chiefs are running scared because they are reluctant to face the sort of hostility seen last year at public meetings about plans to axe beds at five community hospitals in Romsey and the New Forest.

New Forest Primary Care Trust later scrapped the proposals in the wake of a Daily Echo-backed campaign to save the beds.

In a letter to the health trusts involved in the present maternity service review, Tory MP Dr Lewis said: "I would be very alarmed indeed if it appeared that people opposed to the recommendations were to be denied the opportunity to turn up in large numbers at properly advertised public meetings so that they could present their cases forcefully as we were able to do at the public consultation meetings about the community hospitals.'' Dr Lewis said it could render the trusts open to legal challenge, and called for a series of public meetings, to be held at convenient times and locations, with adequate notice.

Southampton University Hosp-itals Trust spokesman Karen Baker said: "We are keen that everyone's voice is heard. We believe the best way of doing this, in order to give every individual an equal chance of having their say, is through drop-in sessions rather than public meetings.

"Experience has shown this approach is fairer and more meaningful.'' Seven drop-in sessions have been held so far. A further sessions will be held at Southampton Voluntary Services, Kingsland Square, St Mary Street, Southampton, on Tuesday (11am-7pm).