Macclesfield Maternity services remains closed

The indications are that Macclesfield Maternity Unit will remain closed until April at the very least.

Whilst the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic appears to be over, and things for most of us are back to some form of normality, Macclesfield Maternity facilities remains closed.

Acting Chief Executive at East Cheshire NHS Trust, Ged Murphy, said: “The Board remains committed to the return of intrapartum care to Macclesfield Hospital when safe to do so. In December 2021, care was further suspended until at least April 2022. It is our ambition to return the service within 12 months of that extended suspension date with the support of the integrated care system and partners.  

“I recognise this news is very disappointing and do not underestimate the impact this will have on our staff working at host trusts and for families who access our maternity services. I apologise that we are not able to return the service at this point and will continue to provide updates on our progress.  

“We have always been clear that returning the service is based on safety which includes the provision of a robust anaesthetic rota. The trust has now received the report from the Royal College of Anaesthetists’ invited review and is considering its recommendations with our partners to determine how this may be achieved. “  

Clare Watson, Accountable Officer of NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We continue to work closely with East Cheshire NHS Trust and our partners to support the safe return of intrapartum care to Macclesfield Hospital. While we support the widest choice and best possible provision of services and care for local mothers, ensuring their safety is of paramount importance.”  

Intrapartum care continues to be delivered safely with the support of the Trusts partners at Leighton, Stepping Hill and Wythenshawe hospitals; these hospitals are located geographically close to the East Cheshire area we serve, for our patients and staff. Antenatal and postnatal care continues to be provided at Macclesfield Hospital and homebirths and other services from our community settings.

Macclesfield MP, David Rutley, said: “Like many local residents, I have been very concerned about the continued temporary closure of the maternity unit at Macclesfield Hospital, resulting from the pandemic, and have urged East Cheshire NHS Trust Board to set out when the unit would be reopened.

I welcome the recent statement from Ged Murphy, the Chief Executive of East Cheshire NHS Trust, which reconfirmed the commitment to reopen the unit. In the statement, Mr Murphy also explained that the plan will see the services back in place within a further year.

It is very disappointing that it will take this long to achieve the long-awaited outcome. That’s why I recently met with Mr Murphy, and Graham Urwin, Designate Chief Executive of the Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board, to discuss the latest plans and some of the related operational challenges they have raised.

At the meeting, they affirmed that the plans to reopen the maternity unit are moving ahead and that their aim is for the services to be reopened within 12 months, with the support of other local NHS partners. They also confirmed that they have communicated plans with the local maternity team and will continue to work with staff to help bring them back to Macclesfield Hospital over the months ahead.

I will continue to actively work with local NHS leaders to help deliver the return of these much-valued services and will press for this to happen at the earliest opportunity.”