Health chiefs to be put on spot over move to scale back maternity services

A health watchdog will ask a series of questions on the decision-making behind changes to services at Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.

Bosses at the NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group have decided the current consultant-led children’s and maternity service at the Friarage is not sustainable.

Doctors have argued that it will be safer for some higher-risk patients to be cared for at other hospitals. A midwife-led unit for low-risk births would allow some mothers to carry on being treated at the Friarage.

North Yorkshire County Council’s health watchdog will hold a meeting on March 14 to examine in detail the decision-making process and whether the case for the changes has been proven in what has become an increasingly acrimonious debate.

The council’s scrutiny of health committee will look at how far decision-makers took on board advice from Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in May 2013.

Mr Hunt decided not to order an independent investigation but said consultation should take place provided there was a clear explanation of the case for change.

The health watchdog will ask managers:

Has the case for change been proved?

If a consultant-led option is not viable, has the CCG demonstrated why it is not viable and provided a suitably detailed analysis of sustainability, affordability and quality including an explanation of why consultant-led services are delivered at other hospitals of a similar size?

Did the consultation invite new options and have the new options properly evaluated?

Has the consultation been conducted and completed as part of a fair, open and rigorous process that seeks the best possible solution?

GP Vicky Pleydell, clinical chief officer of NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG, said it welcomed the opportunity to attend the scrutiny meeting next month.

“We adhered to the advice from the Secretary of State throughout our consultation process and look forward to demonstrating this to members of the committee,” she said.