Last updated at 14:16, Monday, 11 March 2013

A HEAVILY pregnant teenager has described the terrifying moment she had to be rushed to a hospital more than 80 miles from her Barrow home.

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Charlotte Wood was taken to Burnley after she began experiencing early contractions.

The 19-year-old was moved while plans were being made for a temporary transfer of Barrow’s consultant-led maternity service and special care baby unit to Lancaster, a move subsequently called off.

The crisis surrounding Furness General Hospital, caused by short staffing, spanned five days of uncertainty at the beginning of February.

Of her experience Miss Wood, of Albert Street, Barrow, said: “It was really scary, really horrible. My birthing partner couldn’t come with me and I was so relieved when I was transferred back to Barrow.”

The teenager was speaking ahead of a public meeting on Thursday, to discuss concerns over the future of maternity services at FGH.

Volunteers for the Thousand Voices campaign, who organised the event, fear Barrow’s maternity unit could be permanently downgraded. A review of hospital services is being carried out by Cumbria and Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Groups, working with the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, which runs FGH.

Of the fears FGH maternity could be downgraded, lead commissioning GP for Furness, Dr Geoff Jolliffe, told Thursday’s meeting: “I only want to be considering that if there are no other options. We are considering all the options and I really hope that never has to come into consideration.”

But concerns raised during the meeting stretched further than maternity.

While members of the public repeatedly praised the care given to them by hospital staff, they accused chief executive, Jackie Daniel, and medical director, George Nasmyth, of leaving their employees in the dark over potential service cuts.

Admitting staff engagement has been a problem, Ms Daniel also confirmed FGH inpatient numbers will be cut as bosses work to save £50m over the next five years.

Responding to suggestions that three wards – gynaecological, surgical and general medical – are to shut, she said: “We are removing some beds, we can’t take £25m out over the next two years without doing that. What we’re trying to do is have minimal impact on staffing.”

Ms Daniel and Mr Nasymth said UHMBT spends too much on agency and locum staff, so permanent employees will be made as safe as possible. More information will be shared with the workforce next week.

The main message that emerged from both the trust and Dr Jolliffe, is that government NHS cuts have left Cumbria’s health chiefs facing tough decisions.

Both warned there will be changes that may be unpopular, and not everyone will get what they want. But they repeatedly urged people to get involved in ongoing public engagement, echoing a sentiment earlier expressed by Barrow and Furness MP, John Woodcock.

First published at 12:53, Monday, 11 March 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk