Last updated at 17:01, Thursday, 28 February 2013

NEARLY a quarter of a million pounds will be spent to merge a life-saving children’s unit into the maternity ward at Furness General Hospital.

Work began on the £225,497 project to move Barrow’s Special Care Baby Unit into a newly-refurbished area earlier this month, and is due to finish on April 19.

It comes following an announcement by FGH bosses last year to merge SCBU with maternity to solve a staffing crisis caused by sickness and a difficulty in recruiting.

Yesterday, executives at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, which runs FGH, approved the choice of contractor for the work to create the unit.

A document circulated to the board explained a contractor who has previously done work at the hospital had been chosen due to the tight timescale within which the work needs to be done.

Speaking following the trust’s decision to make the changes in December, UHMBT interim chairman, Sir David Henshaw, said the move would mean seriously ill babies will be closer to their mothers.

He added: “A challenge of any small unit on the edge of a large geographical area, such as Barrow, is the ability to ensure it is safely staffed at all times.

“The department has tried to recruit suitably qualified staff, including seeking assistance from a specialist hospital, however this has been unsuccessful.

“Let’s be absolutely clear – this move is about the safety of babies in our care. This is our priority. It is not about reducing staff.”

SCBU can look after up to six babies at once and, on average, cares for three a day.

The new set-up will mean that, if the unit is hit by sickness, maternity staff will be able to offer support to their colleagues.

Of the changes, UHMBT chief executive, Jackie Daniel, said: “Most women will not notice any change in the service we provide.”

First published at 16:36, Thursday, 28 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk