Northern Ireland

Concerns about midwifery-led maternity services at Lagan Valley hospital 'must be investigated urgently'

Midwifery-led maternity services at Lagan Valley hospital have been temporarily stopped following concerns about a small number of births at the unit. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker
Midwifery-led maternity services at Lagan Valley hospital have been temporarily stopped following concerns about a small number of births at the unit. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker Midwifery-led maternity services at Lagan Valley hospital have been temporarily stopped following concerns about a small number of births at the unit. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker

CONCERNS about midwifery-led maternity services at Lagan Valley hospital must be investigated urgently, the Royal College of Midwives has said.

The services have been temporarily stopped following concerns about a small number of births at the unit.

The South Eastern health and social care trust is contacting expectant mothers to offer them alternative care.

Around eight births a month take place at the midwifery-led unit, which was first opened in 2011.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: "Expectant mothers will be offered alternative care, including midwifery-led care in the home from home unit in the Ulster Hospital."

Cases of concern are being reviewed. The trust said it was engaging with the families involved but it cannot comment further while the reviews are under way.

Karen Murray, Director for Northern Ireland at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said safety concerns must be paramount.

"This will be very disappointing for women who were due to give birth on the unit but any concerns about their safety must take priority," she said.

"The important thing now is to ensure alternative arrangements are being made quickly in discussion with the women affected. Safety concerns within any service must be looked at as a matter of the utmost urgency so we welcome the investigation announced by the trust.

"The RCM will work with the trust throughout this process which we hope will be resolved quickly, and that it will give reassurance to women using the unit and those in the area who may do so in the future. We will also be supporting our members working on the unit through what will also be a difficult time for them."