Maternity ward to go in new year

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8417117.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A ward at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital is to close in the new year, a few months earlier than was expected.

Midwives attended a meeting earlier this week and were told that 20 beds would be closed in January and that staff would be redeployed elsewhere.

The Royal College of Midwives said it is a huge step backwards for mothers and asked for assurances that extra staff be redeployed in the community.

The Belfast Health Trust said no final decisions had been taken.

In October, the BBC revealed the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust was considering sending new mothers home between six and 12 hours after giving birth in an attempt to save money.

New mothers at Craigavon Area Hospital are currently given the choice whether to go home or to care for their baby in the hospital's labour ward.