MATERNITY SERVICES IN GREATER MANCHESTER

That this House notes the decision of the Secretary of State for Health following the conclusions of the Healthy Futures and Making it Better consultation documents, including the closure of Fairfield, Trafford and Hope Hospitals and Rochdale Infirmary maternity units; further notes that when the aforementioned consultation was concluded 31,100 births were predicted across Greater Manchester in 2007 yet 35,030 took place; further notes that 2,700 births were predicted in Rochdale for 2007 yet 3,113 took place; and urges the Government to reconsider the closure of these maternity services which are affecting a much greater number of expectant mothers in Greater Manchester than predicted.