SOLIHULL HOSPITAL MATERNITY SERVICES

That this House notes with concern proposals announced by the Heart of England Foundation Trust to downgrade Solihull Hospital to no longer allow high risk, complicated or premature births to take place at the hospital from April 2010; further notes that as a result only a quarter of the 2,700 births at Solihull Hospital each year would take place there; is concerned that a number of services at Solihull Hospital have been downgraded in recent years which, with cuts to the Care Trust budget of £11.2 million this financial year, will add further stress to health services in Solihull; and calls on the Heart of England Foundation Trust to reject these proposals and to ensure that Solihull Hospital is sufficiently funded and equipped so that it is able to provide a full range of maternity services for local people.