Calls to protect 'unique' maternity services in north London

More concerns have been raised in Parliament over plans to close one of two maternity units in north London.

NHS bosses will shut the unit at either the Royal Free in Hampstead or at the Whittington Hospital in Archway.

Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, says vulnerable women rely on services that are unique to the Royal Free.

The government said a public consultation on the plans was open until 17 March.

Speaking in Parliament earlier, Ms Siddiq said "I met with doctors at the maternity unit who told me that the Royal Free is uniquely placed to help mothers with diabetes, to help pregnant women who have HIV and to help mothers who require interventional radiology.

"The Royal Free is the only local provider that offers this life-changing treatment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

The MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, whose children were born at the Royal Free's maternity unit, previously described it as an "important service" and said it held a "special place" in her heart.

NHS North Central London recently told the BBC it needed to cut the number of maternity units in its area due to declining birth rates.

Residents have raised concerns over the plans, but the NHS said "nothing has been pre-decided", ahead of the results of the public consultation.

NHS North Central London covers five boroughs - Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington.

It said the number of its maternity units needed to be reduced from five to four.

Dr Jo Sauvage, the chief medical officer at the North Central London Integrated Care Board, previously told the BBC that half of the cots at the Royal Free Hospital neonatal unit were not in use on any given day.

She said pressures in staff recruitment would also be alleviated by reducing maternity units in the area.

Under the plans, £40m would be invested in the four hospitals that would continue to deliver maternity and neonatal care.

She said the information gathered would inform the board's decision "entirely".

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