Minister Gives His Backing to Independent Report Supporting Maternity Unit Closures

Posted on: Thursday, 24 July 2008, 00:00 CDT HEALTH Secretary Alan Johnson yesterday signalled the final nail in the coffin for the battle to prevent a massive overhaul of maternity services across vast swathes of Yorkshire. Mr Johnson, the Labour MP for West Hull and Hessle, announced he had backed an independent report by an NHS watchdog which had already supported the changes to the key services at three Yorkshire community hospitals. Campaigners had staged a vociferous fight to allow expectant mothers in Whitby, Bridlington, and Malton to have their babies at their local hospital rather than go to Scarborough. Among the protesters was councillor Howard Keal, the leader of Ryedale District Council's Liberal Democrat group, who said the decision was a "terrible result", adding: "The decision is an appalling blow and a slap... [read full story]