Campaigner says ‘Don’t stay mum’

Rachel Holliday, Cumbria’s reigning Woman of the Year, is furious at the latest proposal to send complex west Cumbrian births to the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, during the night.

And she is collecting “hard evidence’’ in the form of stories from women who had undergone traumatic births to challenge health bosses at “every step’’.

The Government’s Success Regime – which is heading a major review of services across north and west Cumbria – has suggested a midwife-led unit at the WCH, with consultants available on site for assessments – but only during the day.

Rachel, who is a member of the We Need West Cumberland Hospital group, said: “At the last review of the group we put together a document with personal accounts from women who would have lost their lives, or their babies, if there had not been a consultant-led maternity unit at the WCH.

“Twenty-five harrowing accounts and descriptions of the trauma these women faced supported by photographs of their babies in the Special Care Baby Unit was then handed over to the Maternity Review committee.

“So why after all that have the Success Regime, with Stephen Eames, chief executive of North Cumbria University Health Trust, decided to look at it all again and sit around a table to decide the women of our community will only be able to give birth at our hospital during the day?’’ she asked.

Rachel said she now wants to see evidence “from the ground’’ and also asks what are the opinions of the local paramedics, midwives, GPs and consultants.

“Everyone in the medical professional should be outraged at this. Every person in our community should be outraged,’’ she said.

“The women who gave evidence in that document did have an impact. We know it made people sit up and listen but it is not enough.

“We must collect our own hard evidence and challenge them at every step. ’’

Email Rachel at racheldylanj@yahoo.co.uk