A HOSPITAL boss has broken his silence following news that Maternity is to be saved from the axe.
Chief executive of the George Eliot Hospital, Kevin McGee, has welcomed the fact that the Nuneaton NHS Trust’s preferred proposal `Option 6’ has got the backing of the Arden Cluster and the Warwickshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
As exclusively revealed in the Nuneaton News last week, `Option 6’ is the only option to go forward in a controversial review into Paediatric and Maternity provision in North Warwickshire.
This has caused the full public consultation to be scrapped in favour of a series of public engagement events explaining the changes.
Mr McGee said: “We are very pleased to learn that both the Warwickshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) and the Arden Cluster PCTs have recommended that `Option 6’ be the only proposal to be taken forward to establish a sustainable future for women’s and children’s services locally.
“Option 6 was the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust’s preferred solution which will see the majority of women’s and children’s services maintained on the George Eliot site, with the exception of inpatient paediatrics.
“It is also our understanding that the HOSC has suggested that formal consultation on only one option would be inappropriate and instead a programme of public engagement and involvement has been recommended to ensure clear understanding of the changes taking place.
“However, we recognise the final decision on whether or not to consult remains with the PCT and we await their final decision.”
He added: “We very much welcome the agreement that Option 6 represents the most appropriate solution to securing the best care possible for local people and we remain committed to working together with local healthcare partners to implement the necessary changes to ensure high quality, accessible services for local people in the future.”
