Maternity unit crisis: Labour accused of putting mothers and babies at risk by closing wards

One in eight maternity units has been closed or is in danger under Labour, the Tories claimed last night.

They say the health of mothers and babies is being put at risk because the closure or downgrading of 41 units forces thousands to travel further to give birth.

And they warned that Government policy of concentrating maternity services in larger, centralised hospitals will lead to the closure of still more local units.

The Conservatives have also carried out research which they say shows smaller maternity units are safer for mother and baby than larger ones.

Labour has argued that larger units are better because more specialist staff can be on site at all times.

The revelations are part of the Tories' bid to reposition themselves as the 'party of the NHS' as the service prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Critics say it is astounding that a Labour government has presided over a situation where maternity units are closing and there is a shortage of at least 5,000 midwives.

Tory health spokesman Andrew Lansley said: 'These figures clearly demonstrate the foolishness of Labour's plans to supersize our NHS. As has happened far too often with this Government, ideology is seen as more important than a proper analysis of the facts.

'For higher-risk births, specialist obstetric services are needed. But that doesn't mean the great majority of mothers can't have access to choice, including their local birth centre or maternity unit which provide a better option for uncomplicated births.

'Labour's drive for large numbers of births in ever more distant larger obstetric units will torpedo choice in childbirth and undermine quality care for normal births.'

The Tory analysis, built up by submitting Freedom of Information requests to every NHS trust, shows that since Labour took over in 1997, ten maternity units have closed and five have been downgraded from consultant-led to midwife-led units.

A further 15 are under threat of closure, while there are plans to downgrade 11 more – making a total of 41 closed or under threat.

In 1997 there were 296 maternity units – meaning more than one in eight have since closed or are under threat.

Next week, junior Health Minister Lord Darzi will unveil his plan for NHS reform.

It is expected to include centralising more maternity services – potentially leading to more closures.

The Tories have also compared the size of maternity units, measured by births born each year, with ratings given by the watchdog Healthcare Commission.

They found that units in the top ratings category delivered an average of 2,270 babies – those in the worst-performing group delivered an average of 3,414.

Overall, 21 per cent of maternity units are rated as poor by the commission – rising to 70 per cent in London.

Louise Silverton, deputy general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives said: 'We are concerned about the trend towards larger and more impersonal maternity units.

'Action is needed now because an emerging baby boom is placing additional demand on a service that has already had to cope with a reducing budget and a shrinking midwifery workforce.'

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said last night: 'Andrew Lansley cannot have it both ways. Time and again, the Tories say they want the NHS to be free locally to make decisions about services.

'Yet time and time again, when that freedom is exercised, the Tories oppose it.'