Maternity petition with 10,000 signatures is handed to board

TEN thousand people have signed a petition opposing any change to maternity services in North Wales.

The document was presented to Betsi Cadwaladr bosses last Thursday by campaigners and Plaid Cymru politicians.

It comes as the consultation over the proposed temporary downgrade of f doctor-led maternity at one of the region’s three district hospitals enters its final days.

Health chiefs argue a shortage in middle-gradee doctors has left the service unstable, unsafe and on the “verge of collapse”, and that an urgent change must be made to prevent further risk to mothers and babies.

But campaigners fear the downgrade will in fact put women in need of a consultant-assisted birth in danger as they are forced to travel an extra 45 minutes down the A55 to another hospital in potentially life-threatening situations.

Plaid Cymru AM for North Wales Llyr Gruffyd Gruffydd said: “Cam “Campaigners acro across the reg region have co collected more than 10,000 names on petitions o opposing the d downgrading of maternity ser services.” ABA BCUHB spokes spokesman said: “We are listeningli to all views expressed and all responses to the consultation will be independently analysed. Following this, a report will be submitted to the board for a decision to be made.”