Comments sought on city health proposals

A CONSULTATION will begin to discuss plans to centralise maternity and neonatal services at Leeds General Infirmary.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust is planning to build two new hospitals at the LGI, including a children’s hospital.

The Clinical Commissioning Group said the change would give “an opportunity to improve the way we deliver maternity and neonatal services in Leeds”.

As well as centralising maternity services, the trust is also proposing to build a new midwifery unit at the LGI and plans to consult with the public on the way services are provided.

The Leeds CCG said: “We want to speak to a range of different stakeholders in Leeds, including women and their families, the wider public and young people.

“In Leeds, we have spent a lot of time talking to women and their families over the last few years and we have a good understanding of what they think about maternity services in our city.

“We want to build on this knowledge to understand more about what aspects of maternity and neonatal care are most important to them.

The CCG added: “We will also ask people about our plans to centralise maternity and neonatal services at LGI and our proposals for hospital maternity outpatient appointments.”

A report making recommendations will only be published after the public consultation has been completed.

A consultation exercise will take place on Tuesday, February 11, at Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Leeds, from 1pm to 5pm and on Wednesday, February 19, at Old Fire Station, Gipton Approach, Leeds, from 1pm to 5pm.

Another will be held on Tuesday, March 3, at Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawsons Corner, Pudsey, from 9am to 1pm. A final one is planned on Wednesday, March 11, at Carriageworks Auditorium, 3 Millenium Square, Leeds, from 4pm to 8pm.