By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
Fertility services will no longer be based in the same building as maternity in a new Nottingham women and children’s hospital, the local NHS has confirmed.
Nottinghamshire County Councillors had previously raised “grave concerns” over plans under the Tomorrow’s NUH programme to host fertility services in the same building as maternity, over the potential mental impact on those finding it difficult conceive.
Tomorrow’s NUH – the redevelopment led by Nottingham University Hospitals Trust- has been described as a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to reshape hospital services in the city.
The trust, which runs the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital, was chosen as one of 40 major hospitals to be funded by the Government to make the changes.
Maternity units at the trust are currently rated ‘requires improvement’ and a major review into past failings is being carried out by midwife Donna Ockenden.
The Integrated Care Board (ICB), which runs local healthcare services, is planning to hold a 12-week public consultation on the plans next year.
The plans will see maternity and neonatal services being merged at Queen’s Medical Centre in a new Women’s, Children’s and Families hospital – the first of its kind in the East Midlands.
County Councillor Michelle Welsh (Lab) warned NHS last year she had “grave concerns” about hosting maternity and neonatal services in the same building as fertility.
A change to the plans was announced at Nottinghamshire County Council’s health scrutiny committee on December 12.
Alex Ball, Director of Communications and Engagement at the ICB, said: “As a committee, you asked last time a number of questions and we have responded to those.
“There were specific questions around the proposals to bring together women’s, children’s and family services into a single new build facility.
“You had questions over how that would work particularly with fertility services and how they would be housed in the same building sensitively.
“We absolutely recognise this is a sensitive topic that we need to get right.
“Fertility services are not proposed to be in the new women’s children’s and family services building.”
Fertility services for men and women will instead remain in the main Queen’s Medical Centre building.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Welsh said she was “really pleased” the decision had been made.
She said: “The journey for fertility treatments is one of the most emotionally exhausting experiences a woman can have.
“There is a big group in Nottinghamshire that are going through fertility treatment and perhaps finding out it is their last go or that it hasn’t worked again.
“We need to make sure we protect women when they are going through that journey.
“Part of that is giving them a private space which is away from the maternity department and women walking by with babies.
“It’s not because people having fertility treatment are jealous – it is important they get a closed space.
“Given what has happened at NUH in the past, women have been seriously let down.”
In the pre-consultation process, the ICB asked for feedback on a range of proposals including fertility services being within the women’s and children’s hospital.
Of the 366 individuals who responded, 41 per cent thought it should be part of the Women and Children’s Hospital and 41 per cent thought it should be in a separate location. Eighteen per cent were not sure.
But the ICB said there were some respondents who said hosting maternity and fertility in the same building could be distressing for families who are unable to conceive or have suffered a traumatic experience or baby loss.
The proposals have since been amended.
The vision is to turn City Hospital into a “centre of excellence for elective care”.
Most planned operations, such as hip replacements, would be delivered at the City Hospital, with some emergency care moving to the QMC. Cancer treatment would continue to be delivered across both sites.
