U-turn on plans for Nottingham fertility services to be alongside maternity services.
Last updated 14th Dec 2023
Nottingham's NHS Trust has confirmed fertility services will no longer be based in the same building as maternity in a new Nottingham women and children’s hospital.
Nottinghamshire County Councillors had previously raised “grave concerns” over plans under the 'Tomorrow’s NUH programm'e.
Councillors said there is a potentially negative impact on negative health for those trying to concerve to be in the same building as maternity.
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 receive government funding for change.
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.
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.
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.
The vision is to turn City Hospital into a “centre of excellence for elective care”.
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.”