Darlington hospital moves twin deliveries to Middlesbrough
Women expecting twins will now go to James Cook Hospital for delivery, as Darlington Memorial Hospital makes improvements.
Women expecting twins in Darlington will now need to travel to Middlesbrough for treatment and delivery.
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust will get support from James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough to manage twin pregnancies and deliveries.
Any women booked to give birth at Darlington Memorial Hospital and any new twin pregnancies will now need to go to Middlesbrough instead.
It's after maternity services at the Trust underwent and independent review.
The report found maternity services were safe and made some recommendations.
Sue Jacques, Chief Executive at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Patient safety and the consistent delivery of high quality care are our priorities.
“We promote an open culture of reporting and learning and regularly monitor serious and adverse incidents across all of our clinical services.
“As part of this monitoring and in response to feedback from our clinical teams, an independent review was commissioned to seek assurances on safety and identify any areas where improvements could be made within the Trust's maternity services.
“The report concluded that the maternity services are safe and makes some recommendations. The Trust believes there are further quality improvements we could make to maternity care for twin pregnancies and deliveries.
“We have therefore put in place arrangements with South Tees NHS Foundation Trust by which we can share experience and expertise. The Fetal Medicine Specialist and Clinical Director for Obstetrics at James Cook Hospital is supporting our maternity services and will work with our twin pregnancy clinics at Darlington Memorial Hospital so we can offer ladies an enhanced service locally. This will also give us an opportunity to develop our trust-wide service.
“As part of this twin deliveries will be managed at James Cook Hospital. We appreciate this may be further to travel for some families, however it will mean access to specialist skills on one site including the specialist neo-natal service should it be required. We believe this will offer the best care pathway, however if ladies have any concerns or would like to discuss any different options then they will be able to do this with their consultant.
“The arrangements are in place as an interim measure with the intent of re-introducing twin deliveries at Darlington Memorial Hospital once we have appropriate assurances in place.
“We are contacting ladies who are currently booked to have twins with us at Darlington to explain the changes and support them in making the changes and new bookings will be managed in line with this pathway.”
Dr John Macdonald, Interim Clinical Director of Obstetrics at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust added: “This is an opportunity for further collaborative working with South Tees that will enhance existing services, provide access to specialist facilities as required, whilst providing care locally as much as possible."