Hospital bosses face quizzing over axed fertility treatments
A meeting of Hartlepool Council's Audit & Governance Committee will take place later today.
Hospital bosses will face tough questions at a council meeting today as they try to explain why the chose to axe IVF services in Hartlepool.
Last month North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust announced that they'll no longer provide fertility treatments at University Hospital of Hartlepool from March.
They've now been summoned to a meeting of Hartlepool Council's Audit and Governance Committee to give evidence to back up the closure.
This is the first time the council will have put questions to hospital bosses - as well as excepting questions from members of the public.
One of the country's leading fertility experts, Dr Mohammed Menabawey, has also been invited to the meeting.
Councillor Ray Martin-Wells, Chair of the Council’s Audit & Governance Committee, said: “Far too often councillors have to rely on clinical information provided by the Hospital Trust when we are scrutinising its performance.
“My colleagues on the Committee feel it is important to seek the views of a clinical expert from outside the Trust on this matter and we are delighted that Dr Mohammed Menabawey – one of the leading voices on fertility in the country - has agreed to give up his time and attend the meeting.”
Darlington mam Stacey Donnelly had twins after undergoing treatment at the hospital.
She says she thinks explanations so far haven't been good enough.
She said: "It's such a nice unit and it's all high tech and they have lovely staff.
"I don't know why they can't keep it open and help because it just seems a waste of such a good resource really."
The meeting, in the Council Chamber, starts at 2.30pm. Doors open at 2pm and seats will be available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.