Rural maternity unit closures

Motion Text

That this House is alarmed at the growing trend of rural maternity ward closures; believes forcing women to travel more than an hour to the nearest hospital is unsafe and leaves mothers at risk of harm; further believes no expectant mother should be forced to worry whether she will be able to reach the closest maternity unit in time during labour; condemns the previous Government for the structural issues they left in maternity services; disagrees with those arguing that closures are inevitable; urges the Government to properly explore alternative options, including funding rotations at larger units to maintain experience, rather than simply closing rural maternity units; praises the courage of mothers opposing these closures in north Devon and elsewhere; and calls for a maternity rescue package to save vital services and make Britain the safest country in the world to have a baby.