Two new members of Parliament have made their first contributions to the chamber prioritising health.
Tom Rutland, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, made his first contribution to the chamber on Tuesday, highlighting the need for NHS investment and reform.
He brought a key issue to Parliament that Worthing has faced in the last week, being the threat to Worthing Hospital's maternity unit.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust said that the unit at Worthing Hospital may not have enough specialist staff over the next few months to keep women and their newborns safe due to a national shortage of midwives.
The hospital was forced to look into contingency plans to make sure women and their babies received the best care.
However, the trust reassured expectant mothers that the unit would not undergo changes.
Tom raised the issue during the health and social care oral questions session in the Commons.
MP Tom Rutland raised the issue of maternity staff shortages (Image: UK Parliament)
He said: “Last week, Worthing Hospital came close to having to consider downgrading its maternity services due to a shortage of specialist neonatal nurses and midwives.
“Will my right honourable friend update the house on the government’s plans to build an NHS that’s fit for the future, including by addressing staffing shortages.”
Minister of state in the Department for Health and Social Care and Bristol South MP Karin Smyth responded: “I welcome my honourable friend to the house.
“He makes an incredibly important point about this very stressful time, particularly for women, in his area.
“We will listen to women and deliver evidence-based improvements to make maternity and neonatal services safer and more equitable for women and their babies, and we have committed to delivering the long-term workforce plan.”
Beccy Cooper, MP for Worthing West, also addressed the topic of public health in her maiden speech in the House of Commons.
MP Beccy Cooper also addressed public health in her maiden speech (Image: Dr Beccy Cooper)
She said: "Health is essential in all things to ensure safety and security for all people.
"Inequalities in life expectancy are increasing, especially for women. In Worthing West, a woman living in one of our poorest areas will live an average of 8.3 years less than a woman living in one of our wealthiest areas, and for the population as a whole, the time spent in poor health is increasing."
A spokesman for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust said: “Worthing Hospital has been affected by a national shortage of midwives and neonatal nurses, which has left it with higher vacancy rates than usual.
“An increase in sickness and other absence during the summer months meant the trust needed to review and ensure enough specialist staff were available to keep maternity services safe during this period.
“Maternity colleagues have been working hard to address this and are now confident the hospital will have the right number of experienced staff in these key roles at all times.
“Providing safe care is everyone’s priority at University Hospitals Sussex.
“Removing maternity services permanently was never under consideration and the possibility of a temporary suspension has been avoided thanks to the commitment of the hospital’s neonatal and midwifery teams.”
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