WE DID IT (OR RATHER YOU DID!)

The people, users, mums, dads, grandparents, toddlers and babies, anyone and everyone who wrote, shouted or gurgled in the name of Stroud Maternity has helped save this much valued and much used maternity unit. So thank you ! A HUGE THANK YOU. It was five months of hard campaigning, but we marched, shouted, wrote and badgered our way to success, proving that people power does still work.

On September 21st 2006, all three local Primary Care Trusts in Gloucestershire voted unanimously to maintain ante-natal, birth and postnatal services in Stroud, with no provisos, conditions or period of review given. Their reason ? They told us the tide of political health opinion was changed partly because of the overwhelming public opposition to closure ( that's you !), and because it would clearly go against current Government policy to close a busy, much valued local service such as Stroud Maternity.

The people of the Stroud Valleys, and all surrounding towns and villages, deserve a huge pat on the back for supporting and fighting hard for what they believe in. We also appreciate the support of many local businesses and the local media in helping to get all the information out the public - it was hard work but we did it !

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW ?

After a lot of thank you's and celebrations, life is slowly but surely returning to normal. The maternity unit is very busy, with plenty of parents obliging with babies, and the Unit is recruiting staff once again after a 'freeze' during the campaign.

Even though the campaign is over, Stroud Maternity Matters as a group is very much here to stay. We in turn voted to keep active as a pressure group, aimed at helping to shape and improve maternity services around the Stroud area, but also to have input in decisions across the county, as representatives of you, the users. The three local primary care trusts have now merged to form one large Gloucestershire PCT, and we will be forming links with health bosses to give public opinions on any proposed changes. We will also be keeping up our links with the media, in sharing information.

We are in touch with other midwife-led units across the country, some of which are under serious threat, and sharing ideas and information about effective campaigns. We were invited to speak (and did speak) at a national NHS TUC rally on health in London, and have been invited to speak at the International Confederation of Midwives conference in Glasgow in June 2008.
We will not go away !

One of the most exciting elements on the horizon is a new, three -year independent review of all midwife-led units in England, currently being undertaken by an Oxfordshire-based group, from September 2006 to September 2009. This will look at the effectiveness and safety of low risk settings such as Stroud, and their place in the midwifery and birthing world - SMM have already met with the group and will be taking an active part in this respected study.

Alongside this, the Government-backed Health Commissioin will also be conducting their own survey on midwifery-led units and giving their views. So, exciting times ahead.

Please let us know what you think, and contact us with any information.

Stroud Maternity Matters, c/o Stroud Maternity Unit, Field Road, Stroud, GLOS GL5 2JB, or e.mail at : mandyrb@tiscali.co.uk

* If you want to contact us, please write to: Stroud Maternity Matters, c/o Stroud Maternity Unit, Field Road, Stroud, GLOS GL5 2JB, or e.mail at : mandyrb@tiscali.co.uk

* We still have car stickers, wristbands (limited number), and John Dougherty CD's available. Contact us on the above and we will happily post them out