Maternity ward closures announced

Some of the hospital units the Tories claimed earlier in the week were under threat - are to close it was revealed today.

The Proposals which will see the closure of maternity units at four Greater Manchester hospitals have been backed by the health secretary. Alan Johnson endorsed plans to close units in Rochdale, Salford, Trafford and Bury after an independent review.

It means consultant-led maternity care will be concentrated in eight hospital sites across the region instead of twelve.

It was outside Hope Hospital in Salford that the still serving Cabinet minister Hazel Blears famously campaigned against the impact in her constituency of her own government's policy. Neighbouring MPs are furious.

Some relief though for the Conservatives. Earlier this week its attempts to position David Cameron as the NHS defender spectacularly unravelled after some mistaken claims about ward closures sparked a series of apologies and then retractions. Today's announcement proves they aren't guilty of scaremongering, they say.

All sides agree that these moves are not about cost cutting. More money is going in, but the health service believes that maternity services are better provided by concentrating resources in eight higher quality units than 12.

Opposition parties say criteria are being applied inflexibly, and the net result is more pregnant women having to travel further from their home.

Tough business decisions like this are being made across the NHS -- for David Cameron its an opportunity to show off a Conservative party reborn.

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