Birth choices – public consultation

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Birth Choices in Wakefield District – public consultation

In the foreground, a light-haired patient with shoulder-length hair and a hospital gown interacts with a Matron. They are smiling at each other. The background features a hospital setting with medical equipment visible.

We are asking for your views about birth choices in the Wakefield District.

This consultation is your chance to tell us what matters to you and your growing family. Your feedback will help shape future decisions and make sure we provide the best possible care in line with national standards and within the resources available.

Why we are consulting

Births at Pontefract Hospital were temporarily suspended in 2019 due to safety concerns. In January 2024, Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership decided not to reinstate the birthing facility. Shortly after, Wakefield Overview and Scrutiny Committee asked for a public consultation before a final decision is made.

The last time we asked for public feedback on birthing services at Pontefract Hospital was in 2019. Now, we want to hear from current, former, and future service users, staff, local residents, and stakeholders about how this proposal might affect them.

This consultation provides an opportunity for you share your views and experiences and tell us about any new information that should be considered before a final decision is made.

We will carefully review all feedback before making any decisions about permanently withdrawing births at Pontefract Hospital.

The proposal

We are consulting on a proposal not to reinstate the midwife-led birthing unit at Pontefract Hospital, while continuing to provide a full range of antenatal and postnatal services at the hospital and in the community.

Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust already provides a full range of birth options in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, and the proposal is for this to continue.

Where can people give birth?

People in the Wakefield District would still be able to choose to give birth at:

  • Home, supported by the community midwifery team
  • Pinderfields Hospital, in either the obstetric unit or the midwife-led unit (MLU)
  • Dewsbury Hospital, at the Bronte Birth Centre (MLU)
  • Other maternity units nearby, such as in Leeds or Barnsley

Birthing services have been suspended at the midwife-led unit at Pontefract Hospital since November 2019. No births have taken place at Pontefract Hospital since then.

There are no planned changes to:

  • Antenatal and postnatal clinics, including their locations
  • Neonatal services across the area
  • Obstetric-led and midwife-led units at Pinderfields Hospital
  • The midwife-led unit at Dewsbury Hospital (Bronte Birth Centre)

Even though these services are not changing, we still want to hear what’s important to you about them.

How to have your say

You can find out more about the proposed changes in the consultation document.

Once you have read the consultation document there are different ways you can share your views:

If you need any support or help to complete the survey, call us 01924 213050 or email wyicb-wak.engagement@nhs.net and someone will be in touch to help you. We also offer translated materials and support for those who need them.

The survey is open from Monday 10 February until Sunday 18 May. We encourage everyone to share their views before the deadline.

Community drop in sessions and online events

Join our community drop-in sessions

Throughout the consultation, we’re hosting community drop-in sessions where you can share your thoughts, ask questions, and find out more.

 

Drop by on a date that suits you.  No need to book – just come along and chat with our team. Your feedback is important, and this is your chance to have your say.

Upcoming events:

Tuesday 25 March 2025, 1.30pm – 3pm

Stanley Family Hub, Long Causeway, Stanley, Wakefield WF3 4JB

 

Wednesday 26 March 2025, 10am – 11am
Pontefract Library, Shoe Market, Pontefract WF8 1BD

 

Thursday 27 March 2025, 9.30am – 11am
Sunbeam Family Hub, Lupset Crescent, Wakefield WF2 8RH

 

Friday 28 March 2025, 9.30am – 11am
Kendal Drive Family Hub, Kendal Drive, Castleford WF10 3SP

 

Friday 4 April 2025, 9.30am – 11am
Cedars Family Hub, Barnsley Road, Pontefract WF9 4PU

Past events: (these events have now taken place, thank you to everyone who took part.)

Thursday 13 March 2025, 9.30am – 11am
Community Centre, The Square, Ferrybridge WF11 8PE

Thursday 13 March 2025, 1.30pm – 3pm
Castle Family Hub, 255 Barnsley Road, Wakefield WF1 5NU

Monday 24 March 2025, 9.00am – 10.30am
Balne Lane Community Centre, Balne Lane, Wakefield WF2 0DP

Monday 24 March 2025, 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Cluntergate Centre, Horbury, Wakefield WF4 5DA

 

Join our online events

Can’t make it to a drop-in session? No problem! We’re also hosting online sessions where you can learn more about the consultation, ask questions, and share your views from the comfort of your own home.

 

These sessions are held through Microsoft Teams. They are open to everyone, and you can join from any device. Simply pick a date that works for you and join the event using the links below:

 

Tuesday 25 March, 9:30am to 10:30am

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 382 711 178 125

Passcode: na7FN9o4

 

Thursday 3 April, 1pm to 2pm

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 352 556 313 626

Passcode: bX7ej72r

 

Tuesday 29 April, 6.30pm to 7.30pm

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 360 813 939 357

Passcode: tc6JA9WZ

Information in different formats

If you need information in another format or language, or need help to complete the survey, please get in touch with us at wyicb-wak.engagement@nhs.net or call 01924 213050.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are we asking for your views?
Birthing at Pontefract Hospital was temporarily suspended in 2019 for safety reasons. In January 2024, Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership decided not to reinstate the birthing facility. The Wakefield Overview and Scrutiny Committee then asked us to hold a public consultation.

 

We asked people what they thought about the freestanding midwife-led unit (MLU) at Pontefract in 2019. We now need to make a final decision about the service. We want to hear your views about the impact on you and your family of not reinstating the birthing facility at Pontefract Hospital. This consultation is a chance to share your thoughts, suggest ideas, and tell us if there is anything else we should think about.

 

We will carefully consider all the consultation feedback before making a final decision about permanently withdrawing births at Pontefract Hospital.

 

What is this consultation about?
The consultation is about not reinstating the birthing facility at Pontefract Hospital. Your views will help us to understand how this could affect people and if there are other options we should think about.

 

How long is the consultation open?
The consultation is open from Monday 10 February until Sunday 18 May. We encourage everyone to share their views before the deadline.

 

Where can people living in Wakefield District give birth?

Pinderfields Hospital provides the obstetrician-led care which includes epidurals and Caesarean sections. Complex births are managed at the hospital and the majority of deliveries take place in the obstetric unit. Pinderfields also has a neonatal intensive care unit and transitional care unit for babies who are unwell. There are also maternity outpatient services including an antenatal day unit. This unit has a triage area for the assessment before delivery. If a pregnancy is thought to be more complex, delivery may be recommended at the obstetric unit.

Pinderfields Hospital also has a midwife-led unit (MLU) that operates separately but is located alongside the obstetric unit.

Dewsbury Hospital offers a freestanding midwife-led unit which also provides antenatal and postnatal care.

Homebirths can take place anywhere in the community and are supported by the community midwifery team.

Pontefract Hospital has a midwife-led maternity centre offering antenatal and postnatal care. This unit supported births from September 2016 but has been suspended to births since November 2019 due to safety concerns.

Other options: People in Wakefield district can also choose to give birth in maternity units that are closer to where they live, like Leeds or Barnsley.

 

Can people still receive care at Pontefract Hospital during pregnancy or after birth?
Yes. While no births have taken place at Pontefract Hospital since the service was suspended on safety grounds in 2019, antenatal and postnatal care continues to be available there. These services have been increased to include:

  • antenatal and postnatal clinics, including weekends
  • obstetric scanning (dating and growth scans)
  • consultant clinics
  • gestational diabetes services
  • specialist midwife for maternal medicine
  • maternal stop smoking services
  • antenatal day unit to monitor the health of parents and/or babies, which includes fetal monitoring
  • breast feeding support
  • parent education
  • community family hubs – wrapping care around women and birthing people and providing services that are located together and with easy access to further specialised care.

 

What about home births, are these affected?
No, this would not affect how home births are supported. The community midwifery team will continue to support home births.

 

Why was the birthing unit at Pontefract Hospital suspended in 2019?
The birthing unit was suspended in 2019 due to safety concerns. Due to low demand (there were two to three births a week) and the need to use NHS resources wisely, we temporarily suspended the birth unit, allowing us to use our midwifery staff where they were most needed. This helped us maintain safety and patient care across our hospitals.

 

What happens after the consultation?
After the consultation ends, we will review everything we have been told and any other information provided. We will publish a report that shares all we learnt and who we heard from. This information will be used to help us make a final decision on whether to permanently close the birthing unit or consider other options that have been shared in the consultation.

 

Why are you proposing to not reopen the birthing facility at Pontefract?
Maternity services in our area faced challenges even before the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that not bringing back a birthing service at Pontefract Hospital is the best way to avoid those issues happening again.

Our goal is to give clarity to local people about birthing options in our area. We also want to use NHS resources wisely. Most importantly, we want everyone in the Wakefield District to have a positive birth experience. That means receiving compassionate care from skilled staff who understand that every person, family, and newborn is unique.

 

How will this decision affect access to maternity care in Wakefield district?People will continue to have access to the full offer of antenatal and postnatal care at Pontefract. People will have the choice to give birth at home, in a midwife-led unit (MLU), or a labour ward within Wakefield District or beyond.

 

How can I have my say?

 

 

Glossary of terms

This consultation includes some technical words. Definitions of these words can be found here:

 

Alongside midwife-led unit – unit where births are supported by midwives rather than obstetricians. Alongside means that it is in the same hospital as an obstetric unit

 

Antenatal – care for parent and baby during pregnancy

 

Clinical criteria for MLU – guidelines which are used to see if a person is likely to be able to birth at MLU. This includes their age, BMI, absence of significant medical conditions and pregnancy complications including high blood pressure.

 

Equality Impact Assessment – an assessment that helps us to understand possible impacts on our communities.

 

Freestanding midwife-led unit – unit where births are supported by midwives; it is not next to an obstetric unit but is in a separate place.

 

Integrated Care Board – the organisation responsible for allocating the NHS budget in a geographical area and commissioning services.

 

Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) – independent organisations which gather feedback on maternity and neonatal care experiences, working with the NHS to make changes.

 

Midwife-Led Unit – unit where births are supported by midwives rather than obstetricians.

 

Labour ward – ward in a hospital where births can take place. It offers care for those who are more likely to have complications during labour and birth or when pain relief like epidural is wanted.

 

NHS England Service Change Assurance Process – a formal process that is followed when there is a significant change in service.

 

Postnatal – care for the baby after birth.

 

Obstetrician – a doctor who specialises in the care during pregnancy and childbirth.

 

Triage – assessment area to check any urgent issues.

 

Quality Impact Assessment – an assessment that helps us to make sure our services are safe, effective and high quality.

Key documents

Green Leaf