Plans for new North Mid maternity and children's unit submitted (From Haringey Independent)

Plans for new North Middlesex Hospital maternity and children's unit submitted to Enfield Council

4:44pm Monday 18th June 2012 in News By David Hardiman, Reporter

Plans for a new maternity and children’s unit at North Middlesex Hospital have been submitted, a year before the switch of services from Chase Farm.

Proposals for the three-storey building at the hospital in Sterling Way – including women’s outpatient services, birthing units, obstetrics theatres and neonatal units – will go before Enfield Council’s planning committee next week, with officers recommending the plans gain approval.

The new building is in the north-eastern corner of the site and will involve the demolition of the old fracture clinic, walk-in centre, x-ray department and surgical blocks.

Both maternity and accident and emergency services currently provided at Chase Farm Hospital will be shared between North Middlesex and Barnet Hospitals when the site in The Ridgeway is downgraded in September next year.

The closure is part of the plan, approved by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, to shake-up hospital services with the aim of improvement and tackling inequality of health care.

However, the proposals, which have been around for several years, have faced fierce opposition from health campaigners, Enfield Council, and many Enfield GPs.

The council dropped its idea of a legal challenge to the plans, but said it wants to see significant improvements in health care in Enfield as well as more investment to justify the downgrade of Chase Farm.