‘Bookable’ birthing clinic praised in inspection

Edgeware Birth Center rated ‘good’ by CQC but may close (Image: Google)

Edgware Hospital’s ‘bookable’ maternity service was praised in a recent inspection but could still close.

Health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has given the maternity service at Edgware Community Hospital in Burnt Oak Broadway its second highest rating of ‘good’.

Edgware Birthing Center is run by the Royal Free London (RFL) NHS Foundation Trust and is open to people with low-risk births who have booked an appointment.

An inspection in October praised the service as “safe and well-led”.

Inspectors found that people received safe care from well-trained staff, worked well together and were supported by effective leaders.

Julie Hamilton, head nurse at RFL, said:

“This is thanks to the hard work of Edgware staff who are dedicated to providing quality maternity care to women in our community.”

The midwife-led Edgware Birth Center is currently scheduled for closure under the NHS North Central London Integrated Care System (NCL ICS) maternity services plan.

On average, fewer than 50 women give birth at the center each year, which the ICS claims is “not an effective use of resources”.

Even if the delivery room is closed, the center will continue to provide prenatal and postnatal care.

A public consultation on the proposal, which also proposes closing one of ICS’ main neonatal departments, ends on March 17.