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Two good reasons why ‘Making It Better’ has made it worse

14/12/2006

PREMATURE twins Daisy and Adam Hancock were born at Hope Hospital on the very day health chiefs confirmed the end of an era for the maternity unit.

Just hours after the tiny pair were delivered by emergency caesarean, members of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts met in Manchester and voted for the closure of Hope's vital maternity and neonatal intensive care units.

It is that very neonatal intensive care unit that has been Daisy and Adam's home for the past week after their mum Sherry Barry was rushed to Hope by fiance Stephen Hancock, 39, when she went into labour at just 33 weeks.

The journey from their home in Liverpool Road, Irlam, took 20 minutes and the couple fear what would have happened without Hope's specialist facilities being so close by.

Under the changes approved last week, the nearest intensive care unit for babies would be at St Mary's, Oldham or Bolton.

Sherry has three other children, Charly, 11, Sophie-Leigh, seven, and Rowan, six, and all were born at Hope.

She had another premature daughter Rebecca at Hope four years ago but the 1lb 4oz baby didn't survive.

Daisy, who was the smallest at 4lb 4oz, and 5lb 5oz Adam are both now in incubators but doing fine.

The 29-year-old said: "I wasn't due until January 24 so when my labour started at home in the middle of the night I needed to get to hospital quick.

"When I got to the hospital I needed an emergency caesarean because Daisy was breach. If we'd have had to get to another hospital I don't think we would have made it. My children have all got different blood from me so that's an added risk and means I can't give birth at home."

She added: "I'm devastated about the decision. All my children have been born here and the care has been excellent."

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