The North Central London Integrated Care Board and NHS England have decided on the future of maternity and neonatal services after a three-year programme of research, planning, modelling, and consultation.
Against the backdrop of declining local birth rates, four maternity units at University College London Hospital (UCLH), Barnet Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital, and Whittington Hospital will deliver care.
Births will eventually not take place at the Royal Free Hospital.
Neonatal care at all four hospitals will provide at least Level 2 care – a higher level of care for babies born at 32 weeks gestation or older – for premature and unwell babies, ensuring more specialist support.
Plans include £67 million capital investment to improve buildings and facilities.
The plans now confirmed will see four maternity units serve Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, and Islington, as well as those in neighbouring boroughs who choose to use North Central London services.
Although there are no immediate changes and all services remain open, one existing unit, at the Royal Free Hospital, will eventually be subject to closure.
Services at Whittington Hospital will remain open.
Dr Josephine Sauvage, a local GP and medical director for the Start Well programme, and the North Central London Integrated Care Board, said: “We want to consistently provide the very best quality services for babies, children, and parents—wherever they are—across our communities.”
A further part of the proposals will see the expansion of antenatal and postnatal care services out of Edgware Birth Centre and the closure of the birthing suites at Edgware Birth Centre.
Frances O’Callaghan, chief executive of the North Central London Integrated Care Board, said: “As the board discussion reflected, these have been difficult and significant decisions.
“We know how hard staff work to provide services which are highly valued.
“However, the current arrangements cannot continue as they are.”
Paul Najsarek, chair of the North Central London Integrated Care Board, said: “It was right to have a thorough examination of the issues, and I was pleased to see members of the public and staff in attendance, voicing questions and applying the right and appropriate scrutiny.”
