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NHS shake-up will save lives, says PM

07/01/2008

Reconfiguration of the NHS in Manchester will save lives, the prime minister has said.

Speaking on BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show, Gordon Brown cited the shake-up of maternity services as an example.

Earlier this year the Independent Reconfiguration Panel recommended the closure of maternity units in Trafford, Salford, Rochdale and Bury as part of a plan to concentrate services in eight hospitals across Greater Manchester.

"We had a very long debate about reconfiguration in Manchester," said Mr Brown.

"Some hospitals in Manchester had to change, had to move, had to diversify, had to do different things.

"But the aim was that specialist services in the region would be best for people. So children's lives will be saved as a result."

In 2006, Salford MP and cabinet minister Hazel Blears participated in a local protest over the closure of maternity services at Hope Hospital.