THE Welwyn Hatfield Times is calling on GPs and residents across Times Territory to back its campaign for a midwife-led maternity unit at the new QE2 Hospital.

Our move follows last week’s news that the new hospital WILL have an A&E department and intermediate care beds following extensive lobbying by MP Grant Shapps.

Neither had been included in original plans for a ‘local general hospital’ in the town.

Mr Shapps also won another major concession – he secured a feasibility study into the possibility of providing a midwife-led maternity unit.

But the WHT has learned that GPs in Times Territory have already been approached urging them NOT to back any proposal for such a unit.

A letter, seen by the WHT, has been sent to doctors throughout Welwyn Hatfield, saying all maternity services should be centralised at Lister as originally planned.

It was penned from a GP in Stevenage, who claims many GPs “do not support” the provision of a standalone unit at the QE2.

For reaction and more on this story buy this week’s WHT.