Date received: 15 May 2025
Signatures received: 131
Name of petitioner: Hannah Weaver
Petition Response:
Dear Hannah,
Further to the receipt of your petition regarding Call for a meeting of SCC for the continued operation of the Samuel Johnson Maternity Unit, please see below the response:
The Freestanding Midwifery Birthing Units and the public consultation organised by the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board were considered by the Health & Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee last year on 29 July 2024. Councillor Matthew Wallens also asked the question at the last Full Council meeting. The response from the Cabinet Member for Health and Care was:
‘’ I have passed the concerns of Lichfield residents on to the Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which has the power to review and scrutinise matters relating to the planning, provision and operation of NHS services in Staffordshire, and which is considering proposals for closure of the maternity unit at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital.
The Committee may consider making a request to the Secretary of State that the proposals are “called in” for further consideration by the Department of Health and Social Care.’’
Following this, the public consultation was again considered by the Health & Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee this year on 30 June 2025.
It is now a matter for Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent ICB to consider the outcome of their consultation before making a decision as to the future of the Freestanding Midwifery Birthing Units, therefore we have closed the petition our end and refer you to the ICB for further assistance.
Thank you,
Jo
Member & Democratic Services Support Officer