NHS Maternity Unit Closures: Why Bigger Hospitals Don’t Always Mean Better Care

Dr Paul Godwin, a medic writing in The Guardian, challenges the NHS assumption that consolidating maternity services into larger units improves care. He argues that closing smaller units, often seen as a quick fix for staffing shortages, may not deliver the quality gains expected. In his area, the largest local maternity unit has already faced questions over care quality, while a nearby large trust has had its neonatal care scrutinized. Godwin suggests that for some medics, working at a large centre means less pressure for the same pay, which can undermine care standards. With NHS leaders warning that up to 20 maternity units in England may have to shut, his letter highlights the risk of rewarding underperforming large centres while removing accessible local services. The real issue, he implies, is not size but staffing and management. As the NHS grapples with workforce crises, policymakers must weigh the evidence before closing smaller units that often provide vital community-based care.