THE campaign over the future of Helme Chase was taken to the Houses of Parliament this week, when a government minister was grilled about the maternity unit, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate.

Junior health minister Gisela Stuart told a Westminster debate the changes proposed at the popular Kendal unit were not about money.

She also said that if health professionals, like midwives, were happy with the service they were offering, it was likely to produce better results for patients.

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Collins said he was delighted with the outcome of the adjournment debate, which took place in front of a number of MPs and visitors in Westminster Hall.

Mr Collins had pressed for the debate to ensure ministers and health officials were aware of the strength of feeling locally about Helme Chase, and the background to the current controversy.

He was pleased that the minister said the Government did not want to support one type of maternity service in preference to all others.

"I interpret what she was saying as giving the health authority maximum discretion, and saying we are not required by national guidelines to go down a single route," Mr Collins said.

The future of Helme Chase is being reviewed, partly because current staffing levels do not meet national guidelines.

A steering group recommended a change to a midwife-led unit.

Morecambe Bay Health Authority, which funds the unit, decided to consult on three options for its future, of no change, closure, and a midwife-led unit.

Midwives at Helme Chase claim the midwife-led unit proposals out to consultation differ from those set out by the steering group, which they and Mr Collins are backing.

A petition supporting Helme Chase, organised by Kendal mother Nicola Kaye and Mr Collins, has now been signed by 6,000 people.

Mrs Kaye, and Royal College of Midwives spokeswoman Audrey Hawkes, hope to accompany the MP when he presents the petition on the floor of the House of Commons.

Kendal town councillors this week backed the proposal for a midwife-led unit, but supported keeping planned Caesareans at Kendal.

Health watchdog body South Cumbria Community Health Council is due to decide its response to the consultation on Monday, when members will be recommended to support keeping as many services as possible at Helme Chase, including planned Caesareans.

If the CHC completely rejected the midwife-led unit plans, the matter could be referred to the health secretary.