£175k payment to hospital boss, as homebirth service is suspended and cutbacks loom.

20 March 2010. The Argus reports that MPs and community activists are concerned about a £175,000 ‘golden handshake’ that will be paid to the Kim Hodgson, Director of East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, despite the fact that she will not serve her out her contract.

On Thursday, expectant mums in East Sussex learned that very same Trust was suspending support for homebirth, because they did not have enough midwives to cover sickness and maternity leave. 

The Trust faces its biggest budget cutback ever, as the government struggles to reduce its financial deficits. The articles (links below) underline the problems facing Britain's National Health Service, and bode ill for the NHS promise to support home birth. 

Anger at NHS chief's £175,000 golden handshake

Sick midwives force cancellation of home births