One of the North-East's biggest health trusts last night announced it was applying for foundation status. Bosses at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust said the move would protect all of its hospitals from any cuts in services, including Hexham which has had to temporarily reduce its maternity care. The hospital last night pledged it would get a full maternity service up-and-running again as soon as possible. On Friday, after a visit to Hexham's new hospital by Health Secretary Alan Milburn, it emerged the trust had been forced to introduce a midwife-led service for six months because of a shortage of consultant anaesthetists. For six months from May 20, women who need a caesarean section, epidural or induction will be transferred to Newcastle. Two anaesthetists are due to leave at the end of this month and, despite having advertised for new staff eight times so far, Northumbria Healthcare NHS trust has not managed to find anyone to fill the posts. Despite fears Hexham could suffer because of plans by the Department for Health to give some hospitals foundation status, the trust said yesterday its smaller hospitals would be safe from cutbacks because it is applying for foundation status itself. Trust chief executive Sue Page said: "This is a reduction in service which has been made primarily for patient safety. We do sympathise with the Tynedale mums-to-be. We know how much they value the Hexham maternity service. "But we have advertised for staff eight times and are now in the process of advertising again across the UK and Europe. As soon as we recruit more staff, we will reinstate the service." She said Hexham would not suffer as a result of the Government's move towards foundation status. She said: "It is part of a much larger organisation. The trust is actively exploring with its primary care partners to see how together we can take the opportunity to apply for foundation status and take advantage of all the benefits that could bring." But Jo Holmes, who is heading up a campaign, said they were still pressing ahead with their fight to make sure services were not lost permanently. Jo, from Whittonstall, is due to have her third baby at Hexham in October. "We are sending out petitions to all the ante-natal groups, toddler groups, first schools, nurseries and parish councils in the area. We are also looking for people who have examples of problems caused by the reduction in services to come forward." Foundation hospital trusts would be able to borrow on the open market and vary wage rates. The Government says it will give hospitals more freedom to raise standards, but it has led to concerns of a two-tier NHS. In the North-East, three trusts - Newcastle Hospitals, North Tees and Hartlepool and City Hospitals Sunderland - have also announced they will be bidding for foundation status. * Anyone who wants to contact Jo Holmes can get in touch at jonathanholmes@tesco.net. | 
