Small maternities may still remain open

There are five West Flemish maternities that had to fear for their survival. Because they had fewer than 557 births a year. But Minister Vandenbroucke wants to relax the criteria. He wants to set the standard at 400 deliveries per year. But also keep maternity facilities open if they are located in a municipality with more than 20,000 inhabitants, if it is more than fifteen kilometers from another maternity hospital. “I assume that this advice will be a guideline,” said the minister.