No space at unit for Mums in labour (From This Is Lancashire)

No space at unit for Mums in labour

6:46am Wednesday 10th February 2010 in

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THE maternity ward at Fairfield General Hospital had to shut its doors to nearly 50 mums in labour last year because there were no beds available.

There were 28 occasions in 2009 when the department could not accept new admissions.

The 47 women affected between January and December were sent mostly to the trust’s other Hospitals — North Manchester General Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary. The Royal Bolton Hospital took two mums and Burnley General Hospital admitted one women.

Cathy Trinick, head of midwifery at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The safety of mums-to-be and their babies is always our priority and we work hard to make sure that mothers can deliver their baby in the hospital they were booked for.

“Unfortunately, over the year on 28 occasions a total of 47 women — less than two per cent of all births — were diverted to another hospital to give birth.

“The majority of women were admitted to one of the three other hospitals within the Pennine Acute Trust.

“We understand how important it is for mothers to give birth at their planned hospital.

“We, therefore, only divert women to another hospital after a great deal of thought.”

She continued: “The main reason for having to divert a small number of women is during short periods when the number of women in labour increases rapidly causing all the beds to be full.”

The Nursing and Midwifery Council has revealed that hospitals across the country closed their doors to expectant mothers on more than 350 occasions last year because they could not cope with demand. Units in the North West shut more than 200 times.

Hospital bosses say the issue should be addressed by the multi-million pound Making it Better scheme, which is overhauling maternity services in Greater Manchester.

Fairfield dealt with nearly 2,400 births last year but the unit will be closed under the project.

Ms Trinick added: “Over the next few years, the Making It Better changes to children’s, maternity and neonatal services across Greater Manchester will increase capacity within maternity services.

“As part of this programme, a new £32 million maternity and neonatal unit opens at North Manchester General Hospital in June this year and The Royal Bolton Hospital will become a centre of excellence for maternity, neonatal and paediatric care.”