No criticism of NHS after triplets' birth
A GAYWOOD grandfather has defended the National Health Service after his triplet grandchildren were split up after birth because of hospital shortages.
Lynn Lion Mike Humphrey spoke out after the story hit national headlines of babies Alistair, Harry and Rosie German, who were born eight weeks prematurely at the Rosie Maternity Unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Rosie had to stay at Addenbrooke's while Alistair went to the special care baby unit at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon and Harry went to Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Parents Amee and Andrew German, who are both 29 and live in Huntingdon, faced daily 130-mile round trips to see their children.
The problem developed because, just 48 hours after their birth, there was a shortage of cots in the Rosie Maternity Unit but, said Mr Humphrey, his daughter and son-in-law had been warned about the situation in advance.
"They knew there was a possibility the hospital would have to move them. Addenbrooke's has done nothing wrong in this."
He said his daughter, who was born in Lynn and has lived in Huntingdon for about four years, was able to see both Alistair and Rosie on a regular basis while he personally could see Harry in Lynn because he was so close to where he lived.
He added the babies – who were apart for about a week – were now back together again at Hinchingbrooke.
The Government has said maternity units sometimes have to act because it is hard to predict demand.
An Addenbrooke's spokesman said: "A set of triplets was delivered eight weeks early at the Rosie Hospital.
"With their parents' agreement, we decided that the two babies who did not need the highest level of intensive care would be moved to other neo-natal network hospitals.
"We have to make sure that our limited neo-natal intensive care beds are available to the very sickest babies, so it is normal practice to transfer babies to other hospitals when they do not need this level of specialist care.
"We are delighted that all three babies are doing well."
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Weather for King's Lynn
Thursday 09 February 2012
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