KING’S LYNN: Unit plan would offer birth choice
Expectant mothers in Lynn could have more choice over where to give birth if hopes for a new midwifery-led birthing unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital go ahead,
This would create additional birthing rooms at the hospital which currently has 25 beds on its maternity ward and 13 rooms in the central delivery suite.
The news comes after reports that the QEH closed the doors on its maternity unit 14 times last year and sent women in labour to other hospitals.
Gwyneth Wilson, Director of Patient Experience at the QEH, said: “A maternity ward is only closed to new admissions as a last resort, when it is so busy that it would be unsafe to admit any more women.
“Closing the ward is the last stage of an escalation process which includes bringing in more staff and diverting staff from other activities.
“If an expectant mother has to be diverted to another hospital, she and her partner are informed of where they are to go and given contact details for the other unit, including postcode details for satellite navigation. We also ensure that the receiving unit knows the woman is on her way.
Sandie Kerridge, 20, of Tydd Gote, called the QEH during her second labour in October, and was told that the ward was closed and she would have to go to Peterborough.
However when she called the hospital in Peterborough to say she was on her way she was told that their maternity ward was also closed and she would have to find somewhere else to go.
She eventually gave birth to her daughter at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.
Miss Kerridge said: “I felt quite panicky.
“When I realised I couldn’t get to Peterborough I thought I was going to have the baby in the car.”
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Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
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Sunny spells
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