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Maternity crisis splits triplets | Maternity crisis splits triplets |
(about 21 hours later) | |
Triplets born eight weeks premature had to be taken to separate hospitals, 48 hours after birth, because of a shortage of cots in a maternity unit. | Triplets born eight weeks premature had to be taken to separate hospitals, 48 hours after birth, because of a shortage of cots in a maternity unit. |
The babies were born at Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, on 11 March. But, later, one was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon. | |
Another went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, resulting in a 140 mile round trip for the parents. | Another went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, resulting in a 140 mile round trip for the parents. |
Addenbrooke's Hospital has said its maternity services run under pressure. | Addenbrooke's Hospital has said its maternity services run under pressure. |
'Intensely pressurised' | 'Intensely pressurised' |
Tina Pollard, the clinical services manager for neo natal services at Addenbrooke's, said: "We have over 5,000 births here at Addenbrooke's in a year. | Tina Pollard, the clinical services manager for neo natal services at Addenbrooke's, said: "We have over 5,000 births here at Addenbrooke's in a year. |
"Of that you can expect at least 10% to require some kind of neonatal care. | "Of that you can expect at least 10% to require some kind of neonatal care. |
"We have 17 cots that provide intensive and high dependency care and then I have 10 cots that provide special care, so you can imagine we are intensely pressurised the whole time. | "We have 17 cots that provide intensive and high dependency care and then I have 10 cots that provide special care, so you can imagine we are intensely pressurised the whole time. |
"We've also got issues around our neonatal staffing levels and we are working with the Department of Health on that." | "We've also got issues around our neonatal staffing levels and we are working with the Department of Health on that." |
'Not surprised' | 'Not surprised' |
The government has said maternity units sometimes have to take action because it is hard to predict demand. | The government has said maternity units sometimes have to take action because it is hard to predict demand. |
The children's parents have not commented on the situation. | The children's parents have not commented on the situation. |
Shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, the MP for South Cambridgeshire, said he was not surprised at the news. | Shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, the MP for South Cambridgeshire, said he was not surprised at the news. |
"We are hundreds, perhaps a thousand, nurses short in supporting intensive care across the country. We have had a 12% increase in live births in the last five years," he said. | "We are hundreds, perhaps a thousand, nurses short in supporting intensive care across the country. We have had a 12% increase in live births in the last five years," he said. |
"You can't just magic extra capacity, you have to plan for this." | "You can't just magic extra capacity, you have to plan for this." |
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