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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'No bed' for woman in labour | 'No bed' for woman in labour |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A woman who went into labour at home claims she was told to look in the Yellow Pages because her local hospital had run out of beds. | |
| Gail Jordan, 38, said she was stunned after a nurse at Solihull Hospital, two miles from her home, said she would have to look elsewhere. | Gail Jordan, 38, said she was stunned after a nurse at Solihull Hospital, two miles from her home, said she would have to look elsewhere. |
| She later gave birth to son, Alexander, at Warwick Hospital, 20 miles away. | She later gave birth to son, Alexander, at Warwick Hospital, 20 miles away. |
| A spokeswoman for Solihull Hospital asked Ms Jordan to contact them so they could investigate the matter further. | A spokeswoman for Solihull Hospital asked Ms Jordan to contact them so they could investigate the matter further. |
| The drama unfolded on 31 January when the marketing director went in to labour at her home in Kerswell Drive. | The drama unfolded on 31 January when the marketing director went in to labour at her home in Kerswell Drive. |
| Stunned and shocked | Stunned and shocked |
| She rang the hospital, where she had arranged to give birth and had attended parentcraft classes with husband Dean, only to be told all the maternity beds were full. | She rang the hospital, where she had arranged to give birth and had attended parentcraft classes with husband Dean, only to be told all the maternity beds were full. |
| "I asked if there was another hospital, they said Coventry may be able to help you," she said. | "I asked if there was another hospital, they said Coventry may be able to help you," she said. |
| "I asked do you have their number and directions, they said no you're just going to have look them up in the Yellow Pages. | "I asked do you have their number and directions, they said no you're just going to have look them up in the Yellow Pages. |
| "I was absolutely stunned, in shock. | "I was absolutely stunned, in shock. |
| "You go through sheer panic, thinking am I going to have to deliver this child at home, in the car, what's going to happen? | "You go through sheer panic, thinking am I going to have to deliver this child at home, in the car, what's going to happen? |
| "You're very afraid, afraid for yourself and for your child." | "You're very afraid, afraid for yourself and for your child." |
| Investigation | Investigation |
| Her husband rang round and managed to arrange a bed at Warwick Hospital where Alexander was born weighing 7lbs 12 oz (3.5kgs). | Her husband rang round and managed to arrange a bed at Warwick Hospital where Alexander was born weighing 7lbs 12 oz (3.5kgs). |
| Solihull hospital director Lisa Dunn said: "Telling somebody to look through the Yellow Pages is just not the sort of advice we would give to somebody. | Solihull hospital director Lisa Dunn said: "Telling somebody to look through the Yellow Pages is just not the sort of advice we would give to somebody. |
| "If a woman is in labour and the hospital is full we find the nearest hospital that could accept her and call her back within minutes, and offer help in getting her there. | "If a woman is in labour and the hospital is full we find the nearest hospital that could accept her and call her back within minutes, and offer help in getting her there. |
| "We have carried out an initial investigation into this matter but we can't trace this call. We would like Ms Jordan to get in touch with us so we can investigate the matter further." | "We have carried out an initial investigation into this matter but we can't trace this call. We would like Ms Jordan to get in touch with us so we can investigate the matter further." |