This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/health-14145862
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK 'has too many hospital births' | UK 'has too many hospital births' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By Branwen Jeffreys Health correspondent, BBC News | By Branwen Jeffreys Health correspondent, BBC News |
| Maternity services across the UK need a radical rethink according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. | Maternity services across the UK need a radical rethink according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. |
| It wants a cut in the number of hospital units to ensure 24-hour access to care from senior doctors. | It wants a cut in the number of hospital units to ensure 24-hour access to care from senior doctors. |
| The report also says more midwife-led units are needed for women with low-risk pregnancies. | The report also says more midwife-led units are needed for women with low-risk pregnancies. |
| The National Childbirth Trust welcomed the report but says the proposals don't go far enough | The National Childbirth Trust welcomed the report but says the proposals don't go far enough |
| Too many hospital births | Too many hospital births |
| Too many babies are born in traditional hospital units according to the college, which warns the current system is neither acceptable nor sustainable. The President, Dr Anthony Falconer, told the BBC that most out-of-hours care was being provided by junior doctors. | Too many babies are born in traditional hospital units according to the college, which warns the current system is neither acceptable nor sustainable. The President, Dr Anthony Falconer, told the BBC that most out-of-hours care was being provided by junior doctors. |
| The college estimates there are around 1,000 too few consultants to provide adequate round-the-clock cover for hospital units. Dr Falconer said: "There is no doubt if you look at the worst scenario of serious complications, you need the right person, a senior person, there immediately." | The college estimates there are around 1,000 too few consultants to provide adequate round-the-clock cover for hospital units. Dr Falconer said: "There is no doubt if you look at the worst scenario of serious complications, you need the right person, a senior person, there immediately." |
| Previous attempts to re-organise maternity care around a smaller number of hospital units have proved controversial, but Dr Falconer said if women could be convinced of the greater safety they would be prepared to travel to have their babies. | Previous attempts to re-organise maternity care around a smaller number of hospital units have proved controversial, but Dr Falconer said if women could be convinced of the greater safety they would be prepared to travel to have their babies. |
| The need for change would be largely in cities or large towns, as in rural areas it might be more important to support smaller units. The report estimates that across the UK there are 56 units with fewer than 2,500 deliveries of babies a year. | The need for change would be largely in cities or large towns, as in rural areas it might be more important to support smaller units. The report estimates that across the UK there are 56 units with fewer than 2,500 deliveries of babies a year. |
| More midwife led units needed | More midwife led units needed |
| In order to take the pressure off busy hospitals, the College is also calling for an increase in the number of midwife-led units. Midwives have welcomed the report, saying it could improve the experience for around a third of women who have straightforward deliveries. | In order to take the pressure off busy hospitals, the College is also calling for an increase in the number of midwife-led units. Midwives have welcomed the report, saying it could improve the experience for around a third of women who have straightforward deliveries. |
| The proposals for maternity are part of a wider vision of delivering all women's gynaecology and obstetrics care in networks, similar to the model which has helped improve cancer treatments in England. | The proposals for maternity are part of a wider vision of delivering all women's gynaecology and obstetrics care in networks, similar to the model which has helped improve cancer treatments in England. |
| The National Childbirth Trust said the idea of having a network to provide joined-up care for women was one it could support but it would prefer care during pregnancy and maternity to be concentrated in one NHS organisation in each area. | The National Childbirth Trust said the idea of having a network to provide joined-up care for women was one it could support but it would prefer care during pregnancy and maternity to be concentrated in one NHS organisation in each area. |
| Face up to change | Face up to change |
| The NHS confederation, which speaks for managers, described maternity care as a classic example of a service which desperately needed to be reorganised. Mike Farrar, its chief executive, said politicians needed to be prepared to speak up for change. | The NHS confederation, which speaks for managers, described maternity care as a classic example of a service which desperately needed to be reorganised. Mike Farrar, its chief executive, said politicians needed to be prepared to speak up for change. |
| "Where the case for change is clear, politicians should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with managers and clinicians to provide confidence to their constituents that quality and care will improve as a consequence of this change." | "Where the case for change is clear, politicians should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with managers and clinicians to provide confidence to their constituents that quality and care will improve as a consequence of this change." |
| That hasn't always been the case, with two ministers in the last Labour government campaigning against the closure of units in Greater Manchester. Hundreds of people turned out to a rally to oppose the closure of maternity services in Salford last autumn. After a review under the coalition, the NHS is pressing ahead with plans to reduce the number of units across the area from 12 to 8. | That hasn't always been the case, with two ministers in the last Labour government campaigning against the closure of units in Greater Manchester. Hundreds of people turned out to a rally to oppose the closure of maternity services in Salford last autumn. After a review under the coalition, the NHS is pressing ahead with plans to reduce the number of units across the area from 12 to 8. |
| Although Scotland has reorganised some of its maternity services, there are likely to be pressures for change elsewhere in the UK. In North Wales maternity care across three hospitals is expected to change after an initial review recently concluded improvement was needed. | Although Scotland has reorganised some of its maternity services, there are likely to be pressures for change elsewhere in the UK. In North Wales maternity care across three hospitals is expected to change after an initial review recently concluded improvement was needed. |
| Would you consider a home birth over a hospital birth? Have you experienced both? Let us know your thoughts by filling in the form below. |