New Style Maternity Services

23 October 2000

Fewer trips to the West Suffolk Hospital and an improvement in the quality of care provided women with pregnancy complications is promised from a new style antenatal service.

The new service for mums-to-be will come into operation from 6 November.

For the majority of women, pregnancy is trouble-free and results in a healthy birth. Routine trips to the hospital to see a consultant obstetrician are unnecessary and time consuming for this group of women, who can be equally well cared for by the community midwives, at home or at their local GP surgery.

Under the new system, unless there is a problem with the pregnancy, visits to the hospital will only be necessary for most women for a 12 and 20 week ultrasound scan. The scans are used to confirm the likely date of birth and to monitor the developing foetus.

Where there is cause for concern antenatal care will be led by a consultant obstetrician and women will continue to come to appointments at the West Suffolk Hospital. The introduction of midwifery-led care for most pregnancies will give hospital consultants more time to spend treating women experiencing complications.

"Bringing every expectant mum up to the hospital to see a consultant at the beginning of their pregnancy often resulted in very busy clinics and long waits," said Antenatal Clinic Sister, Heather Chandler.

"The new service will save most mums-to-be, who have a straight forward pregnancy, an unnecessarily journey up to the hospital. Consultants will be able to focus on women who need more of their time and expertise.

Mums receiving midwifery-led care will continue to have immediate access to a consultant if unexpected complications arise." she said.

Also on Monday 6 November the trust will be opening a new antenatal assessment unit. This is a new service for women with pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure and where there is concern regarding the growth of the foetus.

Furnished with comfortable reclining chairs the unit will be staffed by experienced midwives and a consultant and referral to the unit can come from the women themselves or from midwives and GPs.

The aim of the unit is to carry out the necessary investigations and tests, receive the results and determine the best course of action all on the same day.

"Women will no longer have to be admitted on to a busy ward where they can experience a lengthy wait before being seen by a consultant. The unit will offer women a comfortable and relaxing environment and prompt attention," said Antenatal Clinic Sister, Colleen Greenwood.

The antenatal assessment unit will be open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

Editor's Notes

The launch of the new antenatal service and opening of the antenatal assessment unit on 6 November will be marked by the hanging of a special painting in the antenatal clinic.

The painting by Dorothy Scrivener is called The Millennium Baby - head first into what kind of world. Samantha Millie Knott will be present at the unveiling with her parents. She was the first baby to be born in Suffolk in the new miliennium.

The event will take place at 12 noon in the antenatal clinic on Monday 6 November 2000.