Women who gave birth at home during Wednesday’s ambulance strike were warned that there was no guarantee an ambulance or paramedic would show up if there were complications during the birth.
As 10,000 paramedics from Unison, Unite and GMB patrol the country on Wednesday, a number of NHS trusts have “strongly advised” expectant mothers to go to the hospital themselves if possible.
NHS England has said ambulance services will only prioritize the most clinically urgent Category 1 or 2 cases. Long-term deliveries are a Category 3 ambulance response and are unlikely to be prioritized during a strike.
An immediate threat to the life of both the mother and the child would develop into an emergency call.
However, the foundations of University College London, Chelsea and Westminster have warned that ambulances may not arrive even if there are complications during the birth.
In a statement to expectant mothers, the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Trust advised people not to give birth at home due to the disruption: “On strike day, there is no guarantee that an ambulance or paramedic will be able to come to your home. with complications of home birth.
“We strongly recommend that if you went into labor on the day of the strike, you gave birth in the maternity ward of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital or West Middlesex University Hospital.”
University College London Hospital (UCLH) has also warned pregnant women that ambulances “may not be able to help you at home during your delivery.”
“To protect you and others, it is very important that you plan ahead for how you will get to the hospital that day if you need to give birth or do other things.”
This could mean that a family member or friend will take him to the hospital by public transport or taxi, the hospital said.
This was announced by the representative of UCLH. I: “When union action affects our women in labor, we have a 24/7 helpline where midwives can give advice and support.
The hospital urged patients to call with fear before going to the hospital and still dial 999 if their life is in immediate danger.
Both the Barts Health NHS Trust and London Northwest University Healthcare have urged pregnant women to plan ahead.
A spokesman for Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has advised pregnant women to go to a maternity hospital or birthing line if they have concerns about their health or the health of their baby.
“If you routinely use an ambulance to get you to the hospital, we ask that you let us know when you call so we can help you find alternative care,” the spokesperson said.
Ambulance trusts across the country reported critical incidents leading to a strike on Wednesday. NHS Foundation Trust North East Ambulance Service, NHS Foundation Trust South East Coast Ambulance Service, East Anglia Ambulance Service, NHS Trust Yorkshire Ambulance Service and NHS Trust London Ambulance Service announced on Monday a “business continuity incident” .
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.