This week it was reported by William Harvey Hospital Midwifery Staff that due to this shortage of midwives expectant mothers were having to divert to QEQM Margate for labour and delivery. Read previous bulletins for relevant information and links
East Kent Hospitals and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trusts have suspended home birth service.
Kent hospital trusts suspend home births over midwife shortages: Home birth services have been suspended by two NHS trusts in Kent due to a shortage of midwives. The two trusts – East Kent Hospitals and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells – said moving all deliveries into hospitals would ensure the safety of mothers and babies Naomi Nixon, who planned a home birth, said it was “massively disappointing”
The Royal College of Midwives said long-term shortages of midwives had been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Mrs Nixon said as a result of the suspension she no longer had a single point of contact with the East Kent trust’s maternity service.
“I don’t have a named midwife, I don’t have some one I can liaise with directly if I have issues,” she said.
“That whole continuity of care… has gone out the window at such a late stage in pregnancy.”
Abbie Aplin, of the Royal College of Midwives, said several staffing issues had created a “perfect storm”