Asons Comment on Staff Shortages Forcing Trowbridge Birth Centre To Close its Doors For Summer
Bolton, UK (PRWEB UK) 10 July 2013 -- According to the BBC, the Wiltshire Birthing Unit will close for 12 weeks, turning away the dozens of pregnant women who will require their services. The decision to close has been blamed on the effects of long term staff sickness and the availability of vacancies in other hospitals (1).
Women that are due to give birth at the time of closing, will be moved to Chippenham birth centre, leaving them to face a 13 mile journey to receive the medical attention their labour will require (1).
Asons executive, Suzanne Yates, commented on the upheaval, stating:
“This really is an awful predicament for women to face during what is already a stressful time for most women. The fact that these mothers to be are going to have to travel 13 miles to see a midwife is terrible, and in my eyes it is opening the doors for unnecessary complications, for example, birthing injuries.
With our recent rise in enquires, regarding cerebral palsy claims in particular, birthing injuries are prevalent within the current NHS crisis. The closing of this maternity ward will only add strain to the local community, leading to further instances of medical negligence within our national health service.”
Despite The Trowbridge Birth Centre dealing within around 28 births per month, the midwifery team are set to be moved to other NHS maternity to wards to provide cover for staff shortages, as reported by the BBC. These hospitals include Chippenham Birth Centre and the Princess Anne Wing at Bath's Royal United Hospital- with the latter recently being criticised by the Care Quality Commission earlier this year, regarding a worrying lack of staff, potentially leading to substandard care (2).
A spokesperson for Great Western Hospital, Swindon, has apologised for the inconvenience that this closure will cause to many families.
Christina Rattigan, the head of midwifery said:
"The decision is only a temporary one and has not been taken lightly.
We have recently recruited six midwives due to start over the summer and a further three posts will be recruited to by the end of July.
When normal staffing levels return, we will resume normal service at Trowbridge at the end of September." (1)
The government has set out a clear code of conduct that all health care providers are expected to provide their patients; including guidelines for reasonable standards of staffing, providing good standards of care and giving support to meet an individual’s personal needs. Following this code should allow medical professionals to steer clear of clinical negligence (2).
Continuing to comment on the staff shortages, Suzanne Yates said:
“Low staffing levels are becoming more of a problem in our hospitals. Rising numbers of people are claiming for birthing injury compensation, and it is often due to a lack of midwives or the absence of a doctor during the birth. If warning signs aren’t picked up quickly during these crucial hours, then things can go terribly wrong."
Avoidable injuries that are sustained during birth are a form of medical negligence and anyone who has suffered at the hands of a medical professional may be able to claim for birth injuries compensation. Asons are a medical negligence solicitors with a wealth of experience at dealing with medical negligence claims, to find out more information, or to speak to one of their experts, visit http://www.asons.co.uk or phone 01204 521 133.
(1) BBC News, Staff shortage shuts Trowbridge Birth Centre over summer, 03.07.2013
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-23168025
(2) Care Quality Commission, Directory, Princess Anne Wing, 22nd January 2013
cqc.org.uk/directory/rn3c1
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About Asons Solicitors:
Asons Solicitors is a Bolton-based law practice that specialises in personal injury and industrial disease claims. Founded by brothers Imran Akram and Kamran Akram, Asons Solicitors has developed to become a young and dynamic law firm that delivers practical solutions to clients in times of difficulty. Their continued focus on their staff has seen them awarded with the Investors in People “Gold Award”; which is reflected in the professional and personable approach they take in working with clients. They strive to grow and to develop, and their supportiveness and attention to detail ensures that their clients use them time and again.
For further information contact:
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.asons.co.uk
Imran Akram, Asons Solicitors, http://www.asons.co.uk, 08448501062, [email protected]
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