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Trusts deny maternity staff claim Trusts deny maternity staff claim
(about 2 hours later)
Health authorities have rejected claims the maternity unit at Craigavon Hospital may turn expectant mothers away due to a shortage of midwives.Health authorities have rejected claims the maternity unit at Craigavon Hospital may turn expectant mothers away due to a shortage of midwives.
The Royal College of Midwives had said services were pushed to the limit.The Royal College of Midwives had said services were pushed to the limit.
It blamed high birth rates, a rise in caesarean sections and more women from ethnic minorities having babies there.It blamed high birth rates, a rise in caesarean sections and more women from ethnic minorities having babies there.
But Martin Bradley, chief nursing officer at the Department of Health, said was "disingenuous" to suggest the unit was about to collapse.But Martin Bradley, chief nursing officer at the Department of Health, said was "disingenuous" to suggest the unit was about to collapse.
The future of Northern Ireland's maternity services is currently under review.The future of Northern Ireland's maternity services is currently under review.
Breda Hughes from the Royal College of Midwives said other maternity units in Northern Ireland had already re-directed expectant mothers to other hospitals.Breda Hughes from the Royal College of Midwives said other maternity units in Northern Ireland had already re-directed expectant mothers to other hospitals.
"It has happened in at least two of the Belfast hospitals, it has happened in Antrim," she said."It has happened in at least two of the Belfast hospitals, it has happened in Antrim," she said.
"We expect it is likely to happen in Craigavon also. I think it could happen any day now.""We expect it is likely to happen in Craigavon also. I think it could happen any day now."
Mr Bradley, a chief nursing officer at the Department of Health, said more care needed to be taken in the language used.Mr Bradley, a chief nursing officer at the Department of Health, said more care needed to be taken in the language used.
"There is a concern here that we are painting a picture for the public that is not as accurate as it should be and causing unnecessary concern to mothers who are expecting to deliver babies," he said."There is a concern here that we are painting a picture for the public that is not as accurate as it should be and causing unnecessary concern to mothers who are expecting to deliver babies," he said.
"It is a bit disingenuous to think that this morning mothers out there might feel that the unit in Craigavon is about in some way to collapse. That is not the case.""It is a bit disingenuous to think that this morning mothers out there might feel that the unit in Craigavon is about in some way to collapse. That is not the case."
Anne McVey, the assistant director of Integrated Maternity and Women's Health at the Southern Trust, said: "There are no immediate plans to turn mothers away from Craigavon Area Hospital.Anne McVey, the assistant director of Integrated Maternity and Women's Health at the Southern Trust, said: "There are no immediate plans to turn mothers away from Craigavon Area Hospital.
"The Department of Health has commissioned for us 12 additional midwifery places, where we have recruited 12 nurses who worked or lived in the Southern Board area and they commenced an 18 month training programme in September. They are due to qualify in March 2010.""The Department of Health has commissioned for us 12 additional midwifery places, where we have recruited 12 nurses who worked or lived in the Southern Board area and they commenced an 18 month training programme in September. They are due to qualify in March 2010."
The Belfast trust denied any of its hospitals had turned women away.The Belfast trust denied any of its hospitals had turned women away.
A spokesman for the Northern trust said it "had never turned patients away or redirected them away from the maternity unit at Antrim hospital".
"We have an escalation plan in place which provides for post-natal transfers to our unit in the Causeway Hospital. To date this plan has never been invoked," said the spokesman.
The South Eastern Trust, which covers the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, said that it had not turned any woman away from any maternity unit.
"However, we are working beyond the capacity planned for our maternity units," it said.