Clinics Move Out but Mums-to-be Won’t Lose Out
19/10/2012
Pregnant women in the Southern Trust area can now attend antenatal clinics in local health centres instead of hospitals as part of plans to move some services out of hospitals and into the community.
Midwife led clinics for lower risk mothers are now available in community venues across the Southern Trust area including: Banbridge Polyclinic, Armagh Community Hospital, South Tyrone Hospital, Crossmaglen Health Centre, Kilkeel Primary Care Centre and Portadown Health and Care Centre.
Antenatal care monitors the health and development of both mother and baby during pregnancy. It can help predict possible problems with a pregnancy or the birth, so action can be taken to avoid or treat them.
Anne McVey, Southern Trust Assistant Director of Acute Services, Integrated Maternity & Women’s Health explains the reasons for moving antenatal clinics out of hospitals:
“Unless there's a problem with your pregnancy, most of your antenatal care will probably not take place at the hospital. There is no reason why many women need to attend busy hospital-based antenatal clinics as often their care is more appropriately delivered by midwives in the community. There will, of course, still be specialised hospital care for those women who need it.”
One woman attending a local clinic, Candace Davison said: “I was a bit surprised when I first found out that i didn’t have to attend hospital for my appointment but I soon got used to the idea. It is more convenient to come here than hospital and it is a more relaxed environment in the health centre”.
The relocation of antenatal clinics from hospital to community is part of a Northern Ireland-wide strategy to provide more health and social care services in locations outside hospitals, as Anne McVey explains:
“In moving antenatal clinics out of hospitals we are following the Strategy for Maternity Care in Northern Ireland as we all as the Transforming Your Care/Compton report recommendations. The strategy refers to recent surveys indicating negative experiences of some women during their pregnancy caused by travel to hospital and long waits at hospital clinics. By providing more community based services for those women suitable for midwifery led care, we hope to reduce waits and improve services for those who do need to come to hospital.
It’s about delivering a flexible service suited to the right women, in the right time, and in the right place. As a result we hope to improve the experience for all pregnant women.”
Photo caption: Candace Davison at a recent antenatal clinic in Portadown Health and Care Centre pictured with midwives Sadie Porter and Sharon Platt.