Mercy Family Birth Centre Please see below for answers to further community questions about the Centre. 1. Can you give assurances that the double beds will be a permanent fixture in the Family Birth Centre rooms? A: There are no plans to remove the double beds from the Family Birth Centre. 2. How much control will women have over the assignment of the obstetric team? A: As is currently the case at the Family Birth Centre, if medical support is required during a pregnancy, it is provided in consultation with patients and the clinical team caring for the woman. If medical support is required during the birth process, it will be provided by the medical team rostered on for the day. 3. What other specific information can you provide about the consumer survey that was undertaken, that has been cited as a large part of the reason behind the proposed changes? A: The decision was made due to various factors including the high transfer rate of women, the limited number of women who were able to access the Centre, and to keep Mercy Hospital for Women in line with best maternity practice. A qualitative survey of Family Birth Centre patients was also conducted over a three month period. Answers showed that women appreciated the low intervention philosophy of the Centre, the homely environment we continue to offer, and the fact that primary care is provided by midwives. “Continuity of midwife” was identified as an area for improvement by the women surveyed. 4. Will antenatal classes for Family Birth Centre users attract a cost for them? A: Once the Maternity Group Practice model is fully imbedded, women will be referred to the Parent Education Department in the main hospital for antenatal classes for which there is a cost. 5. How many days per week will antenatal appointments be run for Family Birth Centre patients? A: Antenatal appointments will be held one day a week for Family Birth Centre patients. 6. What information can you provide about how the proposed interventions will be carried out safely on the double beds? A: As is currently the case, training is given to all Family Birth Centre staff around providing safe and appropriate care to women birthing in the Centre. Of course, if a procedure is unsafe to perform in the Centre, the patient will be transferred to an appropriate area with her midwife. 7. What will happen in cases where the midwife feels like another midwife would be beneficial during labour, given that the Family Birth Centre will no longer be staffed? A: It is standard practice that there are two clinicians present at a birth. Birthing services staff will continue to support midwives should they require assistance. 8. Will there be an update to water birth policy and training? A: Mercy Hospital for Women does not advocate water births. 9. What percentage of midwives who would be working in Maternity Group Practice will be international board certified lactation consultants? A: It is not a requirement for midwives to be board certified lactation consultants. All midwives are educated and knowledgeable in all areas of breastfeeding and are able to assist women with the intricacies of learning to breastfeed their baby. As is currently the case, all women in the Family Birth Centre will have access to the hospital’s lactation consultants and Breastfeeding Support Centre if additional support is needed. 10. What extension of postnatal outpatients lactation support will Mercy be providing, to cope with the expected increase in amount of mothers going through Mercy? A: The changes will mean more women will have access to a low-intervention model; however there is no overall increase in yearly births predicted. All patients have access to the Breast Feeding Support Centre regardless of their booking status. 11. Will the wireless telemetry equipment that will be installed in Family Birth Centre rooms transmit information wirelessly to obstetric staff? A: Yes 12. What will the process be for women who wish to change their primary midwife? A: If a woman wishes to change her primary midwife, she will consult with the Manager Birthing Services to discuss her options and transfer of care where appropriate.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 07:33:52 +0000
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