Support for Local Maternity Services (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Support for Local Maternity Services

10:11am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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I am writing in response to the front page article of the Gazette on January 28 - ‘Brain-damaged girl wins £1.25m’. This a great tragedy for this family and an awful experience that they have gone through and I do not want to belittle it in any way.

However this report comes at a time when our local midwife run maternity units are a threat of closure. You report this case occurred May 2003 nearly seven years ago. The options banded about were close either Harwich or Clacton or reduce their times, giving mums-to-be the options of Colchester (which at times has bed shortages) or home births. I don’t think these options were acceptable.

With information my husband and I opted for a Clacton birth in July 2008, with the security in knowing that if there was any indication of any abnormality eg high blood pressure, faecal matter in the waters - anything, I would be transferred to Colchester. They are very careful now, if there is the smallest indication of a problem you are transferred. I guess that is why 50 per cent are being moved, they are that careful, possibly in response to the terrible event in May 2003.

We preferred to have a calm birth with midwives in a small hospital near to home as I don’t drive, with midwives I knew in a hospital where I had done the pre- birth course and anti natal exercise class. I knew that I couldn’t have an epidural there but other drugs would be available. Fortunately we had a fantastic experience with great care before and after in a relaxed atmosphere.

I have friends from this area and others who didn’t get such a good experience in bigger hospitals with all the equipment and consultants. So I was offended that my intelligence was questioned in the article. If we were to have another baby we would opt for Clacton again, provided we meet their strict criteria.

Yes give Clacton, and Harwich, maternity units better resources, yes continue staff training, yes encourage those likely to have low risk births to use these local units, even get an on-call consultant if we must. Give us an improved resource close at hand and relieve Colchester beds so there are enough for local people, higher risk births or those that choose to go there. Invest in Clacton and Harwich instead of fear mongering or we will loose these fantastic resources.

Mrs V Watson. Bockings Elm. Clacton

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