Midwives back the loss of five maternity beds

NEARLY a quarter of maternity beds at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital are being axed. In an effort to make savings, the Health Department has already closed a medical ward, cut beds for children and deleted posts at the PEH.

But the decision to reduce space for expecting and new mothers from 22 to 17 has been driven by the nurses themselves.

'We have been discussing this issue as a unit and what we want to do is take a more community-based approach,' said head of midwifery Helen Kelsoe.

She added that, on the whole, it was better for mothers to be at home in the family environment for as much of the time as possible. There were likely to be fewer disturbances than at the hospital and there would be constant family support.

Miss Kelsoe said that there were already bookings and antenatal checks at home because often, due to transport problems or coping with other children, women found it easier than getting to the hospital. Efforts were being made to encourage mothers to spend as much time at home. The average length of stay is around four to five days.

But Miss Kelsoe said women were not be forced to stay at home or leave hospital early.

There are between 600 and 650 births in the island every year. Bed occupancy averages around 45% and although because of the number involved this can vary widely, the maximum tends to be about 60%.

Miss Kelsoe said that reducing the number of beds would therefore not mean leaving mothers without one, it would free up space in the ward. The reduced number will be in place from the mid-end of next month, but with a contingency in case of unexpected admissions.

Health minister Peter Roffey said that the change was driven by the midwives and their desire for new practices, not attempts to make savings, although there may be some minor ones.

No jobs would be lost by the changes because the number of midwives was not linked to beds, but the amount of births. There are currently 22 midwifery staff, three members of management and five healthcare assistants.

Deputy Roffey said that the department was also getting rid of nurses' subsidised accommodation. It is considered unfair because it is offered as part of the remuneration package but is available only to non-locals.

Deputy Roffey said it was now up to the Public Sector Remuneration Committee to offer packages to recruit and retain staff rather than the department using cheap accommodation as an incentive.

Key-worker housing will also be available to locals and non-locals.

The department is looking to lower the burden on the taxpayer by getting private investment for accommodation through not-for-profit housing associations.

The first batch of 10 units at Ville au Roi is being developed by the Guernsey Housing Association and should be ready in a year.

The department will be able to nominate people for the accommodation but it will be the landlord who chooses the tenants.