Postby sandraletitia » Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:57 pm
Any London hospital has to occasionally turn away women by shutting the unit so hopefully capping will reduce the need to do this. 5000 plus births a year is a lot by any standards and St. George's have to ensure they have enough staff and rooms available to offer a safe service.
Even if all Hospitals capped their numbers there is no guarantee women will arrive in labour one after the other at a consistent rate!
This is really a non- story in that no-one should be panicking. Perhaps, considering the numbers have risen so dramatically in the last couple of years, it is more indicative of an increasing interest in the Hospital.
The Carmen Suite, St. George's Midwifery Led Unit, with its 2 pools, is very popular and about 55 - 60 women are giving birth there each month.
Sandra Bush
NCT Antenatal teacher and (voluntary) Service User rep, St. George's.