patient travel to Aberdeen Maternity for birth

[lutrawest]

Hello folks,

 

Having a baby soon and have been told that I need to go to Aberdeen Maternity for the birth. I've been informed by GBH that I don't need an escort which means my partner's travel and accommodation (if we're unable to get into hospital accommodation) will not be covered. Is this correct?

 

I know public funds are limited but this seems very unfair as we don't really have a 'choice' about where the birth takes place and I wondered if this not paying for partners/escort is the norm for Shetland Mums & Dads. What happens if you're on low income or unable to cover the costs?

If you can't afford to cover costs does this mean a woman has to be without her birth partner? Why isn't the dad or birth partner considered essential to the Mum and baby? Is there a way around this?

 

Thanks

[Russabell]

Had both my children in Aberdeen and we had to pay both times for the 'escort'. (And, for the first one, we had to pay accommodation in Aberdeen for a week after being discharged from the antenatal ward and before the birth, as we weren't allowed to go home in between).

I know NHS funds are limited so we didn't question it as we were just glad that we were in the best place for the birth.

However since then, I have had to travel to Aberdeen on a few occasions for tests (not maternity related) and I was entitled to an escort for those. This struck me as strange as they were not something I felt that I needed an escort for (and I didn't take one for that reason). So I think the NHS really needs to have another look at their policy.

I do know of people that make sure their holidays coincide with their visits to hospital so that they don't have to pay for any trips out of Shetland. Yet they also travel away to hospital themselves when required. Surely if your condition is such that you need an escort one time, then you need them every time, or you don't really need one at all?

[lutrawest]

Thanks for taking the time to respond Russabell - I completely agree. The policy around birth partners/escort for birth in Aberdeen absolutely needs to be looked at.

 

I'm really worried about the cost in case we have to stay longer due to complications. You can certainly do without this worry when all you should be doing is trying to relax and be as well as you can for the birth!

 

 

 

[unlinkedstudent]

Unless you have medical complications necessitating a hospital birth, I can't help but wonder what their response would be if you were to stick two fingers up at 'em and say, "sod ya then, I'm having a home birth!".

 

Does this policy stem from the day when only those needing Aberdeen births for emergencies (say being airlifted and no room in chopper)?

 

Some procedures at outpatients/day surgery will warrant being drowsy hence why you may need an escort.

 

My own POV on this is that if they will insist on women giving birth in Aberdeen and given that partners are encouraged to attend (apparently takes some pressure off the medical staff) then they should cough up or improve maternity facilities here.

[Angel]

Hi there, If you go to your GP you can request an escort to come with you, but still it is at their discretion to decide whether they think you 'need' it or not. It's not a very helpful system.

 

I gave birth in Aberdeen and only got the escort on the way home because of complications with the baby and Aberdeen were much better at ok'ing the fact I needed help to get home.

 

I've also had problems within the last year about the escort issue, my son is disabled and is getting quite big now - I can't lift him for very long anymore - He was having surgery on his leg, and I had no idea how on my own, I was going to be able to get him, both our bags and the wheel chair back to Shetland, I went to the GP and requested an escort, he didn't even ask what my son was having done and why he just said no. So I went higher and elsewhere and appealed it and was met with no problems in getting the 2nd escort.

 

Ask your GP or the practice manager would be my advice.

 

All the best, I hope it all works out

[Stug]

Hi,

 

If you choose to travel to Aberdeen by boat you will have exclusive use of a cabin. Your partner will then only have to pay passage which will be cheaper than a hospital visitors flight. If you are unable to get accommodation in the island accommodation at the maternity unit there is the option of the Red Cross which provides reasonable rates for people who have friends or relatives in hospital. You may only have to stay a night or two before hospital accommodation becomes available which would help keep the costs down.

 

In an ideal world where money was no object then fathers/ partners would have their costs met but it is not an ideal world.

[Silvercloud]

Hi, slightly off topic but just wanted to say you can give birth to your baby where YOU choose (even against medical advice if YOU decide).

 

Words like " not allowed" should be removed from any conversation when discussing your maternity care .Guidelines are just that a guide and nothing more, but every mother has the right to choose where and how she give birth.

 

http://www.birthrights.co.uk

 

Just want to point out here to ladies no one can force you to give birth in Aberdeen if you don't want to. They can't handcuff you and force you off the island .

 

See Birthrights and One world birth further down forum

Please always remember its always YOUR informed choice where you give birth the same as you do not not have to see Consultant in Aberdeen if choose not to thats your choice too.

 

Obviously if you made and informed decision and happy to go to Aberdeen thats fine. Just wanted to remind mothers its ALWAYS YOUR CHOICE. Too much emphaised to some ladies they MUST go etc etc.

 

My own personal view on this.

If the maternity dept are recommending you to give birth in Aberdeen you should insist they pay for your partner too .

It may be not your preferred place of delivery but if maternity dept recommend you have baby in Aberdeen they should pay cost for any partner to travel with you to give emotional support at this time, if they say they won't, take it further and insist you need your partner at this vulnerable time write to the chief excutive of the NHS and your MP.

 

After all it's what they are recommending. At this time in your life you and your partner should be classed one unit TOGETHER after all it takes 2 parents to make a baby.

 

They are ones suggesting it, they should pay for it not you.

[Silvercloud]

correct web

 

http://www.birthrights.org.uk/

[Jess1]

As far as I know dad's have never had their fares paid to Aberdeen (unless in exceptional circumstances eg. intrauterine death). Check with your midwife if he can still get a hospital visitors fare which is much cheaper than a full standard open fare, but return date can be changed as needed without additional cost, which is really helpful as you often don't know how long you'll be away for.

 

Also there have been a few people I know who've gone on the boat, so your partner just has to pay foot passenger fare then gets to sleep in your exclusive use cabin.

 

I can't quite remember, but I think there was something in the paper last year about the escalating costs of SHB travel budget so I wouldn't think you'd have much luck with paid escort?

[Russabell]

When we had our bairns, I think around 50% of Shetland bairns were born in Aberdeen so I can understand why they don't cough up for travel and accommodation as they would probably be bankrupt in no time.

Although I do feel the policy needs looked at as you can get escorts for things that you really don't need them for, so I think they could do a bit of reshuffling there. I certainly did not require an escort for the tests I had done, although I was allowed to have one if I had wanted.

And when you're having a section birth, they emphasise that you're not supposed to lift anything heavier than your baby, so I don't know how they expect someone to get home on their own with baby, car seat, luggage etc if they can't afford for someone to come away with them!

My partner made use of the Red Cross accommodation while I was in the antenatal ward, and it is very reasonably priced and he said it was quite good. Then we moved to the Travelodge (although I would not go there nowadays!). No luck with the 'island accommodation' and, as I have posted before on here, I do think this is something else that needs looked at as there were people from the mainland using it who could have gone home at nights (and, as far as I'm aware, they weren't emergency cases).

[paulb]

it is of course the mums right to give birth were they want. however if your going to go against the advice of the midwives and doctors. then i would advise that the mum to be and family thins very carefully about it.

 

having to medivac a sick baby to aberdeen is never a good idea if there is a choice. yes its not nice being away from home and family. but to lose a child when there was no need is much much worse.

 

the medics are not just shipping you south because they don't want to be bothered its because they believe its in your and your babies interest to be there.

 

further to demanding a homebirth. if the midwife believes that the birth is at risk she can refuse it. she has a duty of care that would get her struck off if she was willingly to attend risky home births. also not ideal if something was to go wrong 30 mins to the hospital could be a serious problem.

 

home is a very good place for none first time mums who have no risks but otherwise hospital.

 

we lost our first child to poor doctors not spotting an infection. our next 3 needed special care with 3 being c sections. i would have been a fool to have gone against medical advice. well the wife would. i doubt that we would have even had half of them alive now if we had gone down the home birth route.

[Silvercloud]

Hi Paul i'm afraid your wrong.

 

See AIMS and NMC circular for midwives attending homebirths. Info on One World Birth thread,

 

Some mothers may fall into high risk area, however depending on what exactly is being classed under the guidelines sometimes looking at the woman individual obstretic history may not be as high risk following further research/discussion.

 

When a woman plans ro decline medical advice and researched and made an informed choice to birth at home despite being classed as high risk ,some might be on age alone or number of pregnancies etc.

The supervisor of midwives is informed and indivdual plan of care is put in place as per guidelines .

 

No wowan whether planned or not whether against medical advice or not can be refused a homebirth.(Tervosky v Hungary).

 

When a woman calls in labour at home requesting a midwife she has a duty of care to attend that woman or get another midwife to attend her whether she is on duty or not.

NMC would not strike any midwife off for attending a homebirth even a planned one.

 

Having had 2 supposely high risk homebirth here on Shetland and talked, researched my options to RCM, NMC and AIMS ,birthrights,Scottish government,MP and took further advice from other organisations I felt for me personally I was safer at home and made fully informed choice to do so .

Checking law carefully with the NMCetc

Went on and had 2 sucessful homebirths.

[Silvercloud]

Obviously woman looks at her own obstretic history and makes an informed choice some women will be better off in hospital some not, just depends what exactly is the issue is for that particulat woman and takes further advice ,research and seeks help outside with other organisations to get unbiased opinion without any pressure ,bullying etc to follow guidelines which are just a guide. No birth is risk free even a hospital one.

 

The lady is question is not asking for a homebirth she seeking advice on transport cost for her partner my advice woul be to contact AIMS asap.

[SnowFlake]

Hi,

 

If you choose to travel to Aberdeen by boat you will have exclusive use of a cabin. Your partner will then only have to pay passage which will be cheaper than a hospital visitors flight. If you are unable to get accommodation in the island accommodation at the maternity unit there is the option of the Red Cross which provides reasonable rates for people who have friends or relatives in hospital. You may only have to stay a night or two before hospital accommodation becomes available which would help keep the costs down.

 

In an ideal world where money was no object then fathers/ partners would have their costs met but it is not an ideal world.

 

Things may have changed, but 28 weeks was the cut off for being allowed to travel on Northlink. like i say may not be like that now but that was the case 8 years ago.. i was almost refused travel on the day i hit 28 weeks, being told that it was company policy not to carry someone over 28 weeks as it poses to many risks.

[unlinkedstudent]

I had thought about posting this before but wanted to double-check before doing so. I thought I'd seen a new born baby on the mini-bus last time but wanted to make sure I was remembering correctly. I was at ARI yesterday so I checked.

 

Whilst I fly there and back, I use the fantastic Red Cross minibus to get to the airport and back. I asked the Red Cross minibus if they ever helped pregnant mums and those with new born babies, and also if they picked up from/went to the boat.

 

They cover for both Shetland & Orkney. They've helped parents with disabled children. They've helped with new born twins. For the norm, it's usually the airport run they do but speak with Maternity/Patient Travel (I've found occasionally they've forgot to book me on though so I'd contact the concourse), liaise with them (or when you're there, contact the main concourse and ask to speak to someone there, they'll help), they WILL pick you up/take you to the boat.

 

If you use the Red Cross minibus from the hostel to the hospital then it costs £1 but not for the others. As for taking your birthing partner/husband, provided they've got room on the mini-bus, they'll happily oblige.

 

In addition to speaking to the Red Cross driver, there also happened to be someone from Maternity accompanying a patient in the department I was attending. She confirmed the above too.

 

The Red Cross charge the NHS for the service they provide so use it.

 

Hope this helps.