Once again, a celebrity mum has voiced her disgust at the care she has received in the hands of the NHS for her post natal care. Myleene Klass gave birth in a private maternity wing at the Paddington Hospital and then was discharged to the care of the NHS for her post-natal care. Why? Surely, if she was able to pay for private care in the Lindo Wing, why not carry on and pay for her post natal care as well? Myleene describes feeling outraged at her care from the NHS because no-one came... Read Full Story
This year the NHS celebrates 60 years of care from 'cradle to the grave' for all. This care is by all intents and purpose FREE to all who use the service apart from contributions that we all make via National Insurance Payments but still cheap at at half the price! (as they say). What a vision Bevin must have had when he first set up the health care system, fondly known as the NHS ill health service. During it's 60 years there have been dramatic changes and reforms, some for the... Read Full Story
Have just finished working on night duty on the delivery suite and it has been amazingly busy with lots of lovely babies being born. The nights went very quickly and in no time at all it was eight in the morning and the birds were singing and the best sound of all was the sound of the day shift coming on duty to take over. But, wait a minute, my eyes seemed to be not focusing very well – is it because I am tired or is it these new glasses that I have only had a few months – surely I do... Read Full Story
Have recently been reading an interesting article in the guardian about women’s rights not to be questioned about their childcare arrangements or plans for future pregnancies when applying for a job (It has been illegal since 1975 to ask this question of women). Whilst I wholeheartedly support this, I do think that the whole question of ‘Family Friendly Hours’ and the rights of pregnant women have totally made the world of midwifery and maternity a crazy place to work in. A busy maternity... Read Full Story
Have recently been reading an interesting article in the guardian about women’s rights not to be questioned about their childcare arrangements or plans for future pregnancies when applying for a job (It has been illegal since 1975 to ask this question of women). Whilst I wholeheartedly support this, I do think that the whole question of ‘Family Friendly Hours’ and the rights of pregnant women have totally made the world of nurse midwifery and maternity a crazy place to work in. A busy... Read Full Story
Independent Midwives Well, the Government has done it again. Alan Johnson has made a futile and quite frankly condescending and insulting attempt in order to tempt midwives back into the profession by offering them £1500, plus the same amount in childcare, training days and travel. What a joke and how sad that women feel that they have to resort to the care from Independent Midwives in order to receive the kind of that they want and are entitled to (Pelling, Daily Telegraph). But the... Read Full Story
Well it is a New Year and it has been an extremely busy Christmas and New Year in the maternity unit where I work with the birth of many babies. Fortunately, for all these women, there was a happy outcome with the safe arrival of lovely healthy babies and without adverse complications for the women. So what,? I can hear some of you say or perhaps, ooh how lovely and so on and so forth. My point is that I have recently been reading graphic accounts of child birth and pregnancy outcomes... Read Full Story
It saddened me recently to read an article in a professional midwifery journal which was written by a woman who had recently given birth in a private hospital in London. In this article the woman described her journey of care in the private sector. The article is centred solely on the wondrous care that the ‘doctor’ (obstetrician) gave this woman and her partner and I quote: “Choosing the right consultant was critical to a happy and calm pregnancy”! Excuse me, but I was led to believe... Read Full Story
There is a plethora of discussion about the financial impact that the high level of immigrants to this country from Eastern European Countries has on this country. We all know the arguments well – yes some of them contribute more in tax, earn more are more highly skilled but balanced against this is the fact that there has been no financial allowance made for the extra demands on the all the public services including the NHS. Because the migrant population is mainly young, they are deemed... Read Full Story
