Ambulance Strikes: Births suspended at Frome Birthing Centre
… Women will be unable to give birth at a birthing center while ambulance
workers go on strike, according to an NHS trust.
Births at Frome Birthing Centre have been temporarily
halted, according to Bath’s Royal United Hospital, because safe transfer to the
hospital cannot be guaranteed if necessary.
Ambulance workers from the GMB, Unison, and Unite unions are
on strike over pay.
The suspension will be in effect until Monday at 19:00 GMT.
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‘ What a difficult choice’
The midwife-led center stated that it had “made the
difficult decision” due to “increased strain” on the ambulance
service, but that it would continue to provide antenatal and postnatal care.
Those with routine appointments are asked to come in as
usual, with the option of a midwife-led birth at the Royal United Hospital
Birthing Centre in Bath.
The center said it is “sorry for any disappointment
this may cause” and hopes “for a speedy resolution to this
dispute”.
In accordance with previous ambulance staff industrial
action, life-threatening 999 calls will be answered, but other emergencies may
not be or may be delayed.
Both nurses and ambulance personnel are scheduled to strike
on February 6, one of the most significant days of industrial action for the
NHS in this dispute.
The government has stated that the requested above-inflation
pay increases are unaffordable.
In the event of an emergency, call 999.
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