New pregnancy hotline 'bringing benefits'
More than 70 pregnant women have been seen by nurses and midwives at a new triage area at Shropshire's women and children's centre in the week since a new hotline was launched.
Pregnant women are able to call a new hotline if they suffer complications or have concerns during their pregnancy for which they want advice.
Health chiefs have claimed the new hotline and triage system, which was launched last Monday, has already made a difference to the service provided for expecting women across the county.
The hotline is staffed by a midwife who is able to provide advice and reassurance.
If the complications are such that a woman needs to be checked further, the midwife will refer them to the antenatal ward in the women and children's centre at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, where the new obstetrics triage area has been running 24-hours-a-day, seven days-a-week since last Monday.
Claire Murgatroyd, antenatal ward manager at the women and children's centre, said: "Pregnancy is generally safe for mothers and babies, but sometimes events can occur that cause concern.
"Our new triage system means that if a woman has concerns during her pregnancy she can call a dedicated number to seek advice, and if she needs to be seen by one of our staff, she will be asked to attend our antenatal ward.
"Women are being seen quickly, depending on the urgency of their complication, and they are given a confidential consultation with a midwife. Urgent problems, such as heavy bleeding, will require prompt attention, while other situations may need investigating less urgently.
"These improvements mean any woman who is due to give birth either at Shropshire Women and Children's Centre or at our midwife-led units (MLUs) in Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Telford, have a central number to call if they have concerns during their pregnancy.
"A large number of women have already used the hotline since it launched on Monday and we've seen 70 women in the triage area already. It's proving to be a success and bringing benefits to women who use our services."
The triage system was developed at Birmingham Women's Hospital.
Women who have concerns during their pregnancy are asked to call the antenatal triage midwife on (01952) 565948.
