To be worried about how the doctor's strike is going to affect my labour/delivery?

[LittlestG]

I'm having a sweep today to try and induce labour (please don't tell me to delay/ not to etc. there are reasons it is being done now).

I'm feeling worried about my care at the obstetrics unit if it is successful and I do go into labour. Will the strike affect consultant led obstetric units or am I panicking over nothing as it's mainly midwives who work there anyway?

Also worrying about if it doesn't work, as I'm being advised not to go over due date, but that an induction of labour which is booked for a few days time might get cancelled because of staffing levels.

I just want to safely have my little girl.

Yes I think it's fair to say every aspect of NHS care is being affected. They are trying to prioritise emergency and obstetric care, so in theory labour ward should be safe, however I would guess you might have to wait for or not get an epidural on demand over the next few days. Best to be prepared.

@LittlestG I am scheduled to have my elective c section tomorrow. Very worried in case it's cancelled, this has been an anxious and difficult pregnancy after a lot of IVF and I'm quite literally counting down the hours.

Cancellation seems to be the biggest risk, I asked my obstetrician about the impact during the last strike and he said the wards are quieter as they cancel routine things like inductions and sections. But the wards are mostly midwife led and the midwives m told me they feel it's fine during strikes as there are more consultants on the wards.

Two children here, both safely delivered within 36 hours of a sweep. Good luck! You’ll be absolutely fine I’m sure❤️

There will be more consultants around. And we found that decisions are made much more quickly due to this, during previous strikes. Though I'm a nurse, not a midwife. To be honest we've barely noticed the strikes. Our elective surgery has continued, the only issue has been getting people discharged in a timely manner. Good luck with your little one.

It won't be affected. Obstetrics care has to be fully covered - I work in the area. Don't worry and good luck!

I don’t know if this helps, but I had an outpatients appt yesterday (not obstetrics) which I expected to be cancelled but wasn’t, and actually it was fine. More pleasant than usual as the hospital was really quiet and I got seen by the consultant rather than one of his registrars. As others have said, obstetrics is being prioritised, consultants are more in evidence than usual, and I’m sure it’ll be fine. Good luck and enjoy meeting your new little one!

Thank you all, that's put my mind at ease to hear that obstetrics should be covered as usual. I wouldn't be surprised if the induction is moved if this sweep doesn't work but then I've seen that happen to several friends outside of strikes so we'll see.

@Gardenlady543 I hope your section goes ahead as planned for you, this has been an anxious and difficult pregnancy here too so I feel your pain. Hopefully in just a day and a few hours you'll have your little one safe and sound in your arms. ❤️

I had my little boy through the strikes in July, my section was just pulled back a day (was meant to have him on the Wednesday, had him on the Tuesday instead) nothing else changed and I was given a good few weeks notice so I genuinely think you'll be okay!

They will not let anything bad happen to you or your babe ❤️❤️

One of my children was born during the midwife strike in 2014. I didn’t have a lot of choice, he spontaneously found it was a good idea.

the delivery suite was quiet. Everything elective, non urgent, etc wasn’t happening. Clearly lots of women who were able to were avoiding being there. I had a brilliant senior midwife who was chatting and very reassuring about how hospitals were covering obstetrics and making sure women were safe.

i know it was ten years ago but if anything I found it a better, calmer experience than delivering my first child.

I hope all goes well for you and you have your baby in your arms very soon

@LittlestG you too ❤️

You sure about that ? From the Times this morning :

"NHS chiefs had sought national derogations for services such as urgent maternity care, but were turned down"

Dr. It won't. The most senior drs are covering the normal shifts, if anything there's probably more drs free in the day time for emergencies (what obs is) as elective surgery is reduced

Goodluck!

Bma have criteria for aafe staffing. Previous derogation given by the bma to return staff to work were later withdrawn when it was found they were a bit liberal with the real story

There is no point if the strikes have no impact.

I'm not striking today as I came to my current hospital to gain more paediatric experience and with not long left of training I don't want to lose any more days .... we had waaay more staff than we usually do in the handover room (they provide consultant cover even if the trainee declares they don't want to strike in case they chsnge their mind)

It'll be fine. As everyone has said, Labour ward will be very consultant heavy. Plus there will be some trainees who will shortly be applying for consultant jobs don't strike on that basis as they don't want to loose last chances of gaining experience. It was a very different day for us on labour ward during the last strikes... all decisions were made early on and all deliveries that needed to happen happened very promptly :)

I’m sure your obstetrician won’t be striking?! Have you asked her?

This would terrify me. Is it too late for you to seek private care if you can afford to?

Yes because if there aren't enough juniors, consultants cover. To be honest this is the worst supported strike so far in my trust and few are even striking. I suspect that may be the case in lots of places.

My friend is a medical practitioner & said that strikes haven’t impacted them much, as their hospital has been hiring lots of agency/bank/locum staff. So if anything there’s more staff in the hospital on strike days then there usually is, with the temporary staff being paid more than the permanent staff to be there on those days

Are you serious?

All the trusts in the ICB I work for are on black. Waits of 11hr+ in A&E

Hope you’re not affected, OP. Good luck.

Actually, I hope no one at all is affected.

I didn't even see a doctor, labour was too quick and I didn't make it from the midwifery led unit where I was being assessed onto the consultant led unit.

I now have one brand new baby girl, delivered last night weighing 8lb 7oz with no complications at all. ❤️

Amazing, congratulations!

What a lovely update! Congratulations!