Junior doctors' strike & elective c-sections

[Cinnamon2013]

I fully support the junior doctors' strike. I believe Jeremy Hunt really has given them no other option.

But... on a personal level - does anyone in the medical world know if the planned strike/any further strikes is likely to affect elective caesarean dates (and/or childbirth safety outcomes in general). I'm hoping no to the latter. Don't mind the date moving for this reason just want to prepare myself a bit for if it does.

Good luck to all doctors and healthcare professionals with getting a fairer deal.

[Cinnamon2013]

Ahh congrats Laulea on your baby boy! What lovely news. Thanks for letting us know.

[Lauren15]

Congrats

[Walkingintheraindrops]

I literally no idea that was the case until now. Thank you! I thought junior doctors were.... Junior!

[Playdoughcaterpillar]

Walking in the rain - All doctors that aren't consultants are "juniors" and plenty of them senior enough to be doing c sections!
Congrats OP glad he's here safe.

[Walkingintheraindrops]

Cross posted congratulations! Well done

[Walkingintheraindrops]

I'm sorry this is such a stupid question but why would the junior doctors affect c sections? Is it because obstetricians have to step down to cover the Drs so aren't able to attend to their usual work? Only asking because they wouldn't usually be doing the c sections so wondering how it works....

[laulea82]

So HE who still doesn't have a name was born at 9.50am today! Scary experience but loads better ban last time. We got excellent care as always. Xx

[DinoSnores]

Do come back and let us know how it goes! Enjoy your last few hot cups of !

[wonkylegs]

Yay glad you got some confirmation. How exciting.

[Cinnamon2013]

How exciting. Good luck. x

[laulea82]

So I've been told it will all go ahead! Eeeeekk

[laulea82]

Thanks dino that's reassuring. Will hopefully find out more tomorrow though I really really want to call today!

[DinoSnores]

"with less doctors around this is more likely."

There will likely be plenty of doctors around, not necessarily fewer, as everyone who is not a junior doctor will be in and everything that can be postponed (non-urgent clinics etc) will be so all hands will be on deck.

Of course, as you've said, there is always with any elective operation, C section or not, the risk that there are too many emergencies to safely get the elective ones done on time, but with something time critical like a section, this does only happen as rarely as possible.

[laulea82]

I know that it can happen if there is too many emergencies so my concern is with less doctors around this is more likely. I will ask and say it's stressing me out. Not much more I can do aside from go into labour!

[Cinnamon2013]

Could you ask for some assurance that won't happen? I think it's a fair question. Childbirth is a big deal. These strikes are planned so decisions should really have been made.

[laulea82]

Thanks. They just said they may know more by then! I'm also worried they might say it's going ahead and send me home on the day if they're too busy.

[Cinnamon2013]

That is close. I hope they can tell you for sure then, at least.

[laulea82]

I have a ELCS booked for Tuesday 12th - the first day of the strikes. I above spoken to the hospital who have said they are yet to decide what to do about ELCS and suggested I ring back Friday! Cutting it a bit fine!

[Cinnamon2013]

Thank you. Hope everythng goes really well for you, too, Wonky. This is ridiculously anecdotal but you know what all the high risk pregnancies I know of ended up being very smooth births

[wonkylegs]

Glad to hear you got some reassurance. I'm pregnant at the moment too and high risk so do understand the worry, hope that this time everything is easier for you.

[DinoSnores]

Glad that you are feeling a bit more reassured. Hope it all goes well on the day and that things go much more smoothly this time.

[Cinnamon2013]

Thanks Dino and Wonky. I just got through to someone at my chosen hospital who was able to reassure me. I appreciate your answers though, thanks for replying.

I could not support the strike more. I know how awful the new contract is. I completely understand that no doctor would choose to strike unless it was a last resort. I really hope this stalemate can be ended with Jeremy Hunt exposed as the liar he is.

I wish I was posting about the strike for better reasons than these self-involved ones. My last birth was hard and I came close to losing my baby. It was a matter of minutes, I was in the right place at the right time. which is why timing is on my mind now.

[wonkylegs]

I would also like to echo there won't be anybody 'under qualified' as most hospitals will actually have more senior staff in than usual to cover the strike.
The strikes are being planned so that do not risk life but will (as is the nature of strikes) cause inconvienece. Drs don't want to strike but they have been forced into this action and if they let this contract go through as it stands it poses a far bigger risk to health in the future. I know this isn't comforting when you are imminently facing something which is worrying anyway but there are very good reasons for this action and it has been planned to be as safe as possible.

[DinoSnores]

Have you contacted your own department to ask them? No one can answer for a particular hospital's arrangements here.

If you do go into labour and have an elective section booked, you would then become an emergency section and be sorted. This is something that happens relatively frequently so wouldn't be an issue for the hospital.

There are very, very good contingency plans in place at each hospital, with almost all the consultants in (so no annual/study leave if possible), so no one is going to be "under-qualified" and hopefully everyone will have planned for plenty of staff around so won't be overworked.

In the wider sense, I do appreciate the immediate concerns but if the contract goes through, then you, me (I am a doctor but I also spend a lot of my time as a patient) and others are far more at risk of being treated by an exhausted, overworked doctor.

Hope that is somewhat reassuring!

[Cinnamon2013]

Thanks.

My concerns are a) that my c-section will be delayed and I'll go into labour. After my last slightly traumatic birth this is something I'm anxious about

b) it'll be done but in rushed circumstances where staff are trying to play catch-up on rescheduled operations. Also that someone under-qualified or overworked could be required to do the op.

These are just my personal concerns and fuelled I'm sure by general pregnancy anxiety. But if anyone has any info/could direct me to the right sources I'd really appreciate it,