Maternity ward turns away frantic mother-to-be (From Warrington Guardian)

Maternity ward turns away frantic mother-to-be

A WOMAN in advanced labour was forced to endure a 17-mile journey to Macclesfield after Crewe's Leighton Hospital turned her away because its maternity unit was shut.

Clare Pheasey and her husband Garry called three hospitals in a frantic search for a bed after Leighton's maternity unit was closed for two days due to staff illness.

When Mrs Pheasey first told the Crewe hospital she had entered pre-labour, the unit was still open and staff gave no warning of its imminent closure.

But in a second telephone call 11 hours later, the 33-year-old was told the unit had been shut and she would have to find a bed elsewhere.

The couple then contacted the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, but were turned away due to a beds shortage.

Clare, of Tennyson Avenue, Rode Heath, eventually found a place at Macclesfield Hospital, where she gave birth to 6lb 8oz Heidi after a nightmare 24 hours.

Clare, who had her pre-natal check-ups and medical notes at Leighton, said: "I was very angry and upset because they knew I was in labour but didn't bother to call me.

"Garry even had to look up directions to Macclesfield on the Internet because we had never been there before.

"It was a very distressing time. I was quite lucky that it was my second child and I'm quite a laidback sort of person.

"If I was a first-time or young mother, I'd hate to think how I would have reacted."

Husband Garry, who works with Clare at Manchester Metropolitan University's Alsager campus, praised the Macclesfield staff.

He added: "If my wife was pregnant again I would try to get her into Macclesfield because they were amazing.

"They were coping with other people from Leighton as well as ourselves, and despite having to call in extra staff, they were fantastic."

Officials at Leighton Hospital have now apologised to Mrs Pheasey for the distress caused.

Denise Bailey, head of midwifery services, said: "The hospital has a procedure to follow in the event of a closure which states that staff will contact another hospital if the mother has to transfer.

"I apologise that the policy was not followed in this instance.

"It is usual for women to ring the hospital for advice and support at an early stage of their labour, but it was not possible to inform the patient when she originally called the hospital, as the decision to close the unit had not been taken."

She promised there would be a review of the hospital's procedures on transfers.

amorrison@guardiangrp.co.uk