New dad slams Raigmore maternity rule
A NEW Thurso father has hit out after his mother had to spend five-and-half hours in a hospital waiting room while his girlfriend prepared to give birth.
Kris Smith and Morag McLean have praised the professionalism of staff at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness who carried out a Caesarean section to produce their healthy baby boy, Ryley.
But 26-year-old Mr Smith is very unhappy about the way his mother, June, was treated, describing it as “diabolical”. He has also taken up the cudgels about planned bed losses at Raigmore’s maternity wing, claiming it could well mean longer hauls for local mums-to-be unable to give birth in Wick.
Ms McLean was referred to Raigmore because of a hereditary medical condition which had the potential to cause complications. The 23-year-old was booked to have a section at nine on Monday morning but the operation was twice delayed because of emergencies.
Mr Smith, of Falconer Waters Court, was meantime with his girlfriend in the labour suite but his mum, who had come down with them, was not allowed in.
“She was left by herself for over five hours in the waiting room,” he said. “I asked several times if she could come in but we were told that the rules and regulations permitted only partners to be there. It was her second grandchild and she was very anxious and she obviously could not go home.
“It would not have taken much to allow her in – I thought the way she was treated was diabolical.”
Ryley was born at 2.10pm and Mrs Smith, a care worker at Bayview House in Thurso, got in to see the baby about half-an-hour later. “By that time, my mum was a nervous wreck,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith, a satellite dish installer, said the staff were “fantastic” in the way they looked after his girlfriend and their newborn. The gripe about the partner-only rule admittance was particularly acute given their experience when their first son, Calvin, was delivered by section at Raigmore just over two years ago.
Mr Smith said grandparents were then allowed in at the birth.
Both Ms McLean and Ryley are doing well and are due to get home today or tomorrow.
Mr Smith is meantime protesting about last week’s changes to maternity beds at Raigmore.
He said: “I think it is very worrying that beds are going at Raigmore. The families of mothers from Caithness who cannot give birth at Caithness General face a great deal of inconvenience and expense coming to Raigmore.
“With the beds being earmarked to go, that is bound to cause shortages at certain times. It’s bad enough having to go to Raigmore but women from the Far North could end up in Dundee and Glasgow.”
Mr Smith feels so strongly on the issue he is writing to NHS Highland and local MSP Rob Gibson and is considering starting up a petition in protest.
NHS Highland yesterday said it cannot comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality.
A spokeswoman said: “The normal situation during labour is that only one person can be present for health and safety, infection control and security reasons.
“During an elective or emergency Caesarean section, one person can be present in the operating theatre as long as the operation can be performed under a spinal anaesthetic, as the mother will be awake.
“If a general anaesthetic is required, it is not possible for the partner to go into theatre.”
She said normal visiting times (2.30pm to 4.30pm and 6.30pm to 8.30pm) would apply to other visitors.
The spokeswoman said the changes being proposed at Raigmore will not have an impact on the service provided in Caithness.
She said: “The closure of the six beds in Raigmore maternity, which is still in its trial period, will have no impact.
She added: “Nothing will be implemented on a permanent basis until we are confident that this is possible and patient care is not put at risk.”