Teen midwifery cuts

Support classes specifically for pregnant teenage girls had been due to start within the next week. But, the pregnant girls have now been told that this is no longer the case.

The mother of one teenage girl, who did not wish to be named, expressed her disappointment at the move, as health chiefs confirmed midwives are being reassigned due to the "number of staff on leave, both personal and sick leave".

The woman said: "This was a brilliant service. A midwife had liased with my daughter and provided advice about continuing with school, how to claim benefits as well as giving medical check-ups.

"Then we received a phone call to say the service had been cancelled because of staff shortages. I think it is terrible that this service has been taken away and it's awful these girls don't have access to this anymore.

"We were really appreciative of the service and my daughter had built up a good relationship with the midwife who came to see her."

Last week the Sentinel reported that in 2009, there were approximately 110 births to mothers under 19 years old in the Londonderry area. This represented 6 per cent of the total birth rate for the year.

Breda Hughes, Regional Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives told the Sentinel that whilst a shortage of midwives is not restricted to the WHSCT area, the western zone in particular is experiencing great strain with relation to the issue.

"While we are training midwives as fast as we can, there are not enough midwives to cope with demand. The WHSCT for example advertised for applicants for eleven senior posts within maternity departments just last week-ten at Altnagelvin and one at the Erne Hospital.

"But, there are not enough experienced midwives. There are plenty coming out of Queen's University but it takes up to three years after qualifying to grow experienced midwives.

"I know that the WHSCT in particular are advertising across the UK. We had been predicting a shortage for years and finally the politicians listened. Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has doubled the number of midwifery positions," she said.

The shortage in midwives is also having a detrimental knock-on effect on the remainder of experienced staff, according to Breda Hughes.

"The ones that are left are becoming increasingly pressurised with the result a lot are taking early retirement-the average age being 57. We are hoping that the current situation will only last another year or two. But, the situation has not been helped with a 20 per cent increase in the Northern Ireland birth rate," she said.

A spokesperson for the WHSCT confirmed that services for prospective teenage mums had been withdrawn.

A statement said: "Due to a number of staff on leave, both personal and sick leave, a decision has been made to temporarily reassign midwives who are currently supporting the Teenage Pregnancy Service, to work in the community and in wards in support of maternity services.

"Supporting pregnant mothers is a priority for the Trust and this temporary measure has been brought in to maintain a continuity of service until those staff on leave return to work.

"All individuals who were receiving additional support through the Teenage Pregnancy Service will continue to receive support through Community Midwives and the regular Parentcraft Programme. All additional support and specialist programmes will resume as normal after this temporary period."