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Editor- Obstetrics is of course not the only speciality where
Consultants are "stretched to their limits" (Anonymous.BMJ 1999;319:(24th
July). I would suggest to your correspondent that (s)he and colleagues
prioritise their
duties and provide Consultant led labour ward cover as recommended (Royal
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Royal College of Midwives.
Towards safer childbirth. London: RCOG, 1999). This may mean longer
waiting times for clinics and elective surgery etc but would help to focus
the minds of Hospital Management and strengthen the case for more
Consultant appointments.
Unfortunately too many "obstetricians" have been appointed who spend most
of their NHS time in gynaecology, hormone replacement, fertility and other
areas: i.e. not acute obstetrics. While these interests are admirable in
their own way they do not address the problem of lack of senior cover on
the labour ward.
Another (personal) observation is that when a Consultant says he or she is
already "much too busy" this is often because they are doing too much
private work, to the detriment of their NHS commitments.
Dr Richard Nicholl
Neonatal Paediatrician
Northwick Park Hospital
North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
Harrow
London HA1 3UJ
Pressures of acute obstetrics on Consultants
Editor- Obstetrics is of course not the only speciality where
Consultants are "stretched to their limits" (Anonymous.BMJ 1999;319:(24th
July). I would suggest to your correspondent that (s)he and colleagues
prioritise their
duties and provide Consultant led labour ward cover as recommended (Royal
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Royal College of Midwives.
Towards safer childbirth. London: RCOG, 1999). This may mean longer
waiting times for clinics and elective surgery etc but would help to focus
the minds of Hospital Management and strengthen the case for more
Consultant appointments.
Unfortunately too many "obstetricians" have been appointed who spend most
of their NHS time in gynaecology, hormone replacement, fertility and other
areas: i.e. not acute obstetrics. While these interests are admirable in
their own way they do not address the problem of lack of senior cover on
the labour ward.
Another (personal) observation is that when a Consultant says he or she is
already "much too busy" this is often because they are doing too much
private work, to the detriment of their NHS commitments.
Dr Richard Nicholl
Neonatal Paediatrician
Northwick Park Hospital
North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
Harrow
London HA1 3UJ
Competing interests: No competing interests