Coventry Telegraph

Health secretary praises hospital

MIDWIVES PRAISED FOR REDUCING STILL BIRTHS

- By CLAIRE HARRISON Nuneaton Reporter news@coventryte­legraph.net

MAGNIFICEN­T midwives at Nuneaton’s hospital have been praised by the health secretary for their ‘remarkable’ work to reduce the number of mums-to-be suffering the heartache of stillbirth.

Jeremy Hunt praised the maternity team at the George Eliot Hospital following a visit on Thursday.

On his Twitter account, which has thousands of followers, he commended the team on their ‘remarkable results’ in reducing the chance of mums to be suffering the devastatio­n of losing a child.

He posted: “Nothing more devastatin­g than losing a baby - @ GEHNHSnews undertook major drive to improve maternity safety & reduce stillbirth rates from 0.46% to 0.12% – remarkable results and an example to the rest of the NHS.”

Mr Hunt called into the hospital with Jane Dacre, the president of the Royal College of Physicians of London.

Nuneaton’s MP Marcus Jones said: “It was great to have Jeremy Hunt visiting the hospital. He spoke passionate­ly about our NHS and the importance of patient safety. He thanked the hospital’s hard working staff, took questions and listened to staff, giving sincere and honest answers.”

In December 2016 the maternity team at the George Eliot brought in a range of measures to improve support for parents-to-be around fetal movements in national guidelines to reduce stillbirth. Since implementi­ng the government’s NHS ‘Saving Babies’ Lives guidance, the hospital has reduced its stillbirth rates. The George Eliot Hospital developed its own leaflet to support the campaign and issued advice on reduced fetal movement to all women by week 25 of their pregnancy.

To further help those most at risk, the team also boasts two dedicated community midwives, who look after pregnant teenagers and vulnerable adults.

The hospital also has a specialist obesity midwife.

It was great to have Jeremy Hunt visiting the hospital. He spoke passionate­ly about our NHS. Marcus Jones

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Health secretary Jeremy Hunt saluted the maternity team at the George Eliot Hospital
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt saluted the maternity team at the George Eliot Hospital
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom