Community midwifery team moves into Holywell Leisure Centre to minimise the risk of infection during the Covid-19 outbreak

Community midwifery teams across North Wales are to move into locations such as disused sports centres to minimise the risk of infection during the Covid-19 pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Over the next few weeks, the services will be moving away from community hospitals to locations “as close as possible” to their previous sites. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The changes to the way community midwifery services are operating are being introduced as part of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s work to reduce the risk of infection from Covid-19, it says. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Home-from-home midwifery units will also temporarily close for the duration of the Covid-19 outbreak. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Women with appointments are being asked not contact community midwives about the changes as with they will be called personally about any changes to their appointments. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Fiona Giraud, director of midwifery and women’s services, said: “We know this is a particularly worrying time for women. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“These temporary changes are part of our work to do everything we can to prevent infections and keep pregnant women safe. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Most postnatal checks are now being carried out by phone, but new mums will still be able to bring their baby to a community clinic for newborn screening to take place.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The health board said it will provide further updates in the coming days about changes of locations for community midwifery teams. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The current list of changes is: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Holywell community midwifery team has moved to Holywell Leisure Centre ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Dolgellau community midwives have moved to the Dolfeurig Centre ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Community Midwives in Colwyn Bay are now temporarily based at Eirias Park ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The health board will not be offering its usual home birthing service at its midwifery-led units in Dolgellau and Ysbyty Bryn Beryl, Pwllheli, until further notice ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, a spokesman said the Along-Side Midwife Led Units in each of its maternity units remain open, “with women able to go home soon after their birth if they and their baby are well”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The board has reminded new and expectant mothers to follow UK Government guidance on not meeting or allowing visits from people outside of their household. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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