Latest news with #expectantmothers
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Will Cleveland Clinic get a $3.5M subsidy for its Indian River labor and delivery unit?
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Residents, doctors and other health care workers expressed their support for a subsidy for Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital so expectant mothers can continue delivering babies there. And they seem willing to provide $3.5 million of tax money to do it. At least three people among the 100 or so who attended the town hall meeting Aug. 12 at the Intergenerational Recreation Center were bold enough to voice their support for the subsidy, while many others applauded their comments. At least 31 more people tuned in on Zoom. The meeting was hosted by the Indian River County Hospital District, which collects taxes to support health care needs. If the district fails to provide a subsidy, it may put the labor and delivery unit at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital at risk of closing. "The moms have to go somewhere," said Frank Isele, executive director of the district, before the meeting. Only three from the audience questioned a subsidy or criticized Cleveland Clinic. One received applause. Loss of labor and delivery Cleveland Clinic Indian River is the only hospital in Indian River County that delivers babies. And a $7.7 million annual loss in the obstetrics and gynecological unit poses a threat to labor and delivery services there. Cleveland Clinic has not requested a subsidy, Dr. Richard Rothman, vice president and chief medical officer of Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital has said. But it has begun talks with the hospital district about sustaining maternity services, he said. Cleveland Clinic earlier this year closed its labor and delivery unit in Martin County, citing a shortage of doctors. Martin County is now on the verge of becoming a maternity-care desert, said Samantha Suffich, CEO of the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition, which provides education and support to pregnant women and infants. If Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital closes its labor and delivery unit, Isele said, Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne and HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce may be unable to handle the influx of births. Expansions at those hospitals may be needed, he said. A Caring Center for Women, which provides early prenatal care to women, already has seen 553 pregnant women since January, said director Gerri Rorick. At that pace, that would be an increase in births from recent years. The Vero Beach center typically is the first to see women who are pregnant before sending them to Cleveland Clinic's Partners in Women's Health, which provides prenatal and postpartum care. The district is supporting that unit with $4.2 million annually. National and statewide trend Closure of labor and delivery units is a trend occurring across Florida and nationally, Isele told attendees. "Let's make sure we're getting ahead of it," he said. Trustees of the hospital district Aug. 12 wanted to hear from the community. Specifically, whether it's important for expectant moms to have a labor and delivery unit close to home and whether to spend tax money for it — while a longer-term solution is developed. The $3.5 million cost amounts to about $42 per person per year, Isele said. Transportation issue About 300 pregnant women in Indian River County each year struggle with transportation, said Megan McFall, CEO of Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition. If the county is without a labor and delivery unit, these moms may have to rely on 911 to get to a hospital. More on health care: Another Cleveland Clinic labor and delivery unit at risk due to $7.7M loss More on schools: It's a 'typical first day of school' as Treasure Coast students begin new school year "Seconds count for these moms," McFall said. "Seconds count for these babies." Two more community meetings are scheduled for this week: One is 6-7 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Sebastian Community Center, 1805 North Central Ave.; and the other is 6-7 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, 4875 43rd Ave., Gifford. Keith Burbank is TCPalm's watchdog reporter mainly covering Martin County. He can be reached at and at 720-288-6882. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Some support for a $3.5M subsidy for labor and delivery unit in IRC Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
11-08-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Expectant mothers to bypass GP and go straight to midwife
Expectant mothers are to bypass seeing their GP and can now book straight in with their midwife for pregnancy care, NHS officials have announced. Traditionally, mothers-to-be made an appointment with their family doctor to tell them the news before being booked in with their midwife. And in recent years, online self-referral has been introduced by local health bodies. But NHS leaders said that only half of expectant mothers were using these services directly, with many going 'unnecessarily' to their GP to access maternity care. Women will now be able to refer themselves to local maternity services 'at the touch of a button' via which will give them faster first appointments, NHS England said. It is hoped that the move could free up tens of thousands of appointments for overstretched GPs. Officials stressed that women can still see a GP if they would like to, adding that some with long-term health conditions will need to discuss changes to their care or treatment plans with a doctor. Health officials said that first midwife appointments are 'vital', but only 62% of these happened within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2023/24. There are around 600,000 babies born each year in England and Wales. NHS England said that it is estimated that the new service could lead to 180,000 fewer calls to GPs and up to 30,000 fewer general practice appointments each year. But around a quarter of local health bodies are yet to 'connect' to the national service, it added, with pregnant women in these areas able to self-refer via local trust sites. 'It's so important that newly pregnant women get the support they need as soon as possible, so this new tool makes it easier than ever to book that all-important first maternity care appointment,' said Kate Brintworth, NHS chief midwife. 'Making this process simpler at the touch of a button is a vital step in empowering women to take control of their pregnancy journey right from the very start and improving access to timely, personalised care.' Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England's national medical director, said: 'GPs are available for any pregnant women who have concerns about their pregnancy they need to discuss, or other health conditions that need monitoring, but in many cases, GP teams don't need to be the first point of contact when someone finds out they're pregnant. 'This quick and easy tool can help ease pressure on practice teams, who won't need to make the referral themselves, and by freeing up that time there will hopefully be a benefit for other patients who are looking to make an appointment with their GP.' Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Early pregnancy should be about joy and excitement – not wrestling with NHS bureaucracy to book a midwife appointment. 'That's why we've overhauled the online referral system. No more endless phone calls or form-filling. Just a simple online service that lets you book those crucial first appointments with a few clicks.' Abbie Aplin, director of maternity improvement and partnerships at the Royal College of Midwives, said: 'Giving women more control and more agency over their care during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period can only be a good thing. 'Midwives are best placed to support women to make informed choices about their care, so the earlier the better in terms of access. 'We do have to be mindful, though, of those who don't have easy access to smartphones and technology. 'We already see significant inequalities of outcome for women living with social deprivation so the NHS needs to ensure that those gaps aren't widened yet further.' Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'It's vital that women are able to access the most appropriate person-centred care from the earliest stages and throughout their pregnancy. 'In most cases this will be provided by midwife teams, so this initiative, as long as it is implemented correctly, makes sense. 'It's important that women in early pregnancy still know they can come to their GP directly with any concerns about their pregnancy or health – and for women with existing health conditions, we would advise that they remain in contact with their GP as their pregnancy progresses. 'Anyone that has any issues accessing online referrals can also still be referred to appropriate maternity care through their GP practice.'
The Independent
11-08-2025
- Health
- The Independent
NHS announces big change to how expectant mothers access maternity care
Expectant mothers across England will now be able to directly book appointments with midwives, bypassing the need for an initial GP visit, in a move designed to alleviate pressure on family doctors. NHS officials said the change aims to free up tens of thousands of GP appointments. Historically, women would first consult their family doctor before being referred for maternity care. While online self-referral options have been introduced by local health bodies in recent years, only half of expectant mothers have used these services directly. This has led many to still attend what NHS leaders described as "unnecessary" GP appointments to access maternity care. The new system allows women to self-refer to local maternity services "at the touch of a button" via The streamlined process is expected to provide faster first appointments for mothers-to-be, alongside the significant benefit of freeing up GP time. Officials stressed that women can still see a GP if they would like to, adding that some with long-term health conditions will need to discuss changes to their care or treatment plans with a doctor. Health officials said that first midwife appointments are 'vital', but only 62 per cent of these happened within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2023/24. There are around 600,000 babies born each year in England and Wales. NHS England said that it is estimated that the new service could lead to 180,000 fewer calls to GPs and up to 30,000 fewer general practice appointments each year. But around a quarter of local health bodies are yet to 'connect' to the national service, it added, with pregnant women in these areas able to self-refer via local trust sites. 'It's so important that newly pregnant women get the support they need as soon as possible, so this new tool makes it easier than ever to book that all-important first maternity care appointment,' said Kate Brintworth, NHS chief midwife. 'Making this process simpler at the touch of a button is a vital step in empowering women to take control of their pregnancy journey right from the very start and improving access to timely, personalised care.' Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England 's national medical director, said: 'GPs are available for any pregnant women who have concerns about their pregnancy they need to discuss, or other health conditions that need monitoring, but in many cases, GP teams don't need to be the first point of contact when someone finds out they're pregnant. 'This quick and easy tool can help ease pressure on practice teams, who won't need to make the referral themselves, and by freeing up that time there will hopefully be a benefit for other patients who are looking to make an appointment with their GP.' Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Early pregnancy should be about joy and excitement – not wrestling with NHS bureaucracy to book a midwife appointment. 'That's why we've overhauled the online referral system. No more endless phone calls or form-filling. Just a simple online service that lets you book those crucial first appointments with a few clicks.' Abbie Aplin, director of maternity improvement and partnerships at the Royal College of Midwives, said: 'Giving women more control and more agency over their care during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period can only be a good thing. 'Midwives are best placed to support women to make informed choices about their care, so the earlier the better in terms of access. 'We do have to be mindful, though, of those who don't have easy access to smartphones and technology. 'We already see significant inequalities of outcome for women living with social deprivation so the NHS needs to ensure that those gaps aren't widened yet further.'
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Taking common antibiotic in early pregnancy increases risk of devastating birth defects, study finds
Taking an antibiotic for a common health problem during pregnancy could increase the risk of a baby having devastating birth defects, a study suggests. American scientists found that taking a specific kind of medication for a urinary tract infection (UTI) significantly increased the odds of baby being born with a congenital problem. These issues ranged from a cleft palate to potentially serious problems with a baby's heart. UTIs—infections which affect the tube where urine exits the body (the urethra), bladder, or kidney—are particularly common in pregnant women. They are considered serious infections for expectant mothers as they can cause devastating consequences for both woman and baby. But now experts have found an antibiotic medics prescribe to clear UTIs could have health complications of its own. Called trimethoprim, researchers found the risk of birth defects in the woman taking the drug in their first trimester was 26.9 per 1,000 infants. This translated to about one out of every 145 more patients having a baby with a congenital anomaly that they would otherwise. Such defects included 'severe' heart malformations as well as cleft lip and palates. In contrast, the risk posed by other antibiotics was lower, with only 19.8 to 23.5 malformations per 1000 infants. The researchers said this figure was in line with the standard chances of a baby having a birth defect, meaning there was no 'elevated risk' from other antibiotics used to treat UTIs. Trimethoprim is prescribed about 130,000 times in England per month. Women in the study—aged between 15 and 49—had either been prescribed a strong, specialised antibiotic such as nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim, or fluoroquinolone or a 'standard' antibiotic, such as penicillin. Dr Caroline Ovadia, an expert obstetrics at the University of Edinburgh, who was not involved in the study said previous research suggested trimethoprim blocked a key nutrient in pregnancy. 'Trimethoprim can block the action of folic acid, which we know is important in early fetal development,' she said. UTIs are among the most common infections in pregnancy, affecting up to 10 per cent of all pregnant women. This is roughly double the prevalence compared to non-pregnant women of the same age. Left untreated, they have been connected to premature births, low birth rate, kidney infections, and even sepsis. While UTIs classically cause symptoms like a burning sensation they can be asymptomatic meaning they are hidden infections causing no obvious problems but still still increasing the risk of complications. This is why pregnant women in Britain offered a urine test, to check for such hidden UTI at their first midwife appointment, which typically happens at around 10 weeks. In the US, the test is performed slightly later, between 12 and 16 weeks.
CBS News
03-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Jackson South to close maternity unit this fall as part of systemwide realignment
Jackson Health System announced Thursday it will close the maternity unit at Jackson South Medical Center this fall, citing a shift in community needs and a broader strategy to support the hospital's ongoing growth. The move comes more than two decades after Jackson South opened in 2001 and nearly a decade after it expanded emergency services with the addition of Ryder Trauma at Jackson South in 2016, the health system said. "Closure will help better align services" In a statement, a spokesperson for the health system said the closure will help better align services with the current demands of the surrounding community in southern Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys. "Jackson South's continued success relies on adapting to our patients' needs," the statement said. "While the types of services offered may vary from hospital to hospital, as a system, we provide the most comprehensive, high-quality care for every patient." Employees affected Hospital officials said employees affected by the maternity unit closure will be offered opportunities at other Jackson South departments or similar units across the Jackson Health System. What about the moms-to-be? Expectant mothers nearing their delivery dates will continue to receive care at Jackson South. Others earlier in their pregnancies will be transitioned to other centers. Comprehensive maternity services — including high-risk obstetric care — will remain available at The Women's Hospital at Jackson Memorial and Jackson North Medical Center, the health system said. The Women's Hospital at Jackson Memorial and Jackson North Medical Center is at least 20 miles further. "We're just really sad to hear that they're going to shut down the delivery unit," expecting mom Bianka Ramirez said. Ramirez is due on July 30th. During her checkup Thursday, she found out she'll be among the last to have her baby at Jackson South. "She told us that, unfortunately, by September, they're going to shut it down and if we are planning to have kids in the future, we might not be able to come to this hospital." Jackson South will continue operating its OB-GYN physician practice in collaboration with UHealth – University of Miami Health System. Jackson also pledged to maintain prenatal care access for underserved populations through its ongoing partnership with Community Health of South Florida (CHI). Sheila Simms Watson, a licensed midwife with the Southern Birth Justice Network, said, "What's the community going to do? Where are we going to go?" Simms Watson said this will only hurt the already underserved area, with a lack of other options that aren't private and may not accept everyone's insurance. She says more expecting moms may consider birthing centers or even delivering at home. "So, it's a delay in care and that delay in care can be the difference between life and death, to put it bluntly." Both women now hope the hospital will reconsider. "Rethink about all the great doctors you have there and all the people that want to have kids there," Ramirez said. CBS News Miami requested an interview with hospital leadership but was told no. The maternity ward here is set to close in the fall; no word on an exact date yet.
