14/01/2016 - Permalink

New hotline launches for pregnant women

Related topics: Community / Health / Partner organisations

News from our partners Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Improvements have been made to the way women who suffer complications during their pregnancy can access care and support in Shropshire.

Women are now able to call a new hotline number – 01952 565948 – if they suffer complications or have concerns during their pregnancy for which they want advice. The new number launched on Monday 11 January 2016.

The hotline is staffed by a Midwife who is able to provide advice and reassurance.

If the complications are such that a woman needs to be checked further, the Midwife will refer them to the Antenatal Ward in the Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford where a new Obstetrics Triage Area has been running 24-hours-a-day, seven days-a-week since Monday 11 January 2016.

Claire Murgatroyd, Antenatal Ward Manager, said:

“Pregnancy is generally safe for mothers and babies, but sometimes events can occur that cause concern.

“Our new triage system means that if a woman has concerns during her pregnancy she can call a dedicated number to seek advice, and if she needs to be seen by one of our staff, she will be asked to attend our Antenatal Ward.

“Women are being seen quickly, depending on the urgency of their complication, and they are given a confidential consultation with a midwife. Urgent problems, for example heavy bleeding, will require prompt attention, while other situations may need investigating less urgently.

“These improvements mean that any woman who is due to give birth either at the Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre or at our Midwife-Led Units (MLUs) in Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Telford, have a central number to call if they have concerns during their pregnancy.

“A large number of women have already used the hotline since it launched on Monday and we’ve seen 70 women in the triage area already. It’s proving to be a success and bringing benefits to women who use our services.”

The triage system was developed at Birmingham Women’s Hospital and is being evaluated as part of a project with Birmingham University and Warwick University.

Women are advised to seek advice as soon as possible if they are concerned during their pregnancy. Some of the events or conditions they may need to seek advice about include:

  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Feeling unwell with high temperature or nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Severe itching on the skin
  • Headaches or visual disturbances
  • Feeling breathless
  • Having a hot swollen area on your lower leg
  • Falls or accidental injuries which you think might affect the baby
  • Contact with someone with an infectious disease that might affect your baby (eg chickenpox)
  • Not feeling your baby move as much as usual
  • Possibly in labour.

Women who have concerns during their pregnancy are asked to call the Antenatal Triage Midwife on 01952 565948.

Further information

  • The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is the main provider of acute hospital care for almost 500,000 people from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales. Patients come to us from Telford, Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch, Newtown and Welshpool in Powys.
  • The Trust continues to work with its partners in health and social care in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales to develop patient-focused services that meet the needs of our communities.