Addendum

In the previous post, La La land, I should have added that we do still have a separate pack which contains the ‘instruments’ advisable when attending a birth. We are not yet having to resort to the boiling water scenario Geepeemum mentioned in her comment!

Moving away from the effects of cost-cutting on the midwifery front I came across this article about short-comings/shortfalls on the medical side of the Maternity Services. It makes for horrifying reading, the personal experiences of two couples are tragic, and then you have spokespersons for midwives and obstetricians who highlight the fact that are keeping the Trust Leaders and the Government aware of the problems cut-backs are causing. There are also lawyers commenting on the number, increasing number, of litigation cases they are handling which would never have happened if there were enough staff working when these tragic errors occurred.

My personal experience with little Louis and the drug error does not bear comparison with cases where babies die or are left with cerebral palsy, but it does illustrate the omissions or mistakes which happen when staff are either not trained sufficiently or there are not enough bods on the ground. The staff involved did come and apologise, and his parents were assured that there would be an investigation, as yet there has been no further communication. I expect they are waiting, as we are, to see if Louis has suffered damage to his hearing.