– We are very sorry for, and deeply apologize for, the tragic incident and what this family has experienced. That’s what director of the University Hospital of Northern Norway, Anita Schumacher, says. news meets Schumacher in her office together with department manager at the Women’s Clinic, Ingard Nilsen. It was this summer that a child died unexpectedly during a birth at the hospital. The hospital stated that the incident happened at the end of July this year, which was a hectic period in the maternity ward. The hospital will not comment on what happened when the child died, both out of confidentiality and out of consideration for the bereaved. The hospital has previously said that it is not possible to determine whether the death can be linked to the busy period in the maternity ward. The state administrator is now investigating the case. The hospital reported the incident to the Norwegian Health Authority. There, according to VG, it emerged that the hospital had capacity challenges, which may have been a contributing factor in why it took longer to get the birth started. The hospital has also reported the death to the police, who confirm that they have been notified of the incident. Schumacher says that they are now working to review the specific incident. – The assessments that were made along the way and see if there are things we could have done better, in order to learn from it for next time. In addition to the investigation that the state administrator has now started, after notification from us, she says. Other hospitals could not release personnel The head of the Women’s Club now tells about the situation in the hectic summer days at the maternity ward. They had planned about 130 births in July. The total number of births came to 136. – It is the case that some give birth before term, it can be from week 37. Some give birth after term. It can be up to week 42. – We have a variation that is quite large at over a month, five weeks. If they arrive on a Thursday or Sunday, if they arrive at 2 or at 4, it is not possible to calculate, says the head of department. Ingar Nilsen, head of department at the Women’s Clinic at UNN. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news He says that they tried to ask for relief from other maternity wards. – Bodø did not have the capacity. Narvik did not have the capacity. We tried to bring in personnel from birthing rooms and we were unsuccessful. They had no one to release. Nilsen says that Narvik and Harstad alternate having the maternity ward open. They have four weeks each, every summer. When they needed help, it was Narvik that was open. Nine, ten births a day for four days. There were four days in particular in July that were particularly hectic. During the four days, there were nine and ten births at the ward in Tromsø. – The births were spread out somewhat throughout the day, but that meant quite intense days for those who work on the birth. – We were not given the follow-up and support that we normally want and expect to give to those giving birth. That type of accumulation is difficult to predict and we are unable to provide the good care that we want, says Nilsen. – What is it that you cannot do? – This presence, for example. Even if it is medically sound, it can be deficient. Especially in the maternity period, there are many questions and uncertainties and we are not given the security that we really want to give. The head of department says that 4.5 children were born on average this summer. On an annual basis, an average of 3.5 children are born. The director of UNN also apologizes to those who were in the maternity ward during a period of capacity challenges. She says that they were neither able to meet their own nor those who gave birth to their expectations when it came to good follow-up and care, when it was at its busiest. – At the same time, it is important for me to emphasize that our employees, who also had this extra burden, did a great job with good assessments and good priorities. All credit to them, says Schumacher.
ttn-69
Director and head of department at UNN tells about hectic period at maternity ward – news Troms and Finnmark
