Dedicated Maternity Line for pregnant women set to launch
From Monday 27 March 2017 there will be just one number that expectant mums or new parents will need to use to seek advice from a Derriford Midwife, both before and after they have had their baby.
The new Maternity Line is being introduced by the midwives at Derriford Hospital, in partnership with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, to offer a single telephone number for pregnant ladies or new parents to call if they think they might be in labour, for other pregnancy-related questions or if they are seeking newborn-related advice.
The number will be answered by one of our midwives, who will be based at the Ambulance Trust’s headquarters in Exeter. This small but experienced team of midwives will be dedicated to answering questions, providing advice and reassurance and will also be able to support the ambulance call staff on any enquiries that come in via that route.
Sue Wilkins, Director of Midwifery at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, explains: “We’re extremely pleased to be working in partnership and delivering this service with the South Western Ambulance Service.
“At present, pregnant ladies and new mums are given a variety of different numbers to call to make contact with someone from the midwifery team. This can lead to unnecessary confusion. Therefore, we wanted to introduce a single number that could be called.
“The midwives staffing our Maternity Line will be able to answer all pregnancy-related calls, as well as those about newborn babies, for example, assisting with feeding problems or offering any other advice needed to new parents.”
Head of Operations Clinical Hubs, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Rich Marlow said; “By delivering this new service in partnership with Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust it will lead to an improved experience for patients and we are delighted to welcome our midwifery colleagues to join us in our busy Exeter-based Clinical Hub.”midwife manning the Maternity Line phone
The Maternity Line will be available for all calls related to pregnancy, labour and newborn babies. If the midwife answering the call believes it would be more suitable for the expectant mum to be seen in the community, she will be able to advise accordingly. If the midwife thinks the lady needs to go into hospital, for instance if they are in labour, the midwife will make the necessary arrangements.
Our Maternity Line team will not be able to make appointments; routine antenatal appointments will still need to be made via the GP surgery or the local children’s centre.
If it is in reference to a hospital appointment, women will need to call the number provided on the appointment letter.
If it is an emergency, 999 should be called.
The Maternity Line number is 01752 430200 and will go live on Monday 27 March 2017.
