Midwives are flexible and responsive health practitioners and as such are adapting to providing care at this challenging time, says Hauora Tairāwhiti Chief Executive Jim Green.
“This is an unsettling time for all of us and we appreciate it can be particularly so if you are pregnant.”
The number of visitors allowed in maternity is one of the most significant changes to maternity services during this time. “As well as your lead maternity carer, you can bring one birth partner or member of your whānau currently in your bubble to the birthing suite. This will be the same person throughout your stay in the hospital with no additional family or whānau.”
“We know how important the support of whānau and friends is to mothers so this was a very difficult decision to make but the decision is about keeping women, babies, whānau and staff safe.”
Mr Green says these are unprecedented times. “But at the end of the day, women and their families can expect to receive high-quality midwifery and medical care as they require during alert level 4. Thank you for your support as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.”
In another change for maternity, community-based midwives (also known as lead maternity carers) and hospital midwifery staff are conducting non-physical assessment over the phone where possible in line with Ministry of Health guidelines. Face-to-face appointments will still be carried out where clinically required.
Mr Green says lead maternity carers were issued with initial personal protective equipment last week and have been educated on when to use it in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines.
They have also received hospital-grade surface wipes and hand sanitizer and details on how to order more through the hospital’s infection control representative for maternity.
“Like all community health workers, midwives assess whether there is any risk to themselves and the whānau they are caring for before going into a home. They ask questions about respiratory symptoms, travel and contact history. If the answers are all no, full PPE is not required. However, they will still be washing their hands regularly, avoiding touching faces and keeping a 2-metre distance where possible.”
Mr Green says stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) are available in Tairāwhiti.
“It’s important that people using PPE know how to use it correctly. There is a risk of people infecting themselves if they don’t know how to put it on and take it off correctly.
Mr Green says as well as carrying its normal stocks of masks, aprons and gloves Hauora Tairāwhiti has its own pandemic supply of personal protective equipment, and more is being issued by the Ministry of Health from the national pandemic supply.
However despite our best efforts, we don’t know what is around the corner. We have to make sure the equipment is available for the people who need it the most. Therefore all requests for PPE from community health workers like lead maternity carers must go through our Infection Control Nurse who will check that the request meets actual need.”