Babies born at night have higher death rate

BABIES born at night had more than double the death rate of daytime deliveries, according to a survey of thousands of births at a Cork hospital.

The findings are likely to prompt calls for a change in work practice for obstetricians. Currently, obstetricians work a standard working day, with a night-time on-call service, and round-the-clock consultant care.

The Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is currently studying the survey and is expected to recommend 24-hour consultant presence in maternity hospitals to deal with the high number of problem deliveries at night, according to a report in the Irish Medical Times.