Woman who opted for homebirth was refused hospital treatment

A HEAVILY pregnant woman who sought treatment for bleeding at the National Maternity Hospital was refused a scan unless she abandoned plans for a homebirth.

Laura Burrell, 40, who had planned a homebirth with an independent midwife, claims Holles Street refused to treat her last week unless she transferred her care from her midwife to the hospital.

Ms Burrell, originally from South Africa, but now living in Shankill, Co. Dublin, went to the hospital on the advice of her midwife after experiencing some bleeding when she was almost full-term.

“I asked for a foetal assessment and I was told to go to out-patients where I spoke to the consultant obstetrician. He said bleeding in the late stages was dangerous and that I had to be admitted. I said I didn’t want to be admitted because I was under the care of a midwife, that I wanted a scan before making any decision,” Ms Burrell said.

However she was told the hospital did not ‘co-care’ with midwives. She said the fact she had previously been a patient of the hospital, before she opted for a homebirth, had held no sway with the consultant, Peter Boylan.

Dr Boylan said while he could not comment on individual cases, it was not possible for a woman to come in for an individual test and then go back to the care of an independent midwife.

“We cannot become involved in care with people we regard as substandard and if a woman attends the hospital the reality is pointed out and the decision rests with her. If she doesn’t want to accept the care we offer, then that’s her responsibility. ”

Ms Burrell eventually went to the Coombe seeking treatment. However she left after being told she would have to be admitted if she wanted an ultra-sound scan.

The Master of Holles St, Dr Declan Keane, confirmed the hospital has withdrawn blood-testing and ultra-sound scans for women who opt for home births. “The Coombe and the Rotunda stopped some time ago and we wrote to the Homebirths Association about six weeks ago to tell them. Our solicitors told us to stop because legally, we were exposing ourselves.”

He said none of the hospitals would turn away a woman who had planned a homebirth but developed complications during labour.

However the National Homebirth Alliance said it did not accept that hospitals would be held responsible if anything went wrong in the homebirth of a woman the hospital had previously carried out tests on.

Spokeswoman Marie O’Connor said the refusal to co-care with midwives ultimately limited a woman’s choice to give birth at home.

Meanwhile the Alliance is planning a mass demonstration on April 5 in protest at planned cuts in maternity services.