South Cumbria and Lancashire health update

Morecambe Bay University Hospitals trust has followed the example of their opposite numbers in North Cumbria and largely suspended visits to the hospitals they run in South Cumbria and Lancashire.

The Trust has issued a statement which reads as follows.

Due to the current risks associated with COVID-19, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) is temporarily suspending visiting for patients in its hospitals with immediate effect.

Sue Smith OBE, Executive Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive (UHMBT), said:

“We are extremely sad to have to make the decision to temporarily suspend visiting at our hospitals but it is necessary to keep our staff and patients safe.

“We understand that visiting is very important to our patients and their loved ones and as soon as we are able to lift the suspension, we will. In the meantime, we would ask for the public’s help in respecting these rules to help us all stay safe.”

Until further notice, visiting is only permitted for: 

• Patients who are receiving end-of-life care  
• Birthing partners in the Maternity Units  
• Parents or legal guardians in the Children’s Wards 

Visitors for the above must be agreed with the nurse in charge of the ward before attending the hospital. Please agree one main point of contact per patient and this should be the only person that contacts the ward by telephone to arrange visiting.

The Morecambe Bay trust has also making changes to the maternity service due to Coronavirus, affecting home births and the Helme Chase unit at Westmorland General in Kendal.

They have issued a separate statement on this one, as follows:

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) has today made the decision to temporarily step down its home birthing service across Barrow, Lancaster and Kendal to ensure the safety of its patients and staff during COVID-19. 

It is also temporarily suspending some of the service at Helme Chase in Westmorland General Hospital, meaning women will not be able to give birth there. 

Both of these changes will come into effect from Monday 30 March 2020. 

Mums-to-be who had planned to give birth at home or at Helme Chase will be contacted by their community midwife who will support them with any worries they may have and talk through alternative birthing options. 

Clinics and breast feeding support at Helme Chase will carry on as normal. To offer the current service at Helme Chase and the home birthing service, the Trust has to have six midwives on call, every night, once a mum-to-be reaches 37 weeks up to delivery. 

Carole Carlile, Head of Midwifery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UHMBT, said: 

“We have taken the decision to temporarily stand down the service at Helme Chase and our home birthing service due to the ongoing situation around COVID-19. 

“The Trust feels at this time that it is important to utilise our midwives in a different way which will ensure both the safety of our patients and staff. 

Midwives who would normally be working at t] Helme Chase or on call for home births will be deployed to other areas of the service, including helping to support more complex births within our hospitals and helping to support women in the community. 

“We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and follow national guidance. We will keep our website and maternity app updated and urge any mums-to-be with any concerns to contact their community midwife.”