These preparations will include the movement of some services to make them more resilient and sustainable, purchasing additional equipment, increasing bed and critical care capacity, as well as significantly reducing outpatient and elective activity.
In full consultation with NHS Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), one significant piece of work which the organisation is undertaking this week is the consolidation, for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, of its inpatient Maternity services on to one site which will be Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
The trust has taken this difficult decision to ensure it has the appropriate staffing and resources available, to ensure that both mum and baby have the safest and best possible birthing experience. The move will also free up essential staff, such as anaesthetists, to support critically ill patients treated at Bassetlaw Hospital.
The inpatient service, including the Special Care Baby Unit, at Bassetlaw Hospital will temporarily transition to Doncaster on Monday 30 March. All affected parents will be contacted ahead of time. Antenatal and community services will continue as normal and will not move.
David Purdue, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals and Deputy Chief Executive, said: “From the 30 March 2020 until the end of the current challenges, Bassetlaw Hospital’s inpatient maternity and midwifery services will be provided at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on the Doncaster Royal Infirmary site.
“We have taken these steps, with the support of Bassetlaw CCG, to ensure that we can continue to offer a safe and effective service for our community, whilst we create extra provision and contingencies to ensure we have the appropriate cover in case any of our midwives and related colleagues are affected by Covid-19.
“As an organisation we apologise for any inconvenience, but our local communities will appreciate the extraordinary circumstances we are currently operating under. The safety of our patients is of the utmost importance and these measures have been taken with this in mind.”