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Talking Point /
Talking Point - Birth Centre |
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| Talking Point - Birth Centre |
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Thursday 26th November 2009 |
Andover's Birth Centre has now been temporarily closed. It is hoped that it will reopen in mid-January after staff there came up with a new staffing model.
The reason for the closure is staff shortages due to maternity leave and sickness.
There's been a maternity ward in Andover for over half a century and the current centre delivers around 300 babies every year.
23 year old Jade Fuller was set to give birth to her second child there in five weeks time. She says she's had nothing but positive experiences in Andover, and the thought of having to travel to Winchester or Basingstoke is concerning: "They're all very friendly, it's all very clean, cheerful and they're all lovely people and make you feel comfy. I've been told that because my first birth was so quick, it was best that I had my second at Andover, so it's made me worry that by the time I get to Winchester, I could have had the baby."
Councillor Pat West did quiz them on the County Council's health committee last week: "Apparently they did have contingency plans - that's why they may have to close the unit temporarily.
"The chief executive and the managers are meeting next Monday. They are going to be reviewing all the options but safety has to be the deciding factor in all their decisions."
As well as local councillors, North West Hampshire's MP has also expressed his disappointment about the possible closure.
Sir George Young said: ""Only a few weeks ago, there was a very successful open day which [my wife] and I went to. We met some happy parents and babies, who were delighted with the service they received. Since then, I have been encouraging mums-to-be to use the Birth Centre.
"The news of staff shortages leading to temporary suspension is very disappointing; I hope that steps can be taken urgently to find new midwives, so the birth centre can re-open long before March.
"It may be that there are some recently retired mid-wives in the town who might help out in the short term."
A Facebook group's been set up in support of the facility at the War Memorial Hospital, with many comments praising the staff there and calling for more to be done to help with shortages.
The numbers signing up is growing all the time - you can find out more by clicking here.
Leave your comments about this news below. |
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rachel of andover says: |
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20:15 on Wednesday 10th February 2010 |
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"I am very dissapointed andover birth centre is closed im due to have my second baby in May.When i have had any concerns about my pregnany i have not been able to speak to my midwife and feel everytime we have had to go there we have various staff to deal with our concerns who are not sure of the answers .I was hoping to give birth there but i suppose we will have to travel to Basingstoke as i had a bad time at winchester with my son.Andover needs its birth centre i returned there after giving birth to my son and stayed with them for a week as i was a lone parent the staff were really nice and i was hoping to have my second child with them also the centre is not open long enough when it has been open 5oclock at night is too early as you have to contact winchester after this time.I feel the midwives should fight more to keep it open i will be dissappointed if i have to have my second child out of the area as not only for myself but for my partner and my son who will travel with me please please keep it open look forward to a good result" |
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debbie of andover says: |
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13:04 on Wednesday 6th January 2010 |
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"i think this hasnt been thought through very well!! what are they going to do once Augusta Park is full of new residents! winchester and the surrounding hospitals will not be able to cope!! they have problems as it is, so when there are an extra god knows how many more hundreds of people in andover..it is going to be a nightmare! " |
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kirsty hiscock of andover says: |
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20:45 on Thursday 24th December 2009 |
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"i am 18 i had my first child at winchester born 22/09/09 as i had to have a cesaron abc was so good when i went there after wards all the midwifes were so brill and was so good to my son as well thank u abc please reopen i wanted to have my other child to cum at abc :)" |
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Manuela of Andover says: |
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18:30 on Sunday 6th December 2009 |
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"I totally agree with you Anoushka,0f Coversure Insurance, I am certain that everything that can possibly be done is being done,the strength of support for this facility to remain in Andover is of paramount importance to all new mums. " |
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Andrea Barrett of Andover says: |
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10:06 on Wednesday 2nd December 2009 |
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"I agree with the comments made. It is indeed extremely sad that they have closed abc, albeit as they say, temporarily. How many times does this then become permanent! After having my 1st daughter in Winchester nearly 9 years ago (where I add I didn't get the birth I wanted as they were too busy) I was then transferred to abc. What a different and most pleasant experience. The staff were lovely and you didn't have to struggle eating meals in bed whilst trying to calm a newborn screaming child. The nurses were only to happy to keep an eye on your precious new baby while you regained your strength eating a meal at a table with the other new mums. I then planned to have my 2nd child in andover and what a good choice as she was born so quickly that I would never have made it to Winchester and she would probably have been born in the car. Surely closing andover will only put more pressure on the surrounding hospitals and midwives who have to make more home visits. What about more funding to keep the unit open, maybe the "Dustbin Police" could spare some of their massive grant!!!" |
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Anoushka Lynes of Coversure Insurance - Union Street says: |
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15:31 on Tuesday 1st December 2009 |
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"I am so pleased that ABC is due to reopen in January for all the women that are due. I do hope that it does reopen and that it is not just to reduce the press that this has gained." |
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lisa of barlows lane ,andover says: |
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15:24 on Tuesday 1st December 2009 |
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"well done the abc staff on coming up with a plan for the centre not to be shut so long. they all need awards for that. they are such fantastic people . i bet winchester staff wouldnt put their heads together like that. if i could help in anyway i would as im sure many other people would. the nhs trust in winchester should be ashamed of themselves !!" |
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marianne page of andover says: |
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10:19 on Tuesday 1st December 2009 |
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"I had my 3rd child in Winchester, although I had been booked into ABC. He arrived at 11am, I hd my lunch then, and was transfered to a ward to await my transport back to ABC, this didnt arrive until nearly 6pm. I had nothing to eat or drink in all that time and felt like I had been forgotten. Once back in Andover I had a good time and the staff were so good. Child 4 and 5 were born in Andover, and the experience was so very different from the one that I had at Winchester, it was very relaxed, no running around, and anything you wanted was not a problem for any of the staff. I remember sitting in the nursery with the midwives and other staff watching the Queen Mothers funeral after I had my daughter, you certainly wouldnt have had that at Winchester. It is such ashame that they have to close, lets hope its not a permanent thing." |
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Mark of Stockbridge says: |
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10:46 on Saturday 28th November 2009 |
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"Why should anyone belive the Trust when they say it's only a temporary closure..... chances are they'll close it, claim it caused no real problems and leave it closed..... but then if people insist on making themselves ill with alcohol, cigarettes and over-eating these essential services which should be getting the NHS money will suffer..... " |
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Tanya May of Andover says: |
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09:48 on Saturday 28th November 2009 |
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"I planned to have both my boys at ABC but unfortunately had to have them at Winchester Hospital for various reasons, my experience at Winchester was fine but my memories are always of the fantastic care and attention I received afterwards at Andover, the Midwifes are so friendly and seem to give you that bit extra that you need in the first few days, it will be such a shame if other mums-to-be cannot experience what I did at Andover, please save our birth centre, we need it!" |
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Maria Morgan of Newbury says: |
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06:35 on Saturday 28th November 2009 |
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"I find this quite curious. Generally Midwives are really keen to work at birth centres - someone needs to ask some questions about WHERE the real shortage of Midwives is." |
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carol pude of andover says: |
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23:09 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"Im due to give birth in february ,this is baby number 7, i had my first in winchester and i did not have a pleasent experience. ive had the other 5 all at abc and i could not fault it at all i was looking forward to giving birth there again but now i will have to go to winchester so that is putting alot of stress on me at a time when i should be happy stress is not good when you are pregnant.and you cant even go and have a tour because of swine flu and other infections well that enough to put you off of going there like i was not worried enough already." |
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Naomi Rist of Andover says: |
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18:26 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"I have had 2 children, my first in Andover and my Second in Winchester. I can quite honestly say that even though my Big hospital experience was not as bad as i thought it would be it was not a patch on my experience in ABC. The service there is amazing, and not just during labour and with after care, but with support and advise prior to the birth. My third baby is due at the end of February and i am not looking forward to having to travel to winchester to have it. It is an added stress on top of an already hightened time both for babies and parents. The logistics of getting my two children to someone and then myself to winchester are daunting especially if labour starts whilst my husband is at work, 45 minutes away. However a quick taxi drive or even a walk to the ABC is not beyond a woman in labour.
The Midwives and supporting staff at ABC do an amazing and understated job, it saddens me that this is the way that the forward thinking birth experience and its staff are treated. I will now seriously concider a home birth." |
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Jenny of Roman Way Andover says: |
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16:57 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"Like most people in Andover I am shocked that ABC are going to close, and I agree that once closed, it may never re-open. It's pretty obvious by all the messages left on these pages that the ABC is a much needed facility that HAS to stay open. There is always going to be holidays and sickness in every job but the way I see this, it's just an excuse to close it down......why? Who's going to tell the baby about to be born that it has to wait another half hour or so while Mum gets to another hospital!!! Mums in Andover have peace of mind while this unit is in Andover, to close it, even for a while would be a tragic mistake!" |
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Rob of Andover says: |
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16:01 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"What are they trying on now, they say it is mainly due to staff on maternity leave and sicknes, well seeing that they are the experts in maternity they must have known sometime ago that they would have staff on materinty leave, they must have known that this was what they were intending a couple of weeks ago when they had the open day, but made sure that no one knew about it then, they say staff are willing to travel to Winchester, well how about Winchester staff travelling to Andover to cover, Andover is personal, winchester you are a bed number, know someone who was discharged from there late at night when baby was only few hours old because they needed the bed! " |
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Jackie Sullivan of Andover says: |
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15:59 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"It's such a shame that the Birth Centre is having to close. My daughter was born there in 1978 and it was a great place to give birth, so friendly and homely. My daughter-in-law works at the Birth Centre and loves every minute of it, she wont know what to do now as there is no way she can travel to Winchester when she has little ones to pick up from school. It's so convenient for many people and many reasons. KEEP IT OPEN!!!!" |
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Stuart Young of Andover says: |
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15:52 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"I agree with all the comments made, I have one simple thing to add, whilst in Winchester, my wife was known as bed 22, in Andover she was Maxine, enough said" |
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Patricia Espiago-Lopez of Andover says: |
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14:01 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"My first daughter was born at the ABC 19 months ago, and I was delighted with the care that we both received. I will always be grateful to all the staff working at the ABC for the help and support they gave us through those first difficult days.
Being preganant now again and with the baby due at the beginnig of March, the news of the closure are devastating for me. It's a shame that such a wonderful place did not receive enough support from the NHS Trust on time to avoid this situation. The valuable service that they provide to the community cannot just simply be replaced by sending all expecting mothers to Winchester or, even worse, Basigstoke. It's just not an option." |
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Jo Ireland of Andover says: |
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13:32 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"When my first chld was born I had an emergency
c-section at Winchester hospital but was able to come back to Andover ABC for several days after the birth where the staff were very supportive and caring, I have always had good experiences in Winchester but the ABC offers much more,a more personal environment where staff have the time to give you more support than a larger hospital and for a first time mum that can be a hugely important part of the experience of becoming a parent. In addition they support local mums throughout their pregnancy if they are worried or need advice at ANY time. It would be a MASSIVE loss to the community if this facility was removed! ! ! " |
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Sue Barker of Andover says: |
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13:24 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"I was born in ABC 36 years ago and would have had my children there too had it been possible. Whilst both my children were born in Winchester, I returned to ABC as soon as possible for aftercare. Whilst the staff at both units were excellent, the atmosphere at ABC is just so much nicer and you get much more support there which is vital for new mums. I suspect a temporary closure would lead to a permanent one - please keep it open. " |
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Sally Carter of Andover says: |
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13:13 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"Two weeks ago I had pain and was worried. After I quick phonecall to ABC I was in within half an hour being checked over. What are we suppose to do if you close it. I cant go to Winchester all the time with two already small children. ABC is vital to Andover mothers. Dont Close it." |
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Maxine Young of Andover says: |
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13:00 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"I was due to give birth in Winchester a couple of weeks ago as I was having a vbac birth. However labour progressed so quickly I was still at home and starting to push. A call to the birth centre meant I had the quick response from two midwifes who made the birth of my baby a magical one. Without their support the birth could have been a horrible experience. To close the centre for even a day is a crime,the service they offer is second to none and may be more effort should be made to recruit more staff. Why should Andover loose a service that is a great support to women before, during and after birth. " |
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Michelle Young of St Andrews Scotland says: |
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12:20 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"Alisha was born 10 years ago in Andover Birth Centre... This midwife led unit is amazing.. It needs all the support you can give.. I cannot praise the midwives enough at this facility and had the pleasure of working alongside them when i was a counsellor & and teaching Ante-Natal Classes. Though I now live in Scotland...... I can offer my support from afar and ask that as many people as possible support ABC" |
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Helen Thomas of Anna Valley says: |
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08:46 on Friday 27th November 2009 |
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"Where are the midwives going to go? Can't they redeploy them as community midwives and have them visit people rather than them having to travel for appointments? I had a fantastic Midwife who came out to me for appointments for my second child born in February this year.
I presume the consultants are still going to hold appointments at AWMH for complicated pregnancies?
As for the actual birth, has anyone considered having a home birth? You are fully within your rights to do this and a midwife must attend. They may request that you attend hospital if they are short of staff however you can insist they attend you at home.
For those who are not medically able to have a home birth, and do not have a means of travel to Winchester or Basingstoke the only option is to call an ambulance and they will attend.
To all that are pregnant, please don't stress, there are alternative options available, you are not on your own you have a midwife, please take care of yourself. P.s my first child was a home birth and yes you can have pain relief at home but not an epidural.
Hope this helps." |
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Peter of Andover says: |
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14:59 on Thursday 26th November 2009 |
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"Why should any one have to travel the distance to other hospitals, when Andover has it's own,one sudders to think of the problems that could occur on route,the goverment should put money into local hospitals and keep them open for all to make use of." |
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Julie Few of Andover says: |
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13:54 on Thursday 26th November 2009 |
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"What a sad time for Andover. The aftercare available to first times mums within the centre can not be faulted and the staff are wonderful and very caring. With new restrictions due to come into effect allowing only the same 2 named visitors to hospital wards as well, care standards will fall. The stress pregnancy and b...irth can bring is enough in itself but to now have to plan a trip to Winchester just adds further pressure. The thought of returning home so soon after birth is very daunting and with Winchester needing space and beds, is giving birth soon to turn into a conveyor belt experience?? I am due to give birth in April and have my fingers crossed that sense returns to the NHS trust behind this decision." |
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Claire Tuson of Andover says: |
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12:30 on Thursday 26th November 2009 |
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"my first reaction is one of complete shock, how can the trust justify this action. there will be many pregnant women who will be feeling very let down today. the ABC facility is fantastic with very dedicated staff. my hope is that this decision will be challenged, sense will prevail and the decision reversed." |
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lisa of andover says: |
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11:20 on Thursday 26th November 2009 |
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"i agree with all the comments posted so far,is it really going to be a short term closure i honestly dont believe the nhs trust,once its closed id be very surprised to see it open again. PERHAPS WE SHOULD START A PETITION !! abc is a fantastic place ,iv had babies born in andover and winchester and the care and attention you get in andover far out weighs winchester.the staff in andover make you feel like you are the only one they are looking after and NOTHING is to much trouble for them. LONG MAY IT STAY OPEN !!!!!" |
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Sarah Bartley of Andover says: |
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11:14 on Thursday 26th November 2009 |
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" so so sad my first child was born in Andover in 05 my secound in Winchester due to complications in 07 and my third, an unplanned home birth in August with the support of the lovely Libby a well loved Andover Midwife. It really is so concerning that the new mummies of Andover may never experiance the pleasure of a calm and careing birth. The support, time and effort put in by all of the Midwifes and care assistants at ABC to ensure that each new parent (mother and father) feels supported, looked after and well informed throughout what can be a very frightening time is nothing short of comendable I really hope that this issue is quickly resolved so we in Andover can continue to enjoy such an amazing service pre and post baby.
" |
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Julia Fitzpatrick of ANDOVER says: |
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10:47 on Thursday 26th November 2009 |
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"ABC must not close at all, even for a short time. Winchester hospital are too overworked and under-resourced to cope with the extra demand from the fallout from ABC closing. ABC is a fantastic place for the families of Andover and offers support during pregnancy, labour and afterwards. If everyone got sent to Winchester, first time mums would be going back home with no support on the same day as giving birth, which is wrong. Unfortunately, due to medical complications, I had my daughter at Winchester. She was born at midnight with a complicated birth and by 7am they wanted me out as they needed my bed for someone else. If it wasn't for ABC taking me in for 5 days to help me recover and help me learn to look after my baby, we would have gone back home straight away with drastic consequences. I can't praise the staff enough at ABC and it really puts me off having another child, knowing that that place would not be open. If it shuts, even for a short time, the NHS will think Andover can cope without it and never re-open it." |
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Sarah McGinty of Andover says: |
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10:31 on Thursday 26th November 2009 |
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"ABC needs to stay open, if the doors get closed i bet they wont get re-opened. The staff are amazing and cant do enough for you, the whole package is a million times better than winchester (i've had a baby in both) ABC makes giving birth a pleasure!
Why does Andover have to lose such a good service?
By the way there is a group on facebook and its growing by the second!" |
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Andy Peachey of Andover says: |
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00:41 on Thursday 26th November 2009 |
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"Our second daughter was born at the ABC last Friday, our 1st daughter was also born there 3 years ago this month. What a pleasure it was to be in the capable hands of the staff of ABC, they were warming, friendly, experienced and were unfortunately under staffed. We couldn't of asked for a better service, the ABC is a fine example of what our national health service is about. If only i could win this weeks lottery, i would gladly hand over some of my winnings to the wonderful people who work in the ABC and to also help keep it open for the foreseeable future. The town of Andover needs the ABC. Please keep this open. As for Sir George Young, he's about as useful as a fart in a spacesuit. He'll still be receiving his nice pay check at the end of the month, eh Mr Young? To the people who work in the ABC, i applaud you all. " |
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