Interview with the Director of Midwifery at King's College Hospital ahead of Christmas

The video discusses the impact of a virulent COVID-19 strain on midwife staffing, testing, and isolation procedures. It covers workload management, alert systems, and the impact on newborns. Changes in testing and tracing are explored, along with trends in the maternity department, including the joy of delivering Christmas Day babies.

What measures are taken when a woman tests positive upon arrival at the maternity department?

• They are allowed to stay in the general ward.

• They are sent home immediately.

• They are looked after in a separate room with PPE and barrier nursing.

• They are transferred to another hospital.

How does the maternity department manage staffing shortages?

• By reducing the number of patients admitted.

• By closing the department temporarily.

• By asking community midwives to assist and reallocating staff within the department.

• By hiring temporary staff from outside.

What is the protocol if the department cannot manage the workload due to staffing issues?

• The department hires more staff immediately.

• Patients are asked to wait longer for services.

• The department continues to operate as usual.

• The department is put on Amber or Red Alert, and patients are diverted to another hospital.

What is a significant difference in handling the current situation compared to previous times?

• There is less focus on testing and tracing.

• There are fewer staff available now.

• There is more emphasis on testing and tracing, leading to better detection.

• The department is less prepared now.

How does the workload in the maternity department typically vary?

• It is busiest during the summer months.

• It goes in peaks and troughs, with no significant change during Christmas.

• It varies significantly during Christmas but remains constant otherwise.

• It is always constant throughout the year.