Letter: Caesarian conflict

WHILE it has long been known that Caesarean birth is a part of a turf war between nursing midwives and obstetricians, this dangerous in-house conflict has recently escalated.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Apr 2012, 01:00 BST

WHILE it has long been known that Caesarean birth is a part of a turf war between nursing midwives and obstetricians, this dangerous in-house conflict has recently escalated.

In January the health insurer Bupa informed hospitals and consultants that it would only cover a Caesarean section in the extreme circumstance of the mother’s life being at risk.

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The doctor’s federation was outraged, given that the latest clinical guidelines clearly state that an emergency Caesarean must be carried out if the mother or the baby are in danger.

The Bupa panel of nurses who decide such things remained intransigent and it almost led to the deaths of twins, one in the breech position and the other in the transverse position.

Fortunately, a consultant obstetrician carried out an emergency Caesarean and saved the twins and the mother’s parents footed the bill which an obdurate Bupa refused to pay.

I think this silly nonsense has gone on long enough and that Bupa’s omniscient “panel of nurses” needs to get a grip on reality and place a little more value on the life of a baby.

(Dr) John Cameron

Howard Place

St Andrews