FOI240089: Obstetric theatres

Released 22 May 2024

Request:

Do each of your maternity units which offer consultant-led births have two obstetric theatres available 24/7 with a full complement of staff available should the second theatre be needed? How long does it take to mobilise the second theatre and staff if it needed?
If you don’t have a second obstetric theatre, what arrangements are in place should you have two obstetric emergencies requiring theatres at the same time? What hours are covered by these arrangements?
If you don’t have a second obstetric theatre, have you any plans to establish one? Has funding been obtained and how much?
How long approximately does it take to transfer a woman from the labour ward to a) Your normal obstetric theatre? b). Whichever additional theatre would be used in the event of two emergencies at the same time?
Have you had any serious incidents/Datix (or other reporting system) reports in the last three years involving lack of timely access to fully staffed theatres in maternity emergencies?
Please attach any policies you have on maternity emergencies/escalation.

Information disclosed:

No, each of our 4 consultant-led maternity units have 1 obstetric theatre.
Each of our 4 maternity units have 24/7 access to an additional general theatre if required.
We are working towards establishing access to a second obstetric theatre on each of our 4 sites. We are currently completing a pilot on our Brighton site, and are working with the surgical division to find a permanent solution. We will then begin pilots at the other sites.
1. Not applicable; the obstetric theatre for each of our maternity units is within the labour ward.
2. The response to this question would vary depending on site and clinic scenario. All secondary theatres are sufficiently close to allow staff to meet the minimum requirements for performing a category 1 caesarean section, which is the baby is birthed within 30 minutes from the decision to perform a caesarean section being taken.
Yes; there were 5 or fewer incidents that met this criteria over the last 3 years. This data has been anonymised in line with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Anonymisation: Managing Data Protection Risk Code of Practice as it relates to the disclosure of information relevant to a small number of living people.
Please see attached PDF documents, “MP050 Caesarean Section Redacted”, “CG12030 Caesarean Birth Guideline Redacted” and “UHSx Maternity Escalation Policy UHSC022_Redacted” which we believe are relevant to your request.

Please note that these documents are being disclosed in full with the exception of staff names and/or contact details which have been removed/redacted under section 40(2) [personal information] exemption on the basis that this amounts to personal data.

Additional information about the Trust’s maternity services and maternity units can be found on our website.