Peace of mind - but at a cost

Midwives for rent at £4,000

Queen Charlotte's maternity hospital is offering mothers to be 24-hour access to their own personal midwife.

Pioneers of the now defunct NHS one to one service through which expectant mothers received their pre-natal care from the same midwife throughout their pregnancy (but didn't guarantee they would be on duty at time of birth), Queen Charlotte's is now offering a similar service at a cost of £4,000. 

The service is aimed at the more anxious mother who chooses to buy peace of mind.  Called Jentle Midwifery, parents pay for the reassurance of knowing that their midwife is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be there when the crucial moment arrives.  The same service is available free to those who are at risk of complications and need extra pre-natal care.

But is Jentle Midwifery an inspired money making offering from the hospital or an expensive ruse for those "too posh to push"?  Whilst the service has its inevitable critics, Queen Charlotte's defends the scheme stating "The main difference the scheme offers is one-to-one care from a dedicated midwife, available 24 hours a day, throughout the pregnancy.  There is also more flexibility over where and when ante-natal support can be offered."

"Mothers not on the scheme have access to the same advice, scans, ante-natal information, birthing experience, equipment and specialist back-up as mothers who have paid for the scheme, except that it is not with the same midwife."

The scheme has already generated more than £160,000 of income for Hammersmith Hospitals Health Trust which is set to end 2006 with a deficit of £33 million.

September 14, 2009