TracyD
01-31-2007, 05:54 AM
ROTUNDA HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES REVISIONS TO VISITING POLICY & POSITION REGARDING DOULAS & BIRTH-PARTNERS
The Rotunda Hospital, Ireland’s Maternity Hospital of Choice and provider of a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of pregnant women and their babies, has recently revised both its Visiting Policy and its position regarding the involvement of Doulas in the hospital.
The Rotunda Hospital is the first maternity hospital in Ireland, the first Dublin hospital and the second hospital in the country to receive the prestigious Accreditation Award from the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board. And as a result of the Rotunda’s participation in this scheme, management identified the need to undertake regular surveys of patient satisfaction as another means of facilitating customer feedback on the care they receive and the environment in which it is delivered.
The latest Patient Satisfaction Survey revealed consistently high scores in important areas associated with patient care such as; 97% were satisfied with the knowledge and skill of healthcare professionals; 96% found staff helpful and polite; 96% would recommend the hospital to a friend and nearly all participants rated the cleanliness and safety & security aspects of the hospital as either very good or good.
The hospital introduced a rigorous Visiting Policy in late 2002 in the context of infection control. Following this, the hospital surveyed patients specifically on this policy and the majority of new mothers liked the benefits of more rest and personal time with their babies. The most recent survey did however highlight that these existing visiting arrangements at the hospital were a source of dissatisfaction and this was the area most mentioned as a factor, which would improve the patients’ hospital experience.
As a result the hospital has reviewed its Visiting Policy to further enhance patient satisfaction. The principal change in the RotundaHospital’s Visiting Policy is that the patient’s parents and/or her partner’s parents may visit between 1.30pm – 4pm Monday to Friday (and during general visiting times).
Along with the revised visiting arrangements at the hospital, the Rotunda, due to its adherence to Health & Safety regulations and Security and Infection Control concerns, has also revised its position regarding the involvement and access of birth-partners and Doulas in the Delivery Suite.
As one of Ireland’s leading providers of a range of services to meet the needs of pregnant women and their babies, the Rotunda Hospital believes strongly that pregnant women should receive care and advice regarding their pregnancy, labour, delivery and postnatal period from a registered practitioner who is experienced in the area, either a midwife or a doctor.
Doulas, who historically fulfilled a role provided by female members of the extended family, are relatively new in the Irish context and provide a private service to women for an agreed fee based on the level of service they provide. The hospital believes that Doulas should not replace the role of the registered professional in giving advice and support.
The Rotunda has facilitated approximately 10 women with Doulas in the past year or so as a birth-partner and birth-partners at that time were permitted to inter-change during labour. But now, in the interest of equity and fairness to all women, the hospital is allowing only one nominated birth partner per patient thereby ending the option of inter-changing birth-partners.
According to Dr. Michael Geary, Master of the Rotunda: “Providing a safe and healthy environment for patients, staff and visitors is of paramount importance to the Rotunda Hospital’s management and staff and as a result of this, except in extremely special extenuating circumstances, we have taken the decision to restrict inter-changing birth-partners with immediate effect”.
All staff employed in the Rotunda Hospital have rigorous health screening and those involved in direct contact with patients are vetted by the National Garda Vetting Unit. The hospital cannot guarantee these standards for independent providers of services. As a result, Doulas will no longer be facilitated in any role other than that of the patient’s nominated birth partner at the Rotunda Hospital.
ENDS
Editor’s Notes:
· The Rotunda Hospital Patient Satisfaction Survey is conducted every six months, and the questionnaires can be completed by patients, a partner or family/friend, with questions covering all aspects of the hospital experience
· The results are based on the latest survey undertaken in September 2006 from 279 questionnaires
· The Patient Satisfaction Survey questionnaires are available in English, Irish and French, based on an analysis of patient nationalities and has been approved by the National Adult Literacy Agency
For further information or to request interviews, please contact the Rotunda Hospital Press Office c/o McConnells Fusion or check out www.rotunda.ie
Marc Kelly, PR Account Director, MPRII on 01-476 4342 or 085 714 5542
Emma Ross, PR Account Executive on 01-417 7605 or 086 367 8591
Email: marc.kelly@mcconnells.ie / emma.ross@mcconnells.ie
Emma Ross
PR Account Executive
McConnells Fusion
McConnell House
Charlemont Place
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 4177605
M: +353 86 3678591
F: +353 1 4764303
E: emma.ross@mcconnells.ie
www.mcconnells.ie
The Rotunda Hospital, Ireland’s Maternity Hospital of Choice and provider of a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of pregnant women and their babies, has recently revised both its Visiting Policy and its position regarding the involvement of Doulas in the hospital.
The Rotunda Hospital is the first maternity hospital in Ireland, the first Dublin hospital and the second hospital in the country to receive the prestigious Accreditation Award from the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board. And as a result of the Rotunda’s participation in this scheme, management identified the need to undertake regular surveys of patient satisfaction as another means of facilitating customer feedback on the care they receive and the environment in which it is delivered.
The latest Patient Satisfaction Survey revealed consistently high scores in important areas associated with patient care such as; 97% were satisfied with the knowledge and skill of healthcare professionals; 96% found staff helpful and polite; 96% would recommend the hospital to a friend and nearly all participants rated the cleanliness and safety & security aspects of the hospital as either very good or good.
The hospital introduced a rigorous Visiting Policy in late 2002 in the context of infection control. Following this, the hospital surveyed patients specifically on this policy and the majority of new mothers liked the benefits of more rest and personal time with their babies. The most recent survey did however highlight that these existing visiting arrangements at the hospital were a source of dissatisfaction and this was the area most mentioned as a factor, which would improve the patients’ hospital experience.
As a result the hospital has reviewed its Visiting Policy to further enhance patient satisfaction. The principal change in the RotundaHospital’s Visiting Policy is that the patient’s parents and/or her partner’s parents may visit between 1.30pm – 4pm Monday to Friday (and during general visiting times).
Along with the revised visiting arrangements at the hospital, the Rotunda, due to its adherence to Health & Safety regulations and Security and Infection Control concerns, has also revised its position regarding the involvement and access of birth-partners and Doulas in the Delivery Suite.
As one of Ireland’s leading providers of a range of services to meet the needs of pregnant women and their babies, the Rotunda Hospital believes strongly that pregnant women should receive care and advice regarding their pregnancy, labour, delivery and postnatal period from a registered practitioner who is experienced in the area, either a midwife or a doctor.
Doulas, who historically fulfilled a role provided by female members of the extended family, are relatively new in the Irish context and provide a private service to women for an agreed fee based on the level of service they provide. The hospital believes that Doulas should not replace the role of the registered professional in giving advice and support.
The Rotunda has facilitated approximately 10 women with Doulas in the past year or so as a birth-partner and birth-partners at that time were permitted to inter-change during labour. But now, in the interest of equity and fairness to all women, the hospital is allowing only one nominated birth partner per patient thereby ending the option of inter-changing birth-partners.
According to Dr. Michael Geary, Master of the Rotunda: “Providing a safe and healthy environment for patients, staff and visitors is of paramount importance to the Rotunda Hospital’s management and staff and as a result of this, except in extremely special extenuating circumstances, we have taken the decision to restrict inter-changing birth-partners with immediate effect”.
All staff employed in the Rotunda Hospital have rigorous health screening and those involved in direct contact with patients are vetted by the National Garda Vetting Unit. The hospital cannot guarantee these standards for independent providers of services. As a result, Doulas will no longer be facilitated in any role other than that of the patient’s nominated birth partner at the Rotunda Hospital.
ENDS
Editor’s Notes:
· The Rotunda Hospital Patient Satisfaction Survey is conducted every six months, and the questionnaires can be completed by patients, a partner or family/friend, with questions covering all aspects of the hospital experience
· The results are based on the latest survey undertaken in September 2006 from 279 questionnaires
· The Patient Satisfaction Survey questionnaires are available in English, Irish and French, based on an analysis of patient nationalities and has been approved by the National Adult Literacy Agency
For further information or to request interviews, please contact the Rotunda Hospital Press Office c/o McConnells Fusion or check out www.rotunda.ie
Marc Kelly, PR Account Director, MPRII on 01-476 4342 or 085 714 5542
Emma Ross, PR Account Executive on 01-417 7605 or 086 367 8591
Email: marc.kelly@mcconnells.ie / emma.ross@mcconnells.ie
Emma Ross
PR Account Executive
McConnells Fusion
McConnell House
Charlemont Place
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 4177605
M: +353 86 3678591
F: +353 1 4764303
E: emma.ross@mcconnells.ie
www.mcconnells.ie