City maternitycapacity lags behind births

Over 2012/13 the Londonderry maternity unit is funded for 2,908 deliveries. But this is less than the 2,949 births that occurred there in 2011/12.

Meanwhile, the Causeway maternity unit is funded for 1,421 deliveries this year; this is one less delivery than the amount of babies born there in 2011/12.

And the Antrim unit is funded for 2,620 deliveries this year: four more deliveries than the 2,616 babies born there in 2011/12.

Health Minister Edwin Poots stated: “It should be noted that capacity within hospitals changes over time to meet demand.

“Capacity in a maternity unit cannot be seen in isolation from other hospital services. Key drivers on capacity within a maternity unit include: (a) the physical environment; (b) the staffing complement of both professional and administrative staff and skill mix; and, (c) the complexity of the pregnancy.”

He also stated: “It should be noted that the number of births does not equate to the number of deliveries as one delivery may result in a multiple birth.”