Birth care capacity

(July 2023)

Dear expectant parents,

Every pregnancy and childbirth is a great and special event.
All healthcare providers in birth care provide the best possible care to mother, partner and child with dedication. Every expectant parent has a right to that care.
Due to the ongoing national staff shortage in health care (nurses, maternity nurses, ambulance personnel and OR personnel) we are informing you of the situation in the Utrecht region.

All healthcare providers are in daily contact with each other to ensure that all
expectant mothers receive the care they need. At home or in the hospital.
Do you want to give birth in the hospital? If so, you may not be able to give birth at the hospital of your
first preference. Together we will look for an available location, at
preference and usually in, but sometimes also outside the Utrecht region, provided it is medically responsible.
Do you have a medical indication for childbirth? Even then we will search together for an available
place for childbirth because care providers in our region have good mutual
agreements.
The coming summer the maternity care organizations are experiencing labour shortages due to an increase
of pregnant women, a lower capacity of maternity nurses in the region, partly caused by
vacations and an uneven distribution of paid and self-employed care providers. The
maternity care providers redistributed capacity with each other as much as possible. Together
with the first-line midwives a plan has been made to distribute care as best as possible
. Together they will indicate and re-indicate care and offer each other support
, in delivery assistance and check-ups in the maternity period. The hospitals in region
will also take into account the division of capacity, departure clients from the
hospital after delivery and take into account responsible discharge, because not
the same day maternity care can be delivered at home.
Usually a midwife or doctor and a maternity nurse or nurse will support You
during childbirth.
All health care providers in the region work closely together to ensure that You can always
count on the care that is needed. Even in an acute situation. Do you have any questions? Something on your mind? Or would you like to know more? Discuss it with your midwife or obstetrician during the check-up.
With kind regards,
Geboortezorg Midden-Nederland on behalf of
Verloskundigen, Kraamverzorgenden regio Utrecht and the gynaecologists of the
Diakonessenhuis, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Meander Medisch Centrum and WKZgeboortecentru