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.
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Hide AdAnd 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.”