WE have been closely following the news in the Shuttle/Times & News concerning the local hospitals, especially the maternity units, as my wife progressed through her third pregnancy.
It seems appropriate now that we share the experience of the recent delivery of our baby to reassure those who have been concerned by some of the recent news coverage.
We share the sadness of those who have lost babies, and recognise that without the expert care which we received, it could have easily been us.
It is easy to forget that childbirth remains a potentially life-threatening activity and we all expect to walk out with a bouncing baby after a smooth (even if , perhaps, assisted) birth.
Our first two children were each born in different hospitals so hopefully we can draw some fair comparisons as to the quality of care at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
We had a less than straightforward experience this time. To put it diplomatically, this meant that the birth needed more than a little intervention.
The staff at the hospital were excellent. We were well looked after, in a professional and calm manner - our midwife was first class, friendly and professional. Sensitive and professional doctors, additional midwives and a paediatrician were immediately on hand when we needed them.
The intervention was respectful of our wishes, while ensuring the most appropriate medical treatment. The unit was well air-conditioned, clean and pleasant, with great attention to handwashing and hygiene.
Security was excellent, with the baby being "tagged" as soon as he was born. During times when it was medically appropriate we were allowed to share some private moments alone.
On top of all this, our midwife stayed a couple of hours beyond the end of her shift to ensure that everything had been considered, to avoid the disruption of a "handover".
So we feel extremely blessed with our baby son, yet painfully aware that childbirth can still be very dangerous - and the better the care gets, the less accepting we are of a negative outcome.
If it weren't for the quality of care at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, the outcome could have been very different for us.
MARK YOUNG
Kidderminster Road
Bewdley
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