Obstetric services cut for non-local mothers in 2012

The Hospital Authority (HA) will significantly reduce the number of obstetric services available in public hospitals for non-local pregnant women in 2012.

To ensure the resources are readily available for local pregnant women, the HA will limit the number of obstetric bookings for non-local pregnant women to just 3,400 during 2012 – a significant reduction from the 9,800 bookings it allowed in 2010.

The announcement comes following predictions that demand will increase throughout 2011 and into 2012. Some hospitals have declared that they will not accept any bookings from women outside the catchment areas, whilst others have said bookings can be made only “where spare capacity is available”.

The HA has also announced that it will increase the number of beds available in its neonatal intensive care units and implement an extended training programme for midwives to cope with the demand.