Bispebjerg Hospital is now the only hospital in the region with an emergency admissions department, but no maternity department, and therefore the hospital is an obvious location for a new maternity department.
Copenhageners like children. In fact, they like them so much that the birth rate in the capital region is expected to increase by almost 10% up to 2020.
Therefore, members of the Regional Council in the Capital Region of Denmark have decided to examine the possibilities of expanding capacity and/or changing the structure in the region to give a better welcome to the world for the many new babies.
Initial focus is on Bispebjerg Hospital, which is the only hospital in the region with an emergency admissions department, but no maternity department.
"Unfortunately, the region's maternity wards are under pressure, and this is a topic that is very close to my heart. Therefore, I'm pleased that we're now starting to look into the tools we have to deal with the situation."
"We must and will be able to offer pregnant women in the region good and safe conditions," said Sophie Hæstorp Andersen (Social Democrats), Chairman of the Regional Council.
Bispebjerg is an option
The administration in the Capital Region of Denmark will now examine the possibilities to ensure greater capacity in the maternity area. There are several good reasons that Bispebjerg Hospital would be the obvious place to locate a possible new maternity department.
First of all, Copenhagen is seeing a large increase in the birth rate, so it would be logical to locate a possible new maternity department here.
Secondly, the other hospitals in the region with an emergency admissions department also have a maternity department.
Considerations about the new department will include assessments of the nature of the neonatology service (treatment option for newborns) to be offered by the new maternity department.
"In many ways, Bispebjerg Hospital is the obvious solution, but it should be stressed that nothing has been decided yet."
"We're to make a solid and long-term decision, and naturally we’ll consult the healthcare councils, hospitals and others with valuable opinions before the Regional Council makes a decision," said Sophie Hæstorp Andersen.
Further information:
- Considerations arise from the increasing birth rate in the region, which is expected to increase by 9.7% from 2015 to 2020, corresponding to 2,000 more births.
- Out of the five existing maternity departments, four are already close to capacity and Hvidovre Hospital is particularly under pressure, with an expected 8,000 deliveries in 2020.
- One more maternity department in the region will take into account the increase in birth rate and help increase job satisfaction and retain more midwives at regional hospitals.
- Considerations about an additional department in Copenhagen may provide more coherent patient pathways for the women living in Copenhagen already admitted to emergency admissions departments.
- Women want to stay in their local area in connection with somatic diseases as well as births. Assessments should include examination of which neonatology service the new birth department should have. Newborns in need of hospital care should be able to stay in the department for the first couple of days instead of being moved to other hospitals.
Contact:
Sophie Hæstorp Andersen (Social Democrats),Chairman of the Regional Council, through the press office: + 45 70 20 95 88