Wednesday 15th July 2020
I have met a very nice young obstetrician, who is flexible and open for suggestions in his approach to women and care in pregnancy and labour. We have cooperated on the first waterbirth together and we have huge respect for each other. Most of doctors in private sector are suggesting elective caesarean section for their own convenience (time is money) and they persuade the women in their care, that it is the woman’s convenience too.
This particular doctor is so different. He works in a private sector, but also in a government hospital, as a consultant obstetrician in one of the biggest maternity hospital in Colombo – De Soysa Maternity Hospital. He knew I was facilitating workshops for nurses in the private hospital and asked me to do a similar workshop for midwives and doctors in the government sector and I was delighted to do so. It took 2-3 weeks to prepare a presentation and session planner for a 4 hour workshop “Empower to empower ” with subtitles Normal birth, hormones and Change.
I bought them name tags (however uniform does not allow name tags, I would have to speak to the sister in charge for them to use the name tags on shift), I printed certificates and agenda and I prepared for all practical activities. I also baked a cake to make them feel special, celebrating year 2020 as Year of nurse and midwife and prepared a canvas for tree of life and their fingerprint art project.
After my shift on their labour ward on Friday 10th July, where I identified some potential changes to improve quality without using any resources, just change of mindset (that may need at least 3 generations to do that!). I facilitated that workshop on Wednesday 15th July 2020 to about 20 midwives/sisters and doctors in a shabby old room which once was SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit). I felt my passion has empowered majority of them and the feedback was very positive. One of the nurses stood up and thank the consultant for allowing me to come to their hospital and thanked me for inspiring workshop, which they have never had before.
One of my expat friends donated £65 and I was able to buy some massaging oils and Levander essential oils for all 4 labour rooms for them to use. An aromatherapy diffusers are coming to their labour rooms too!!!! The nurses call it a magic oil and with the touch, which is researched as having therapeutic results, hopefully women are getting a better care.
I am hoping to go back to check, if any improvements been made and see, if I can facilitate another workshop of similar nature in the future. However, there is some “administrative issue” and politics have halted my cooperation with them. They are trying to let me come to the hospital and lecturer under a project one doctor is running with WHO to improve quality of services. Nothing is easy here and it feels like they think that they know best and seeing me as a threat, instead as a help. Such a shame.
The difference:
Government sector
Consultant care during pregnancy if woman comes to hospital
Public health midwife in charge if in rural places or if woman does not come to hospital
In hospital: midwives in charge of birth with escalating to doctors if need be, midwives conduct birth
99% of women birth their babies in hospital
All care and food is free
Private sector
Consultant care for all women
Consultant in charge of birth, nurses and doctors in the hospital caring for the woman, but care is managed collaboratively with all three parties involved (nurses, consultant, hospital doctor), consultant must be conducting the birth
You pay for everything – being in hospital for 2 nights usually (price is depending on level of services and grade of rooms), being cared for in labour, drugs used and given, equipment used, material used, consultant obstetrician time and work, paediatrician time and work, anaesthetist time and work
bill is between 300 000LR – 800 000LR (£1250 – £3300) most people use private insurance to cover cost
