This was because a high proportion of these patients end up with an operative procedure, in particular Caesarean sections. If a Hb has not been done prior to the booking of the case for the Caesar, it becomes almost impossible to have it done before the operation as most of such Caesars are "urgent" emergencies.
A memorandum was sent to all the obstetricians in SJMC of this decision. However, my personal experience has been a most disappointing one, as almost all those labouring mothers who have not had a recent Hb done at the Ante-Natal Clinic within the stipulated 30 days, invariably end up in OT without a recent Hb.
I have had many patients with the last Hb done 5 to 7 months before coming to OT.
The Hb is a cheap, easily performed investigation providing invaluable
information to us and there should be no excuse for omitting this investigation.
Dr. Jacob Thomas has agreed to the above proposal.
At the 21 April 1999 meeting of the MAB, our proposal was accepted and Dr. Hamid, the Chairman of the Perinatal Care Subcommittee, issued a letter to all obstetricians to instruct them to have the Hb done if one had not been done in the last 30 days prior to admission to labour ward.
However, many of the obstetricians were still obstinate and refused to do the investigation as required. The new MAB at its 15 December 1999 meeting reaffirmed the decision of the previous MAB that the Hb will be done in all patients admitted to Labour Ward if one has not been done in the 30 days prior to admission. This decision was passed on to the general medical staff at the Quarterly Medical Staff Meeting held on 22 March 2000.
I
have sent a letter to the labour ward
manager concerning the above decision. Dare I say that this brings the matter to
a close! If you get more than the occasional problem please inform me.
| Proposer: | Kok Wah |
| Date: | 15 January 1999 |
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