A SURVEY OF FACILITIES FOR HIGH-RISK WOMEN IN CONSULTANT OBSTETRIC UNITS

Reports on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and the Obstetr ic Anaesthetists? Association have made recommendations about the prov ision of staff and facilities in consultant obstetric units. We have c arried out a postal survey of all units in the UK concerning provision of recovery facilities, high dependency and intensive care, and anaes thetic staffing, Replies were received from 232 units (89%). The resul ts show that although many units had achieved recommended standards, t his was not universal, In particular, only 62% had a designated and st affed recovery area, only 41% had specific obstetric high dependency b eds and there were a number of units with no consultant anaesthetic se ssions or trained anaesthetic assistants available around the clock. D espite the practical and financial difficulties in achieving recommend ed standards, it should be noted that purchasers of health care have b een encouraged to ensure that the recommendations are implemented.