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Thank you for the review posted on NHS Choices concerning our Maternity Services at the RVI. We have clear guidance in relation to women attending the pre-operative clinic, however it is unclear why this pathway of care does not appear to have been followed in your particular case and apologise for any misunderstanding or concern this has caused you.

All women booked to have an elective caesarean section are seen in the pre-op clinic during the week leading up to their caesarean section date and this is usually (but not always) when they are 39 weeks pregnant. The timing enables necessary blood tests and consent to be obtained within the 7 days preceding of surgery. All women are then given a date for their caesarean section when they attend this clinic which will be within the following week. There is always a chance that a small number of women booked to have an elective caesarean section may go into spontaneous labour before the date of their surgery and in this event they would require an emergency caesarean section (before the pre-arranged date or time). The reason we perform routine elective caesarean sections at around 39 weeks is in accordance with NICE Clinical Guidance, which is the optimum safe time of birth for both mother and baby’s safety.

It is not clear from your comment why you were in the pre op clinic at 37 weeks, however it is evident that the reason we were unable to provide you with a date for your caesarean section was that you had been asked to attend too early.

We hope this explanation is helpful and please accept our apologies for any misunderstanding this may have caused. If you wish to speak to someone personally in relation to this matter, to confirm arrangements, please contact Matron Lynsey Redmond on 0191 2825716 who will be happy to take some more details from you and discuss this matter further.