Home Birth Team / Community Midwives / Community Midwifery Unit (CMU) requiring emergency patient transfer to hospital should dial 999 for emergency ambulance.
- If the lives of the mother and/or fetus (or neonate) are thought to be in danger, the initial call to SAS (Scottish Ambulance Service) should state clearly there is an ‘URGENT THREAT TO LIFE’ (7 minute response time).
- If there is no evidence of maternal or fetal compromise, an ‘urgent’ ambulance should be requested (expected to arrive within the hour) - in the event of any change in the condition of the mother or the fetus, the request should be upgraded to ‘urgent threat to life’.
- In circumstances where the mother requires emergency transfer after birth, but there are no immediate neonatal concerns, it is recommended these babies travel to hospital with the birthing partner in their own transport. Hospital taxi can be arranged if required.
If possible, the midwife should also phone the Labour Ward coordinator of the appropriate hospital and give details of the transfer. If this is not possible, ambulance control should be requested to pass on information.
