Birth in the ED protocol

NHS Tayside ED Guidance
NHS Tayside

Anticipated emergency delivery within the ED or just delivered pre-hospital and presents to the department. Direct transfer to labour suite is decided to be unsafe.

  1. Ensure Duty ED Consultant aware.
  2. 2222 to switchboard "Birth in the emergency department" to request attendance of team at consultant discretion:
    • Maternity coordinator 4062
    • Midwife to ED 4233
    • Obstetric registrar 5400
    • Neonatologist on duty: page 4201 and 4202
    • NICU nurse page 4467. Consider transport incubator.
  3. Prepare team.
  4. Equipment check: Ambubag and mask sizes.
  5. Warm towels/thermal mattress prepared.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 30/04/2021

Next review date: 30/04/2023

Author(s): C. Donald, A. Nicoll..