Doctor: Hospital care not as good at night

LONDON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Women don't get the same quality of obstetric care when they give birth at night, one of Britain's top maternity doctors said.

That's because junior staff on duty at night can make poor decisions about care, The Guardian reported.

"Obstetric care isn't the same at 3 a.m. as it is at 3 p.m., and it should be," said physician Tony Falconer. "This is a matter of huge concern."

Falconer said the inexperience of doctors working night shifts in maternity wards means they lack the skills needed to ensure a baby's safe birth.

Falconer made the comments in his first interview since becoming president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

"Care overnight isn't as robust as it is at it is at 9 a.m. or 2 p.m.," Falconer said in an interview. "It's not as good. At 2 a.m., you do not have the same experience."

Falconer said junior obstetric doctors could lack the technical skills to use forceps or vacuum to ease a baby's birth.

"One of the ironies of the health service, and this view is shared by very senior people, is this culture that the (hospital) basically runs at one level for 40 hours a week, and at a completely different level for the rest of the week. And when you are dealing with acute services, that shouldn't happen," Falconer said.