Editor:
I was disturbed by a quote from Dr. Michael Klein in last week’s Crag and Canyon regarding the closing of Obstetrical services at MSH.
“Safety is an issue, although it hasn’t been an issue until now,” he said, adding that there is no specific number of deliveries nurses need to participate in in order to maintain competency and confidence. This is simply not true.
Obstetrics is a specialty and, as with all specialties, nurses are required to take courses and receive specific training in that field. Nurses need mentoring and experience to develop and maintain their skills. This is especially true in rural settings.
We are privileged in this valley to be served by two excellent hospitals. We should support our administrators and their team of professionals for making decisions that are difficult but responsible.
By combining and sharing services it will help to keep both viable.
Let’s not complain about a 20-minute journey down the road. What really matters is that we provide the best obstetrical care possible and have healthy mothers and babies.
Kathy Madill,
Banff
