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NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

DR. JOANNE Larson is shown checking the heartbeat of a
newhorn baby at Lions Gate Hospital. LGH's birthing facilities
_ wer rated highly in a recent survey of women.

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LIONS GATE Hospital’s
Dr. David Thomas said that
he is not sure a_ birthing
centre for the Lower
Mainland would be cheaper
than a hospital.

By Anna Marie D'Angelo
News Reporter

The obstetrician was part of a
committee sponsored by the
Greater Vancouver Regional
District that recently looked at the
possibility of setting up a Lower
Mainland birthing centre.

A survey conducted on the sub-
ject showed women were in favor
of using a birthing centre, if they
were also close to doctors and a
hospital.

“They say it’s going to be
cheaper, but I’m not so sure. Is it
cheaper to build a free-standing
Structure within 10 minutes of a
hospital?” said Thomas.

The difference between a birth-

‘ing centre and a place like Grace

Hospital, which only. deals with
births, is that a birthing centre is
staffed by licensed midwives with
no doctors.

44 They say it’s going to be cheaper, but I'm not so sure. Is it

cheaper to build a free-standing

In Ontario, there are four birth-
ing centres, including a ‘‘suc-
cessful’? one at Peel Memorial
Hospital in Brampton.

Women permitted to give birth
at a birthing centre must be low-
risk; that is, they have had a child
with relatively minor problems, if
any, said Thomas.

Participants in the birthing-.
centre survey rated LGH highly:
80% of women surveyed, and who
gave birth at LGH, rated highly
the hospital’s medical care, staff
and facilities. :

“It showed LGH in a good
light,’? said Thomas. a)

Nine hundred women of
childbearing age who live in the
North Shore, Vancouver, Surrey,
Burnaby, Delta, Langley and
Richmond areas took part in th
phone survey. . ; ‘

Thomas said the 1990 renova-

tions to LGH’s maternity .ward

ASK

structure within IO minutes of a
hospital?99 ;

— Dr. David Thomas

added to the hospital’s goal of
having family-oriented obstetrics.

He said if a birthing centre was
built, it would likely be located in
the Surrey area’ where there is a
high number of young families.

A significant number of mid-
wives licensed in B.C. would have
to be in place before a birthing
centre could be set up, he said.

Currently, there is no provincial
legislation in place to license
midwives, but the NDP govern-
ment is on record as favoring the
initiative.

As far as Shaughnessy Hospi-
tal’s closure. and its impact on
Greater Vancouver’s baby
hospital, Thomas said, “I. am
concerned about that. because (at)
Grace they do deal with very sick
obstetrics patients. I. empathize
with Grace with the loss ‘of
specialty backup.”’ oo

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