MZ: there will be no deliveries in EDs

- Polish women do not and will not give birth in EDs," the deputy head of the ministry noted at the outset. - The regulation does not move deliveries to EDs, but introduces separate, fully equipped birth rooms only for emergencies and rare situations, he explained. The MZ had already explained to reporters that "birth rooms" are being created, but the goal is for deliveries not to take place in them, and for women to go to hospitals with maternity wards in advance.

However, even if childbirth were to take place - in the event that a woman with a very advanced labor action comes forward - it will not take place "in the ED," but in a separate room equipped just like a delivery room, i.e. with an OCG machine, a cardiac monitor, a pulse oximeter, a delivery bed, a position for resuscitation of the newborn, and an incubator. - This is only for emergency, rare cases, which is a voluntary solution in those places where there is no maternity ward or it has been closed or converted into a planned gynecology ward," the deputy minister further explained. 

MP Barbara Bartuś (Law and Justice) said that the Health Ministry's decree de facto "gives the green light to the liquidation of maternity wards," while the ministry should be fighting for more babies to be born. Deputy Minister Maciejewski retorted that the closure of maternity wards is a process determined by the demographic situation and the decisions of local governments. On the other hand, the government supports those trying to have offspring by financing the in vitro program, thanks to which 10,000 children have already been born in Poland. - We are also introducing a new standard of perinatal care, which will also superbly improve the conditions of labor for patients giving birth, providing anesthesia, good care and education and support during pregnancy and labor. Polish women will not give birth in EDs," he stressed.