Nottingham hospitals have been using aromatherapy to treat infections, 'hysteria' and help prevent labour complications. The use of the method, which uses plant extracts and essential oils, has been described as shocking, according to a report from The Times.
Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital's maternity departments, run by Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH), are currently subject to a review following dozens of baby deaths. The NHS trust has faced further criticism over its aromatherapy guidelines.
NUH said it was reviewing the wording of the guidance, which was highlighted by maternity commentator Catherine Roy. The internal guidelines suggest using essential oils if the placenta does not follow the baby out of the womb quickly enough.
Read more: 'Harrowing stories' heard as Nottingham maternity review led by Donna Ockenden gets underway
This is the contrary to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidance, which says the complication should prompt transfer to a doctor-led obstetric unit. But, as the Times reports, the NUH guidelines say aromatherapy can help expel the placenta, and suggest midwives ask women to inhale oils such as clary sage, jasmine, lavender or basil, while applying others as an abdominal compress.
They also describe the oils as “extremely effective for the prevention of and, in some cases, the treatment of infection”. The guidelines also suggest essential oils to help women suffering from cystitis, or as a compress on a caesarean section wound.
NUH adds frankincense “may calm hysteria” and is “recommended in situations of maternal panic”. Ms Roy told the Times: “It is shocking that dangerous advice seemed to have been approved by a team of healthcare professionals at NUH.
"There is a high tolerance for pseudoscience in NHS maternity care and it needs to stop. Women deserve high quality care, not dangerous quackery.”
A spokesperson for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We have received feedback about information on our website on using aromatherapy during labour and are currently reviewing the wording of this information, alongside our guidelines which are updated regularly.”
Read next:
- Settlement reached after baby suffers injuries during birth at Nottingham hospital
- Donna Ockenden hopes to be in Nottingham 'soon' after 'stark' CQC report
- Nottingham maternity report finds evidence of 'bullying behaviour'
- CQC demands 'widespread and rapid' maternity service improvements at NUH
- Read more health news from across Nottinghamshire
