Q1. I would choose option 1- as it would be important to show care and compassion to Sarah and empathise with her situation of being apart from her baby. I would however look to manage expectations, and say that due to the busy nature of the two separate hospitals, that it may not be possible, but if not then a call would be arranged as soon as feasibly possible. If I was exceptionally busy, I may opt for option 3 however, it depends on whether spending the time facilitating the call would impact the safety of my other patients.
Q2. I would choose option 2- gain consent and announce myself when I enter to ensure on the wellbeing of both Theo and Sarah. It would be important to understand why Sarah was crying- it may just be the stress of the situation, or she may have concerns about her own or Theo’s wellbeing. I would look to reassure and comfort Sarah where possible, and address her worries.
Q3. I would choose option 2- It is not possible to force Sarah to stay if she wanted to leave, but I would explain the situation as best I could and the reasons why she should stay (so that she can recover), and look to see if there is anything that can be done to make things easier for Sarah, such as additional contact time with Theo. It would be important to be sympathetic to Sarah and understanding of her situation so she doesn’t feel unsupported. I would discuss Sarah’s concerns in a calm manner, using sympathetic language and ensure positive non-verbal communication too, such as by ensuring I was at Sarah’s eye level (not standing over her), maintaining eye contact, etc.
