A CAMELFORD man turned midwife last week when his partner went into labour before the ambulance crew arrived at their home, writes Suzanne Cleave.

Peter Davison was guided through the birth by ambulance control, after his partner, Debbie Doman went into labour on Wednesday, April 1.

She had planned to have a home birth, so phoned for her midwife, but she didn't arrive as quickly as they had hoped.

As Debbie's labour was progressing more quickly than expected, Peter phoned for an ambulance. In the meantime, Debbie had started to push, and ambulance control assistant Amanda Marshman had to talk Peter through the delivery until the ambulance arrived.

'VERY CALM'

Debbie said: "They were telling him what to look for, then my waters broke and her head popped out. It literally was two minutes on the phone to them and that was it.

"Ambulance control were talking to Peter over the phone about what to do and at the same time they were talking to someone else in Bridgwater. There were two of us giving birth at the same time."

Debbie said she was very calm during the whole experience, and added: "It was so easy, there were no problems."

The ambulance crew arrived about a minute after Debbie had given birth to a 9lb 6oz girl, who has been named Rebecca Anne.

Debbie and Peter each have three other children from previous relationships, so Rebecca makes number seven. Debbie said her other children have all been to visit and are pleased with the new arrival. "They're all chuffed to bits they've got a little sister."

All staff working in the Clinical Hub, where all 999 calls from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon and Somerset are taken, are given a comprehensive training package, which includes providing over the phone advice, with help from an on-screen manual, to patients in labour.

'FANTASTIC'

It was Amanda's second baby delivery, and she was delighted that Debbie and Rebecca are doing well. She said: "It is fantastic to be working in a role where you really make a difference. Very often the calls that come in are in relation to people whose lives are in danger, so the opportunity to make such a positive difference by helping to deliver a baby is fantastic."