Maternity ward at AZ West Veurne closes doors with emotional farewell; midwives overwhelmed by support

The maternity ward at AZ West in Veurne has ceased all deliveries and obstetric interventions, marking an emotional closure due to a critical shortage of gynecologists. The facility will remain closed for six months, redirecting expectant mothers to hospitals in Ypres or Ostend for care.

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We just did our job, as always, and tried not to dwell on it too much. A birth is such a special moment in a life; it should be a moment of peace for the parents. As a caregiver, you can't let your own emotions get in the way.

For the 16-year veteran midwife Manon Degroote, the final days were about maintaining professionalism. "We just did our job, as always, and tried not to dwell on it too much," she said. "A birth is such a special moment in a life; it should be a moment of peace for the parents. As a caregiver, you can't let your own emotions get in the way." However, behind the scenes, the last week was deeply emotional for her colleague Annelies Vanquathem, a midwife of 15 years at AZ West.

Vanquathem initiated a social media campaign to express the staff's feelings, which quickly gained widespread attention. "I posted a message just to show how much this means to us," she explained. "Then someone working at the hospital posted a call to action: send photos, support the midwives. And then it just exploded. There were so many reposts, and we couldn't keep up." The response was overwhelming, with women sharing their birth stories, creating an emotional outpouring that brought many tears.

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I posted a message just to show how much this means to us. Then someone working at the hospital posted a call to action: send photos, support the midwives. And then it just exploded. There were so many reposts, and we couldn't keep up.

"The first post was viewed 52,000 times. We also received many personal messages. Women massively shared their birth stories. It was truly an overwhelming experience. That made it very emotional. And yes, there were many tears shed over all these beautiful reactions. People are still posting," Vanquathem added. The midwives are supporting each other through a WhatsApp group, sharing the touching messages and offering comfort. Even former student interns have reached out, further highlighting the strong community connection to the maternity ward.

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The first post was viewed 52,000 times. We also received many personal messages. Women massively shared their birth stories. It was truly an overwhelming experience. That made it very emotional. And yes, there were many tears shed over all these beautiful reactions. People are still posting.

Both Degroote and Vanquathem emphasized the unique personal care provided at the small, specialized maternity ward. "We are a small but specialized maternity ward, with truly personal care," Degroote said. "I do prenatal consultations, I work in the maternity ward, I support people in the delivery room, throughout the entire process. You don't find that much anymore in Belgium. That's what makes us so unique." This personal touch was the reason many, including Degroote, chose Veurne years ago, contrasting it with larger hospitals in surrounding areas.

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We are a small but specialized maternity ward, with truly personal care. I do prenatal consultations, I work in the maternity ward, I support people in the delivery room, throughout the entire process. You don't find that much anymore in Belgium. That's what makes us so unique.