The obstetrician at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, one of the city's premier health facilities, has seen her maternity ward filled to capacity since the beginning of last year.

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Dr Meldrum was one of eight signatories to a letter sent to Justice Secretary Jack Straw along with the heads of the Royal College of Surgeons, Royal College of Nursing, Medical Defence Union, Medical Protection Society, Royal College of GPs, Faculty of Public Health and Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

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The guidelines have been prepared in consultation with the Mental After Care Association, mental health charity Mind, the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, the British Medical Association, public service union Unison, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

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