STORY:
First Millennium Baby Needs Correct Timing

Doctors in England test clocks in hospital and find none are in sync

The correct time on a hospital wall clock might sound trivial but it can be extremely important when determining the first born in the Year 2000. According to letter reportedly appearing in the British Medical Journal, doctors in England determined that the clocks in an unnamed hospital were not accurate or in sync.

The results may cause concern for parents aiming to give birth to a millennial baby and all publicity and prizes that may ensue. An individual at the Royal College of Midwives told The London Evening Standard the best thing to do is have the radio on in the maternity ward in order to hear the chime of Big Ben.

All clocks in the six delivery rooms at the unnamed hospital were reportedly slow - by up to two and a half minutes. The one in the central nursing station was running between four and 10 minutes slow and the clock in the special care baby unit was 24 seconds slow.

The doctors also surveyed the labor ward at St George's Hospital and found inaccuracies ranging from four minutes 12 seconds slow to two minutes 25 seconds fast, and the main clock in the neonatal intensive care unit was 55 seconds fast.

All clocks were compared to the atomic clock at British Telecom's Rugby-radio station which sends out an automatic signal to timepieces in western Europe to keep accurate time.

DATE: 07/26/99

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