'go straight to midwife' adverts (scotland)

[jurassicpark]

Has anyone else seen an advert saying now there is no need to get referred by your GP and you can contact a midwife direct as soon as you find out you are pregnant(see also www.readysteadybaby.org.uk)?
I just tried this approach and was treated like a complete idiot by the receptionist at local midwife unit. Even with explanation of why I contacted them, it was still me the total fool. Maybe this isn't happening in Scotland...is it??

[EnglandAllenPoe]

i did this in England via hospital website form.

[nunnie]

Isn't happening here either (my local gp's), well it wasn't 24 weeks ago, GP confirms pregnancy then refers to midwife at my practice.

[proseccogirl]

I'm in Scotland and went to my gp when I got a BFP, who referred me on to the midwives.

[jurassicpark]

yep, I did the GP referral route with first pregnancy but keep seeing this new approach in adverts so thought I would try it this way.
I probably wouldn't be annoyed at all if I wasnt treated that way.

[nunnie]

Ohh I'm not in Scotland sorry ignore my post.

[cinnamongreyhound]

I just got a form from GP receptionist which they sent on to midwife, wouldn't know how to contact midwife directly before being pregnant anyway. Didn't actually see a GP, I'm in England though.

[jurassicpark]

just off the phone to NHS Scotland complaints (I never do this sort of thing). Seems that the whole of Scotland are following this approach now but not Glasgow, something to do with timings. Ah well, GP it is. Hopefully this is the only thing I need to complain about during this pg (fingers crossed).

[Beveridge]

I've seen the ad in my GP waiting room (in Scotland). When I was first pg with DD I automatically went to tell my GP and while he was very nice and congratulatory, he didn't really do anything when I thrust my Clearblue digital at him that I had done that afternoon (just to make sure....lucky him, fresh wee on a stick!) apart from tell me to make an appointment with the community midwife through the receptionist and enjoy my pregnancy.

Receptionist then made an appointment for me and gave me the Ready, Steady, Baby pack.

Ah! Just re-read your post,did you contact the actual midwife unit at your local hospital? Oh dear, I think this is going to backfire badly as , now I come to think about it, it's not clear at all from the posters that you should contact the midwife at your GP practice.

I only know because of last time, I wouldn't have had a clue how to access a midwife otherwise. They need to be clearer because unlike other services, you can't really ask friends, etc. if you are trying to keep it quiet!

[jurassicpark]

Contacted my local community midwife but Beveridge you are right, you wouldnt know if you didnt ask your health practice. I asked complaints to make the adverts clearer that some health boards don't follow this approach, though I have seen these adverts in Glasgow

[hoolabombshell]

Jurassic I'm in North Lanarkshire. When I called my surgery to make an appointment with my GP to confirm my pg she said the GPs don't do antenatal, so I was referred direct to an appointment with one of the midwives, who run a clinic from the surgery each week.

[ChallengingCitrusHalibut]

I'm in Edinburgh and last time I was pregnant (in April this year, ended in mc) I was told I had to make a double appointment for booking in with my GP. I thought I was going to get all the bloods taken etc so was rather disappointed when all she did was get my dates and fill in an electronic midwife referral which she sent off while I was there.

I am now pregnant again, 8.5 weeks, saw the GP but she hasn't referred me yet. I did make a double appt with her for next week but as this felt a bit pointless, after reading this thread I phoned the community midwife centre I went to last time, who gave me a central telephone number for booking in - 0131 536 2009. I have just called that and managed to arrange both booking in appt and dating scan, dates and times that suit me rather than waiting to be told in a letter like last time.

I assume that tel no works for whole of NHS Lothian so, anyone else in Lothian and not referred to midwife yet, that way is much better!

[jurassicpark]

That's good to know it does work other places. Makes much more sense.

[LovelyKatie]

Hello Everyone

I hail from Liverpool

and in my surgery theres a sign that says 'if you think you are pregnant please book appointment to see midwife'

so theyre saying even if you think your pregnant just go straight to midwife I dont see any need for middle man anyway.

I knew I was pregnant so would of felt silly to see GP just for him to say see midwife

so i just booked straight with midwife and they didnt ask whether I knew if i was pregnant or not, then when I got there it went fine!

Good Luck

[MorrisZapp]

Sod the poster just phone your doctor.

Here in Edinburgh the system is so confused that not one person I spoke to knew who I was supposed to contact first.

I was given a number for 'the midwives' by my GP but when I phoned it it was an an answering machine, staffed by harrassed midwives who basically ring you back to ask why the hell you tied up the line.

Now that I'm in the system, all is great. But getting there was a joke.

[americanexpat]

I spoke with the receptionist at my GP's surgery, who booked me an appointment with the community midwife at 7 weeks, who then referred me to the ante-natal clinic at the hospital for my 12 week scan, booking, bloods, etc. The receptionist seemed to know what to do (good thing, because I had no idea).