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Pregnancy

Midwife doesn't cater for working mothers!

123 replies

rubyslippers7788 · 08/12/2013 19:00

Hi,

I work full time 8:00 - 4:00 Monday to Friday. My midwife is at my GP's surgery every Wednesday from 12 - 4:45. The problem is that she likes her bookings to be one after another. So If she has one at 3:30 then she wants the next one to be at 3:45. She refuses to wait for me to finish work at 4:00, I could be there at 4.10 so she wouldn't have to wait long. So if her last appointment is at 3:30 she wont wait until 4:10 for me ... even though she is supposed to stay until 4.45. Is this normal?! I am now 22 weeks pregnant and haven't seen her since I was 5 weeks pregnant ... all because she wont wait and my work is extremely awkward when trying to get time off.

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Ra88 · 08/12/2013 19:02

Your work cannot be awkward about time off for antenatal appointments !

It is illegal .

YABU to complaint, when you are entitled to leave early for your appointments

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Trigglesx · 08/12/2013 19:03

Can you speak to the practice manager and ask them if this is standard for their surgery or if there are other midwives available that are more considerate in their scheduling practices?

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jammiedonut · 08/12/2013 19:03

She doent need to cater for working mothers as, by law, your employer should allow you paid time off to attend antenatal appointments. Your problem should be with them, not her. Your rights are protected, don't take no for an answer.

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Ra88 · 08/12/2013 19:03

Complain*

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EdithWeston · 08/12/2013 19:03

It is your employers who are I. He wrong here.

Try showing them this - you are entitled to paid time off for antenatal appointments.

The MW should nt have to rearrange her working day to facilitate your employer breaking the law.

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Artandco · 08/12/2013 19:03

I think work have to let you off for maternity appointments?

I work 8am-7pm, so would never have fitted in before or after work. Get the 9am app ( or earlier) then you can be in work by 10ish hopefully.

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Pooka · 08/12/2013 19:04

Complain about your employers!

Complain to your employers. They are acting unlawfully if they are preventing you from seeing a midwife.

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Only1scoop · 08/12/2013 19:05

Your employer should not be making you feel awkward they legally have to give you the time off.

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SirChenjin · 08/12/2013 19:05

She doesn't have to wait. Your employer, otoh, does have to give you the time off. Tough if they don't like it. You really, really need to get to the midwife - 17 weeks without an appointment is too long.

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Bue · 08/12/2013 19:05

This is normal. I know it's really frustrating, but you are legally allowed time off for your antenatal appts. Would you ask your GP to stay behind to see you?? I don't really see what the difference is.

Also she probably has a good hour of paperwork, phone calls etc at the end of the day, so if she doesn't see you until 4:10 she won't finish until 4:30 and she definitely won't leave by 4:45. I have some sympathy for you with the 'scheduling one appt right after another thing' as it doesn't leave much room for flexibility, but the trouble is if you book people in willy nilly you can end up with huge gaps in the day. I don't like that approach myself, though.

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LittlePeaPod · 08/12/2013 19:05

That's the reason I moved over from my community MW to One2One MW. They work for NHS but come to your home for all appointments and will offer appointments from 7am till 8pm...

It started in Liverpool ut I live in Yorkshire and the service is getting offered further afield...

www.onetoonemidwives.org/

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AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 08/12/2013 19:05

I understand why you are frustrated but you allowed by law to have paid time off for antenatal appointments (separate to maternity leave/sick leave etc.

I think it's really important you go to your future appointments. You could always forward your work this link

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AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 08/12/2013 19:06

X posted with everyone!

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MrsCakesPremonition · 08/12/2013 19:07

It sounds like you only need to leave work 30mins early if you can make it to the surgery for 4:10pm without leaving early.

Your employers must give you the time off.

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Mattissy · 08/12/2013 19:07

You won't change your working hours but you expect her to change hers?

Anyway that's beside the point, you're legally entitled to time of for your antenatal appointments, so take it!

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Bellebelle · 08/12/2013 19:07

It does sound as if she's being a bit awkward but I agree with the other posters, it shouldn't be an issue as your work should automatically give you the time off for appointments.

Your midwife probably has home visits to do so I can understand why she would want to get all her appointments as close together as possible to free up time at the end of the day.

If I were the MW I'd have been in touch with you though if you haven't seen her since 5 weeks.

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rubyslippers7788 · 08/12/2013 19:11

Thanks for the posts everyone. My work is a nightmare, I have to fill out forms and get them signed by my managers if I want to leave early and they can be really funny ( looking for a new job asap!).

Mattissy, I don't expect the midwife to change her hours ... she is supposed to stay until 4.45. This is supposed to be her last appointment time.

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cloutiedumpling · 08/12/2013 19:12

Could you see your GP instead? I saw my GP during my first pregnancy for all but one of the routine appointments because it gave me greater flexibility. Alternatively, if you get the last midwife appointment of the day then you wouldn't have to miss too much work.

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rubyslippers7788 · 08/12/2013 19:13

She is supposed to have her last appointment at 4.45 but wont stay. I am a teacher, if it was parents evening and I said that my last appointment was 6:00 but I was only prepared to stay until 5:30 then I would certainly be in the wrong.

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rubyslippers7788 · 08/12/2013 19:14

cloutiedumpling. I have been trying to get the last appointment of the day! she is supposed to stay until 4:45 but wont!!

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Gluezilla · 08/12/2013 19:14

I doubt that's her last appointment time- she probably has a bit of time at the end of the day to follow up calls, make referrals etc.
Just arrange with your employer to attend your appointments.

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KongKickeroo · 08/12/2013 19:14

It is normal to insist on consecutive appointments. It's understandable, because (around here at least) the midwives go and do other community work (mostly visiting newly discharged mothers) as soon as the clinic finishes. So if they have a load of gaps between patients, they can't do this and will have to hang around for half the afternoon rather than being productive. They don't get to knock off early and go shopping Smile

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Bue · 08/12/2013 19:15

ruby if that is supposed to be her last appt slot, then yes, she is being unnecessarily difficult. I have worked with one comm MW like this and was always a bit Hmm at her lack of give and take. But does this mean you haven't been to your 15 week appt to get your screening results? You really need to make sure you attend the next one!

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rubyslippers7788 · 08/12/2013 19:15

I will try and get an appointment with the GP instead.

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rubyslippers7788 · 08/12/2013 19:16

Bue - The hospital sent my results through the post.

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