20 week scan - no availability!

[Hellofromtheoutside2]

I am 20+4 and moved house a couple of weeks ago (150 miles so totally different midwife, hospitals etc).

I knew getting a scan sorted was a priority so tried to contact the midwife team before we moved but they couldn't see me or do anything til I was registered at the docs. Doc wouldn't register me til I had proof of address, so I registered as soon as I moved but couldn't do so before.

It then took a week to get a midwife appointment cos they only do 1 day at my surgery. I contacted the midwife team directly to explain my situation, said I could attend a different surgery etc. No luck.

I saw the midwife on Wednesday and she definitely understood the urgency but couldn't book me a scan til my info was all on the system, and even then said it was unlikely. She has noted that I am willing to go to any hospital in the area, within the local trust or outside of it.

If I don't get a scan by mid-week next week then they cannot check for whatever issues they normally check for. The midwife said I would have to go private but that is £175!

Any advice on who to contact/what to say in order to get a scan sorted in time??? Clearly I could not have moved house at a worse time, in terms of getting the care I need!

[Walikingdeadfan]

Sorry to hear you are being messed around so much. My 20 week scan isn't til I'm 21+6 and this seems to be in the normal range.

I would suggest to keep chasing your midwife and make sure your information gets on the system. I'm sure there will be somewhere nearby that is able to do scans on short notice.

[haveacupoftea]

It sounds like everyone has done everything right so it's hard to say but maybe contact the supervisor of midwives to see if she could help at all?

[feesh]

Is it at all feasible to go back to the area where you used to live for a night and get it done there instead? Presumably you are still in their system (given how inefficient the NHS can be about this sort of thing!).

[Anotherdayanotherdollar]

Can you travel back to your original hospital?

[Mummyme87]

You can have your anomaly scan easily up to 23weeks. Call up your scanning department and ask to speak to the manager.
And haveacupoftea just for future reference, there is no supervisor of midwives anymore

[HaPPy8]

Didn't your old hospital arrange one for you?

[Lules]

mummyme87 I've seen a few people say that, but I had an email today from someone with 'supervisor of midwives' in their NHS email signature so presumably they still exist in some places?

[Castironfireplace]

Go back to your GP, tell them how much this upsetting you and get them to make the calls from their office with you sat there. They will then moan at the midwives and it will act like a rocket up their arse.

It's just you have made life difficult for the 'tick a box midwives' by being a bit out of the ordinary. Don't be surprised if they moan/patronize and try and make you just go away. Think of it as practice sadly.

good luck with everything!

[Hellofromtheoutside2]

Thanks all. I have called the midwife office and am waiting for a call back.

I can't go back to where I lived before - too far and I have a 2 yr old so can't really justify all those hours in the car! And as I knew I was moving I didn't book a scan there as I didn't want to hold an appointment I wouldn't need.

We'll see what the midwife says and if I don't get anywhere I will chase through the GP as well.

[welshweasel]

This happened to me. I actually got a bollocking from the midwife for having the audacity to move house whilst pregnant. I ended up paying for my scan privately as it was stressing me out so much.

[Robinkitty]

Happened to me, I just paid private ( I was not a rich person but felt it was important) my nhs scan was a while late but I knew everything was ok from the private scan. Private scan was much nicer too - I got videos of ds etc

[grainmum]

If you know where it has been requested could you call the scan department every day/half day to check for cancellations? Or ask if you could go and sit and wait one day in case of someone else not turning up? (Probably a fairly regular occurence). Not sure if PALS could help with this too?

[Mummyme87]

lules SOM went out about a month or so ago. Sounds like that midwife was a SOM but has yet to remove it from there emails.
www.nmc.org.uk/standards/what-to-expect-from-a-nurse-or-midwife/midwifery/changes-to-midwifery-supervision/

See this link

[Lules]

Oh ok. They haven't updated their website either then.

[Hellofromtheoutside2]

All sorted! Turns out that as my midwife was entering me onto the system, someone cancelled their appointment and she booked it for me straight away. I will be 22 weeks but they assured me that is fine.

Thanks all