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Original poster

The 'National Shame' of England's Maternity Service - Harm Normalised

61 replies

RedToothBrush · 19/09/2024 11:33

Women are worth shit. Harm is normalised and we STILL aren't seeing this as a government priority. Its one for the soundbites but its not close to the top of the agenda DESPITE ACTUAL IDENTIFIABLE HARM being routinely done.

65% of maternity services were judged to be failing by the CQC
Like WHAT????

Overall, 48% were rated as inadequate or requiring improvement with around a quarter receiving a lower overall rating than when last inspected.

This isn't a revelation.

The threads there have been over the years on MN on this are dreadful. MN had a campaign to try and improve services, but since then they've actually GOT WORSE.

We really need to encourage women to complain and keep complaining and start making this a politicial priority.

I don't know about anyone else, but I know several people who wanted to become midwives but have faced obstacles due to lack of available course spaces (they met the requirements for the cost) and the lack of financial support to train - particularly if later in life.

Its outrageous.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgvl8l5q0xo

Close up image of a newborn baby holding a mother's hand

Harm at risk of being normalised in maternity care

Many of the maternity failings at scandal-hit hospitals are being seen elsewhere, England’s NHS regulator says.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgvl8l5q0xo

OP posts:
Original poster
RedToothBrush · 19/09/2024 14:01

Pinkbonbon · 19/09/2024 13:53

What we need to 'encourage women to do' is not to take the risk of pregnancy and childbirth in the first place. It's dangerous. It always has been and it always will be. We need to normalise finding happiness without needing to add currently non existing kids into the equation. Within ourselves and through adding people to our lives like friends and partners.

All these 'targets and saftey procedures' when actually even achieved are just to give a illusion of saftey. Its not safe. Not remotely. It's a huge, unnecessary gamble that we've been brainwashed into thinking is some 'happy ending'.

Opt out of that matrix and then you don't have to worry that, duh, of course women's saftey are not a priority in a patriarchal society.

Except I wanted a child. And I wanted to have a child with the least possible risk based on my underlying health.

Why is this such a demand and a stretch?

This is the goddam feminist section and we get told we should either not have children or accept the risk. I mean wtf?

OP posts:
Original poster
RedToothBrush · 19/09/2024 13:59

Walkden · 19/09/2024 13:19

"Women are worth shit. Harm is normalised and we STILL aren't seeing this as a government priority"

Isn't pretty much the entire NHS inadequate at the moment? Are there particular instances of men only services being well funded or performing at a good/ outstanding level whilst maternity units being underfunded?

Or is it that the entire NHS is underfunded? Poor maternity is harmful to babies also and half of them are male .

Maternity services are particularly bad though. Can you give an explanation as to why other services haven't been hit by an ongoing wave of scandals in the same way as maternity?

The fact that it's disproportionately women's services that are having problems IS the story and we shouldnt just minimise this by giving the excuse that 'oh it's just the whole NHS'.

No it's not. There is a particular problem with maternity services. How many reports do you want published saying this?

OP posts:
Pinkbonbon · 19/09/2024 13:53

What we need to 'encourage women to do' is not to take the risk of pregnancy and childbirth in the first place. It's dangerous. It always has been and it always will be. We need to normalise finding happiness without needing to add currently non existing kids into the equation. Within ourselves and through adding people to our lives like friends and partners.

All these 'targets and saftey procedures' when actually even achieved are just to give a illusion of saftey. Its not safe. Not remotely. It's a huge, unnecessary gamble that we've been brainwashed into thinking is some 'happy ending'.

Opt out of that matrix and then you don't have to worry that, duh, of course women's saftey are not a priority in a patriarchal society.

FarriersGirl · 19/09/2024 13:52

I wonder if there is a really deep seated issue with womens rights at play here? Womens healthcare generally is less satisfactory as most medical care is developed for and tested on males. There seems to be an issue with womens health services, women often being disbelieved and specific womens health problems not prioritised. The BBC reports on hysteroscopy today today is one of many examples. Add to this policies at high level [NHS England] that mean women staff and patients do not get safe single sex spaces but are expected to share them with any male person calling himself a woman.

Quodraceratops · 19/09/2024 13:44

Clearly many aspects of the NHS are struggling but maternity does seem to be at the 'scandalously bad with preventable permanent injury and loss of life' level in multiple hospitals. There are comparable levels of terrible care but I can't think of another speciality (with the dishonourable mention of CAMHS) which is doing so badly and with such a high level of harm in so many places.

Waiting a long time for a hip replacement is rubbish but waiting too long for adequate care in labour is potentially fatal or can cause life long disability for a child.

Klingfilm · 19/09/2024 13:39

I've complained about this being a problem on another thread and another person followed me through the entire thread telling me to shut up and stop being entitled. Because I said we all deserve good care. It's so ingrained women bash other women about it.

Walkden · 19/09/2024 13:19

"Women are worth shit. Harm is normalised and we STILL aren't seeing this as a government priority"

Isn't pretty much the entire NHS inadequate at the moment? Are there particular instances of men only services being well funded or performing at a good/ outstanding level whilst maternity units being underfunded?

Or is it that the entire NHS is underfunded? Poor maternity is harmful to babies also and half of them are male .

MumApril1990 · 19/09/2024 13:17

My midwife actually told me to stop yelling and be quiet. She said ‘you need to put your energy into pushing not yelling’ but I’m sure she was just annoyed at the sound, think about it all the time and the way she rolled her eyes (turns out the pushing was useless and dangerous as my baby’s head was sideways)

Usernameisnotavailabletryagain · 19/09/2024 13:13

I am not in the UK but in my country there are similar problems. I was shocked that when I requested my notes after a really traumatic birth experience, they were so far from the reality of what actually happened. I bet that goes on a lot.

Faffertea · 19/09/2024 12:51

@Quodraceratops
Yep. And the culture that ‘normal’ birth must be promoted at all costs, that doctors are the enemy.

I have worked with some amazing midwives and been cared for by some too. I’ve worked with and been cared for many more who display clear misogyny and routinely ignore what women are telling them. I’ve come across a couple who would falsify records to paint themselves in a better light and would routinely ignore advice given by registrars on Labour Ward because they thought they knew better (despite having to call the registrar in the first place).

Quodraceratops · 19/09/2024 12:19

Honestly I wonder if the midwife lead model is really fit for purpose any more. My community midwife wasn't great and health visitor even worse in one pregnancy. Myself and child would have come to harm if I'd followed midwife's advice.
The presumption that women don't need much care as a starting point and that preg and labour will be uncomplicated seems to be a total failure.