Breach of confidentiality by midwife?

[NotADailyMailJournalist]

Hello

My neighbour texted me today to ask if I could take in a package of some medication being delivered for her. I said no bother. Thought it would be royal mail or something.

In fact it was a midwife in uniform who turned up. She handed me 2 bottles of movi-prep and a box of tablets labelled "take 1 on morning of caesarean section" or something. ( I wasn't meaning to look, it just sort of caught my eye)

I felt a wee bit embarrassed handing them to neighbour as she sort of knows that I know what is happening!

Was this a bit naughty of the midwife? Should she not have at least put the items in a bag or something?

Just interested in opinions.

Thanks

Shit stirring thread. Get a hobby.

Your neighbour asked you to. Its fine

Initially it sounded as if you just had a very brief look at the meds quite by accident, but you must have had quite a good look to see what flavour one of them was!

Our pharmacist used to keep giving MY medication to MIL as she knew us and ‘just assumed ‘ it was ok ??? MIL was then pissed off when I told the pharmacist to stop and said ‘family shouldn’t have secrets’

in this case with your neighbour OP she had asked you if it was ok then told the midwife so I can’t see that there’s a problem with what happened

The midwife wouldn't have been delivering them - that would have been a pharmacy of some sort - and they always package up the medication (in plastic, in paper bags stapled up, in securely sealed boxes like my biologics) in a way where you can't see anything other than the name of the person it's intended for.

I’ve had two c sections and I don’t recall having any meds. I have had movi-prep for a colonoscopy though (which got posted to me).

Why would you need movi-prep for a c section?

I think that there is a problem here....taking in medication does not mean that its okay to know what the medication is. I used to work in the NHS in the community, not midwifery, and if I had been doing this, I'd have put the stuff in a sealed bag or box. It diesn't matter about embarassment or anything else, people are entitled to complete health confidentiality.

If the neighbours asked then that's fine. I think it's odd they'd allow that but there we go.

Your neighbour had said it was ok to deliver to you? And you think she was naughty to do so?

It’s not a usual part of a midwife’s job, so won’t be as slick as a designated medication delivery service so she maybe doesn’t have bags. Maybe was even going your neighbour a favour as their usual remit is more that of seeing patients.

I think you are finding an issue where there is none.

What breach? You knew it was medication, you know she's pregnant and you agreed to take it, you didn't need to read the labels, non event.

On a weirdly similar note, our old business accountant used to continually ask us to pass on messages to a partner company, and the same in return! Some people have no idea who really ought to.

I don't know why people are so surprised by the medication drop off. My midwife offered to drop by to do sweeps every day if I wanted, as she did evening rounds in the area. Dropping off a prescription would have been no problem, especially as the GP was linked to a pharmacy that dispensed immediately.

Good grief. If the midwife got wind of her genuine help being questioned like this i bet she wouldnt be so helpful next time. It would be a clear Ef Off.

Can no one in this world do someone a favour without it being questioned?

Oh come on OP, admit that you had a proper nosey, no way you'd know exactly both the medicines, when she's supposed to take it and what flavour it is from "a quick glance".

She's obviously not bothered either way or she wouldn't have asked you to take it in so I really don't know what you're worrying about.

Another bonkers thread. Of course the medication should have been in a bag. Especially when the midwife knew it was being given to a neighbour.

Medical confidentiality is important, and surgery staff are usually very careful about this stuff.

But when the neighbour said it was ok, would she assume that it would be in a plain bag or wrapper?

Op Doesn't even know if it was a midwife and obviously read the labels so isn't that bothered about Confidentiality

No breach. Your neighbour asked her to deliver the package to you.