Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think a 4 hour wait is ridulous!

331 replies

BlackEyed · 06/04/2012 12:16

Been to see my midwife this morning, am 38 Weeks pregnant. The midwife was a little concerned as babys heart rate is dropping at times and so she may be in distress.

She told me to go straight to labour ward to be checked. They operate a triage system where it's a first come, first serve system unless an obvious emergency.

Just arrived to be told the wait time is 4 hours. Best hope the baby isn't in distress as if so who knows what could happen in 4 hours!

There are 5 other women here, including one pregnant with twins and bleeding heavy and one clearly in labour who has just been ushered into the room. I hope there not expecting her to wait!

There is only 3 chairs in a room more suitable to being a cupboard and people are standing in corridors, sitting on floors etc.

This is because it's in the process of refurbishment. It's a terrible hospital anyway and really didn't think it could get any worse but it clearly has.

Anyone in the Cheshire area will know what hospital I am talking about.

Now I'm terrified at the prospect of giving birth here in the next 2 Weeks, surely this is dangerous and they shouldn't be allowed to operate so poorly.

I understand there is work on and it's a busy time etc. but AIBU to expect a certain standard no matter what and to think that waiting 4 hours for something that could be really serious is not meeting that.

OP posts:
feelinghappynow · 07/04/2012 08:48

Stunned at this!! Hope you and baby are ok today. Can't believe they wouldn't scan you

ballstoit · 07/04/2012 08:53

Viva Are you saying that outside of 9-5 the only scan available would be to tell if the baby was breech? Is it a MW led unit that only accepts low risk patients?

Op's is a high risk pregnancy, already a suspected problem with placenta. So, at the point her baby gets into distress she is left 4 hours before being monitored, then told there is a problem but we can't tell how bad it is until tomorrow. If they scan and it's not looking good they'll induce straight away, so they clearly can't tell at this point (or last night when they eventually monitored) how risky the issue is. And this is all acceptable and non-midwives are making a fuss because we don't understand?

2ombie5layer · 07/04/2012 08:59

Hope you are ok today OP and you get somewhere today.

ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 07/04/2012 09:11

Blackeyed - I hope you and baby are both OK this morning - lots of love & strength coming your way!!

Viva - I wish you were there with her!!

I am disgusted at the lack of care Blackeyed has had. Absolutely outraged, it's disgraceful. What the hell can we do about it?? (not Blackeyed specifically of course, but the situation in general).

Had it been me, you'd have heard the shouting and fuss from your own homes!

Pastabee · 07/04/2012 09:13

Hope you are ok and overnight monitoring has shown a healthy heart rate.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 07/04/2012 09:17

Have just read this thread and I am soooo appalled at the ridiculously shoddy care u and all of the other women have received at that hospital. It sounds a very dangerous place to be and I hope twin mum is ok and that you and your baby are ok. Little confused as to y they see fit to leave u over night with potential placenta problem or a cord around neck. Am really scared for u :( really hope u update soon with good news that ur beautiful baby is here safe and sound!!!

DizzyCow63 · 07/04/2012 09:24

Just read the whole thread and am Angry for you. Hoping all is ok this morning x

SleepyFergus · 07/04/2012 09:25

Hope all is ok this morning and that you had an uneventful night. Unbelievable (or perhaps not) state of affairs at your hospital, I hope everyone who passes through this hospital is okay.

AwkwardMaryHadAnEasterLamb · 07/04/2012 09:30

I am in cheshire....can you not get in at the Countess?? Poor you...how stessful! I think you should go to the countess and try to book in there...I had mine there and they are wonderful..

BenedictsCumberbitch · 07/04/2012 09:51

The care has obviously left a lot to be desired at this point but I'm sure if the doctors believed there was a real and urgent need for either a scan or immediate induction they wouldn't have waited until morning.

CruciFlisspaps · 07/04/2012 09:55

Benedicts You'd think so, but then the OP was left in standing in a waiting room for four hours, with a distressed baby now suspected of having a cord around the neck or placental problems and who already has IUGR and a low-lying placenta and the concern was enough to keep the OP in overnight on a monitor.

choppychopster · 07/04/2012 09:59

Hope things are better for you this morning BlackEyed. Have just read the whole thread and am very Angry about the way you've been treated.

VivaLeBeaver · 07/04/2012 10:31

"Viva Are you saying that outside of 9-5 the only scan available would be to tell if the baby was breech? Is it a MW led unit that only accepts low risk patients?"

Yes that's what I'm saying and no it's not a midwife unit. If the dr was that concerned about a baby at a weekend then they'd do a section. But there may be times when there is a little concern but not enough to do a section so they would wait for a scan.

I'm not saying that people don't understand but I am saying that without seeing the ctg it's impossible to say if the drs are right in their approach in this case or not. Obviously for the OPs sake I hope they are and I can totally understand her concern and would agree that if she's worried theyre not taking things seriously enough then demand explanations, etc.

edam · 07/04/2012 11:03

What doctors? The OP was left waiting for four hours - standing, ffs, which is awful for a heavily pregnant woman - without any medical attention at all. Appalling and negligent.

VivaLeBeaver · 07/04/2012 11:05

Totally agree that a 4 hour wait especially with no chair is very bad. But Id have thought that when she was seen after the wait that a dr would have been involved.

marriedinwhite · 07/04/2012 11:30

Bet the hospital is covered with notices asking patients to treat the staff with respect - that works two ways doesn't it and if a health professional can explain to me how it is respectful or courteous to allow a pregnant woman (or any woman or ill person) to stand and wait for four hours I shall be most grateful Hmm.

That alone says volumes to me about the unacceptable standards within the NHS on a root and branch basis. It's a disgrace on its own and on its own makes it very hard for the public to respect the NHS - if the basics are so poor how can one have faith in the clinical standards.

AngryBeaver · 07/04/2012 11:36

Haven't time to read past page 3 but...Withenshaw?

AngryBeaver · 07/04/2012 11:37

Ps hope all is well with you and baby

FoeufFighter · 07/04/2012 11:43

Just read it all and fervently hoping all is alright with you and your silence today means you are now holding a snuffly little newborn in your arms :) Disgusted with the treatment you've had, I'd be complaining long and loud to anyone who would listen.

LunaticFringe · 07/04/2012 11:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scattergun · 07/04/2012 13:04

Is everyone else compulsively checking this thread? Really hoping all's well with you, BlackEyed.

DizzyCow63 · 07/04/2012 13:15

I am too Scattergun...am hoping OP is having lovely cuddles with her new baby and too Grin to update us...

howhardcanthisbe · 07/04/2012 13:26

Hope you're ok op

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 07/04/2012 13:27

Me too scatter and dizzy. Hoping she has her beautiful baby in her arms as we speak and that the dire treatment did not lead to an emergency situation.

empirestateofmind · 07/04/2012 13:32

What shocking shoddy treatment you've had BlackEyed. I hope everything is ok.

I am horrified by this happening in the UK, it sounds like something you'd expect in a third world country.