To complain politely about this sonographer?

[Oscalito]

Went for a 20 week scan yesterday. The sonographer asked me to remove everything apart from my bra and put on a gown.

When I lay down on the table she then pulled up my gown, said 'oh dear' (because I was completely naked) and then went oh, I'll get you a sheet to cover you.

I left some feedback saying that I thought if possible I prefer to remain covered and as she'd asked me to undress completely surely she would remember that I was naked and not just pull my gown up.

In the grand scheme of things I know it's not at all important but it was awkward and avoidable and she didn't need to see me naked, it was just a scan.

And I remember having a baby last time and the midwife who'd seen everything had the respect to look away as I staggered off to to the shower wrapped in a sheet.

I think patient dignity is important and I don't like this idea that you 'leave your dignity at the door' when you have a baby, and everyone has the right to just manhandle your bits and see everything.

I'm in Australia now and the attitude here seems a bit more old-fashioned towards pregnant women i.e. we're the doctor, you're the patient, put up and shut up. I do miss the NHS.

good timing olivia

I think if you were able to leave feedback that's fine.

If she wasn't rude I'd not complain tbh-just point out, as you have done that you were unnecessarily asked to "take off everything but bra".

tatty I'm australian too, I just have a bit of a [sceptical] attitude towards the health care here compared to the NHS - the 53% c-section rate at my local private hospital doesn't fill me with confidence, nor does the fact that a baby being delivered without an obstetrician present, just a midwife, is considered an 'incident'. I probably go into every encounter with a HCP feeling a bit prickly and defensive.

I'm going public for that reason, but can't find any online reviews of the hospital here either... we really need MN in Australia, there just seems to be a far more passive 'do what the doctor says' attitude here... may be different over east but certainly my experience here, at least with obstetric care.

slight self-high-jacking of thread.... sorry.

that should be

I'm a student nurse and in communication lectures it is drummed into us to be clear in what we are asking patients to do to avoid this kind of situation. I think it was a misunderstanding as obviously you didn't need to be naked from the waist down but she should have explain that you only needed to take your top half off.

I had a scan of my kidneys the other day and didn't need to take anything off. I did get gel all over my clothes though

Oscalito - if it reassures you at all I'm having a brilliant experience so far of pregnancy on Medicare in Australia. I was totally freaking out as we arrived during my pregnancy so health insurance does not cover and most people seem to go private here, however the more I hear about private obstetrics the happier I am with my Medicare experience!

Firstly everything has been totally free, I haven't paid a cent. I understand in the private system there are quite a few additional costs even if you are covered by insurance.

Secondly the attitude seems far more similar to the NHS. It is v midwife led and no issue about challenging doctors. Also most HCPs I have seen/spoken to are English or have worked in England!

I personally am having and ELCS anyway and am under Consultant care but this is unusual in the Medicare system as I understand it.

The scan was very thorough (only had one late one as had already had my 12 and 20 week ones in England) - I did have the same experience as you though that they didn't really disclose much. I think here the sonographers are told to just do their job and leave discussion/interpretation to the midwives and doctors.

Finally the hospital I'm going into is pretty much all single rooms (otherwise a max of 4 beds) and is lovely and small - it used to be a private hospital. It is far nicer from what I have seen so far than the hospital I went to in England!!

Please PM me if you want any further info as we are over the same side of the country :)

Mutley funny you should say that, I just read a story today about a woman whose baby needed to be born immediately; she was at a private hospital and the on-call paed wasn't answering his phone. The midwife was having to go through a phone book to find someone to come in!!

Luckily the baby was fine but then the mother began to bleed so was immediately transferred to King Edward (public hospital) 'as it was the safest place'. Makes me very happy I'm not going private here....

And yes most of my friends go private and they pay a lot for it.

Also noticed many many UK nurses etc. They seem to be heading here in droves! Thanks for your response.

Meercatwhiskers that is very interesting. This woman clearly missed the clear communication message.

Once this baby is out I'm planning to retrain as some kind of HCP so I probably observe everything a little too closely as I'm so curious about it as a job. Good luck with your study & your scan.