To have lost confidence in the NHS

[Littleelffriend]

I've had a pretty underwhelming experience with the NHS since discovering I was pregnant.

I had to make an appointment to see the GP first. Have no idea why as all she did was tell me to make an appointment with the midwife at reception.
Made an appointment (took the one they offered, even though the time was really inconvenient), turned up on time. The midwife was 30 mins late (this is fine, I had a book with me). When she took me, she said she no longer had time for my appointment and could I attend the hospital 2 days later as she would be there.
Attended the hospital at said time (more time off work). Midwife greets me with "I don't have time to see you, xxx will see you instead". Do standard blood tests etc with new midwife.
Receive a letter from doctor saying they are unhappy with one of my blood tests. Called to make an appointment with the nurse. When I turned up, she acted like it was a huge hassle to actually explain what the problem was with the blood test, told me I "didn't look pregnant". At this, I told her I had my first scan that afternoon. She asked if my partner was going-he wasn't as he is abroad working to which she replied "haven't you got a mum?" Erm, no, she died a few months ago and I left in tears.
Went to the scan that afternoon, had to fight my way through the pregnant smokers at the door (NHS Scotland is "smoke free"), was 1.5hrs late in being taken for my appointment-no apology. I was the last one in the waiting room so all the staff were standing around moaning about how busy they were, how fed up they were and how over booked the scanning department is.

I understand how over worked and under paid a lot (not all) NHS staff are. I know that appointments run over, and of course urgent cases should be taken first. But I've been left with no real confidence in my care team, and feel that some of my concerns have just been swept under the carpet (eg I had loop diathermy under general anaesthetic in a different area, same country but they can't find my notes so this is not being taken into account).

Am I wrong to expect a bit more?

Ye gads, these experiences are utterly horrific

I had a bleed in early pg and doctor said flippantly "yes well, you've probably miscarried". I was gutted and unsure what happened next. She expected me to just get on with it. I went home in tears and a friend made me ring and arrange bloods. First lot I was told, yes mc. Next lot, no it's a mistake CONGRATULATIONS!! Third lot, oh...no...sorry, yes MC. Went for scan to see if I needed DC, sonographer greets me with a "so..how many weeks pregnant are you, you must be excited!"

When I finally got pg, great pregnancy, shocking birth, 4th degree tear, terrible aftercare, bad repair, infections, 4ops to get it right and, eight years on, surgery to repair double prolapse and "absent perenium".

NHS health care is such a postcode lottery.

Unfortunately we have been heavy users of the NHS recently and our experiences have been the complete opposite.

This year OH had a major life saving and potentially life changing operation and the care he received before, during and after the operation was second to none.

DD and I have had hospital outpatients appointments for various things and again we have been treated with respect and not had ridiculously long waiting times.

This had been in Barnsley and both Sheffield hospitals.

The NHS is a wonderful concept an in the main it is staffed by people who (atcare least when they start out) care and want to do a good job. Unfortunately in many areas it is underresourced.

We are a wealthy country, whatever rhetoric some may come out with, and currently spend less than most comparable countries on healthcare. I have no confidence in the government as it has set out to run down the NHS in order to make a point, on a mission shrink the public sector.

Tiredemma says it all. - had my two in the 90s and it wasn't much different then to be honest - my late mum had my brother in 1950 and said she was left on her own, in stirrups for ages ( my dad wasn't allowed anywhere near the hospital either, the way it was then of course) so I don't think a lot of things have changed much for the better although I liked to think it had!

I have had 2 low risk pregnancies and whilst I have never been overwhelmed with the care I received barring when I was in labour. The staff really step up then I have never experienced anything to make me feel 'let down by the NHS'.

Yes I've had appointments run very late - I can't say I was ever seen on time - but again I have never been left waiting hours or had an appointment cancelled.

I did have to have a few months of specialist care - something was flagged up with DC2 at anomaly scan - but I was still considered a low risk pregnancy (ie the baby was given regular scans to check growth but I didn't have to see my MW for extra appointments) and the Fetal Medicine Unit were bloody amazing!!

In my post I stated both Sheffield hospitals, actually we have used the Northern General, Hallamshire and the marvellous children's hospital this year, and they have all been excellent except for the lack of parking

Is the loop stated in your pink notes? Do you know how much cervix was removed?

If the notes have gone missing, call the hospital where you had the procedure done and request the notes to be sent directly from them to your GP. And chase them, politely and in a friendly but firm manner, about it.

Personally, I would contact the secretary of one of the Obs consultants and request an appointment to discuss your concern about your loop. You can do this, you know. It isn't forbidden.

I've found when it comes to the NHS, you can get a lot done if you are informed, friendly and smile a lot at receptionists.

We use the NHS a lot!!!!! I have a severely disabled boy, two children with hypermobility and a husband with MS!!
I think the NHS is fabulous and to be honest .... You are just having a baby.... It's been going on for centuries!!!!
The UK is expanding as is the demand for NHS treatment.
Unfortunately some clinics do run behind.... If you use the system lots you get used to it! I can't go back to work as I didn't lots of time in clinics and appointments!
If you are not happy with the treatment from the NHS .... The option is as always to go private !!!
Congratulations on the baby!!!

Booozmoo- if you read my posts, you would realise I wasn't complaining about having to wait and that I understand the NHS are stretched.
I might "only be having a baby" but it's my first and I expected more.
You may be in a position to go private, but that's not an "option" for me. I work hard pay my taxes and have never abused the NHS services like many have and do.
Giving up work because you have to wait for appointments? It doesn't scream amazing service does it?

Werksallhourz- thank you, I will try that. My doctor in Aberdeen has none of my notes from Glasgow (I have been in Aberdeen 3 years) so I don't know what happened.
It's nice to hear positive experiences but not many seem to be about pregnancy or post natal care. My heart goes out to all those who had horrible experiences during mc

As an NHS worker I particularly agree with the moaning about being overworked. If every one of my colleagues stopped moaning about doing the work we might actually get more of it done. I exempt several wards and teams in our trust from this, but some of them are diabolical for it. If the leadership stopped focusing only and always on discharging (I can understand why they do it though) they might have time to do some more active management, modelling and coaching to prevent this.

First baby was born in one part of the country and the care was appalling, bordering on outright cruelty. I endedup with PTSD.
Subsequent pregnancy in an other area.
They were amazing, Not perfect but I
really felt that they had high
standards and didn't want to fall below them. They were also really kind.
I think it's to do with the culture of
each individual unit and the quality of the leadership. If you have a Sister who won't tolerate rubbish it does tend to filter down.

I've had awful ante natal care from community midwives too, I had my last baby with one2one midwives and am currently 17 weeks and with them again - same midwife. If anybody is in a one2one area I couldn't recommend them enough over the usual community service. The midwife comes to my house for my apps when it's convenient for me, I always see her and I have her mobile number if I ever have any worries 24/7. All covered on the nhs. It's an amazing service and I couldn't feel any better looked after or secure in my care.

Littleelffriend I can't go back to work because I am a carer for a disabled child.... We have at least 1 appointment a week and/ or therapy and my son doesn't sleep past 2am despite two medications. My husband needs to sleep to do a full day at work otherwise his MS plays up and generally I have 4 hours per night. Add it up over 6 years!!!! Along with the extra medical care.
The NHS though provide the appointments, the medical care even if it's late, the medications for my son to sleep, eat, stop refluxing, stop having seizures, milk to feed him with a gastrostomy, the equipment including syringes, pumps, tubes and spare mic-key buttons, wheelchair, AFO's, a specialist chair for home and school, walking frame, shower seat, specialist bed.... I could go on ...
The therapies for my other including Physio and OT.
MRI's and incredibly expensive medication for my husbands condition!!!
I think the NHS is bloody amazing and it's not until you really have to use it that you realise how fabulous it is and its medical and nursing staff are!!!! Our community paediatrician gave us his home telephone number!!!
That's service ... All from the NHS!!!!!

My son needs medication to sleep not my husband !! If he can't sleep I say good ... Sit up the DS2 !!!

To give an alternative perspective (and to reassure other pregnant people) I have had excellent NHS antenatal care so far-

Had my first drs appt. on a Friday at 5 weeks (surgery makes you see a gp before they refer you to a midwife), started bleeding that morning and the gps was very sympathetic and booked me in for a scan for the monday but told me to go to A&E if i started to feel any pain.

Had a pain only in 1 side so went to A&E on a Friday night panicking about ectopic pregnancy, got seen within 20 mins. Got kept in overnight just to be safe re: ectopic and got a scan the next day - baby was fine and bleeding/pain was unexplained :)

Had another bleed at around 9 weeks and got another scan within a few days, baby still fine :)

When I saw my midwife at 16week appointment she told me about another place she does clinics much closer to m house

When I saw GP recently for morning sickness and UTI he got out the doppler to let me hear the heartbeat and measured my stomach which made me feel reassured.

20 week scan tomorrow, I am going to put an extra big donation in the little pot they have for scan pic donations.

I'm so sorry you've all had such shoddy treatment.

As a pp said, it's a postcode lottery. I've had fabulous treatment in a number of areas (including maternity, women's health, nicu) up in Manchester, but poor treatment in mental health, diabetes down south.

I'm not sure what can be done when some of the problem is poor staff attitudes as they can be so ingrained.

Feel so sad some of you received such poor care.
I can't praise Sheffield jessops enough for the care I received whilst in labour. Before, during and after. Chemically induced, 15hr labour. Epidural, forceps delivery with tearing. Almost had an emergency C because cord was wrapped round dc neck. Midwife care constant. A hundred (seemed like it) medics appeared out of nowhere at the push of the emergency button to prep me for ecs, etc.
Then once born midwives on call at the push of a button on the ward for any small worry. Shown how to breast feed, etc.
Unfortunately community midwives and Hv services have been massively cut by this government. I hope No-one was taken in by the recent report that antenatal care was sub standard at the weekend. There's definitely a propaganda campaign by the Cons to privatise the nhs.
I imagine if I lived back in the rural area my parents live in my care would have been very different. Definitely a postcode lottery.

I agree that it sounds like a postcode lottery. Is it worth making a complaint op? I would consider it if in your shoes. I live in Herefordshire and have had a really good service antenatally, during labour and postnatally. My only complaint would be that I saw a lot of different midwives but they were all lovely.