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Original poster

To make a complaint against midwife who turned me away

252 replies

Toobloodytired · 19/03/2017 14:26

So yesterday, I was feeling a bit worried as baby had gone a little quiet, his movements had reduced (not stopped), I've been staying with a friend in her area which is outside of where I normally receive my usual pregnancy care.

I tried to ring the hospital to get advice but after so many calls I had to go in.

Saw a healthcare assistant who asked if I had an app and my name, told her my name & said no, then very rudely replied with "well I'm still going to need your name aren't I!"

So I firmly replied with "I just told you my name was .....".

She went off to speak with the midwife right outside the door, midwife was asking a lot for of questions & finally came in to see me.

She then told me that I had to go back to the hospital who normally deals with me as they don't have a computer system & know nothing of me, I informed her I brought my notes which would tell her everything they needed to know.

She told me it didn't matter Hmm

She then "advised me to go to my hospital of care"

I asked "are you telling me you won't check to make sure the baby was okay?

She then repeated "I advise you to go to the hospital who usually deals with you".

I then very firmly asked again, "so you are turning me away & wont monitor me?"

Her reply?

"Yes, we are a bit busy too".

She turned me away, told me to go to the hospital I usually deal with even though I explained I was completely out of area, she then lied & said my notes made no difference, which is shite. Then told me I had to leave even though I was concerned about my sons movements.

I'm 36+2 btw.

OP posts:
NotYoda · 19/03/2017 15:42

I did not know that Maternity was an acute service and you can bypass A&E

That being the case, then her attitude was poor and she should have examined you.

NotYoda · 19/03/2017 15:46

Sorry. I skipped a whole page. Der!

MsHooliesCardigan · 19/03/2017 15:48

I thought there was a major campaign in the U.K. to reduce our still birth rate which is shocking. One of MumsNet's chosen charities last year was Count the Kicks which aims to educate pregnant women about monitoring foetal movements and to always act on reduced movements.
I'm a mental health nurse and used to work in a hospital in central London where we had a lot of people who lived all over the uk as well as foreign tourists who had come to London and become acutely mentally ill. We didn't tell them to go back to where they came from to get treatment.

jacks11 · 19/03/2017 15:49

OP

As a Dr I know how overstretched the NHS is at the moment, but that is no excuse for not seeing you. A women with a high risk pregnancy who presents with reduced fetal movements requires to be assessed.

I would raise your concerns with the hospital. Either this midwife was following hospital policy (doubtful), in which case the policy needs looked at, or she failed to properly assess a patient.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/03/2017 15:50

I'm sorry but I'm with the midwife. You can't just turn up at any old hospital and expect to be seen without an appointment.

Not a hospital literally though was it? It was a Maternity Assessment Unit. Not an outpatients clinic.

Reduced foetal movements are a genuine concern. I had reduced movements with my DS, which turned into PV bleeding too. I was admitted for a week for monitoring.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/03/2017 15:52

Count the Kicks do a brilliant job of raising awareness about this. Perhaps the dissenting ones on this thread who think reduced movements aren't a concern should have a read of their website.

mayhew · 19/03/2017 15:57

I am a midwife. If a woman in your situation turned up in our (very hectic, London) unit, we would have seen you. We might have had to explain what the waiting time might be, but if you were able to wait, we would have seen you.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/03/2017 15:57

Not exactly sure why you didn't kick up a huge stink?^

Because she probably would have been seen as being aggressive if she'd have done that and been asked to leave anyway. Sometimes it's a case of picking your battles.

haveacupoftea · 19/03/2017 15:59

Did you go to maternity assessment unit or maternity outpatients unit? Not every hospital has a MAU and it would be a bit strange just to arrive at maternity outpatients. Maybe thats why they referred you back to your own hospital?

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 19/03/2017 16:00

It sounds like the midwife in question could do with reading it too.

You need to complain OP. At the very least she could do with some urgent retraining.

Have you been seen by someone now?

Original poster
Toobloodytired · 19/03/2017 16:00

I asked if she was the senior there & if there was anyone else or even a bloody nurse.

I didn't leave straight away.

I asked what would happen if I refused to leave & she told me it would get me absolutely no where.

She tried to guilt trip me by saying "we are very busy with other women & their baby's".

I told her that "my baby is MY priority, I am not going to not seek help in case it means stretching the NHS further".

I didn't expect immediate care, I was more than happy to wait, she wouldn't have it.

OP posts:
haveacupoftea · 19/03/2017 16:01

Just rtft, yeah they should have seen you by sounds of it.

streetch · 19/03/2017 16:04

Yes definitely complain! I hope all is ok with you and baby now Thanks

Slothlikesundays · 19/03/2017 16:10

I don't understand why you're getting cross examined. You did exactly the right thing, Maternity assessments are like a&e for pregnant ladies to take the pressure off a&e.
Please put in a complaint to pals.
Hope you and baby are ok and good luck with the induction.

angelinheaven · 19/03/2017 16:13

They should have seen you no matter what, different changes in movement and less movement she been checked. Anyone saying that it is fine as you was still feeling movement is wrong. New guide lines are that now if you feel less movement get it checked, as it could be an indication that something is wrong, and better safe than sorry.
I had change and less movement with my dd5, and then within 3 hours my waters broke, I rang my hospital and one horrid midwife told me there was no way my waters had broke, this was my 5th dc so think I new they had, in the end I took myself to hospital, and in 25 mins of turning g up I was rushed down for an emergency c-section and then had a very ill baby in intensive care. This was all because the midwife didn't listen to me and take what I was saying seriously.
Agree with you op put in a complaint as you and your baby should of been checked, no mater what hospital as you had your notes. Don't have to be house bound while your pregnant, that's why we have maternity notes.
So we can be seen by any hospital

Sparkletastic · 19/03/2017 16:14

Complain in that case. There will be details of the process on the trust's website. Include the name of the midwife if you know it.

EdenX · 19/03/2017 16:16

I would complain. They had no reason not to see you - that is what maternity assessment is for.

TrinityForce · 19/03/2017 16:22

yes, complain

I don't know what standard practice is for pregnancy problems but this doesn't sound OK to me.

Soubriquet · 19/03/2017 16:27

She should have seen you yes

Have you been seen since?

Daffodils07 · 19/03/2017 16:30

Reduced movement should be taken very serously, I was monitored an awful lot because I had reduced movements and a small for dates baby.
The consultant said it was very important to be hooked up to a ctg each and every time baby wasn't moving as much as she normally would.
Ten times a day or hour is outdated advice now!
It goes by the pattern in which your baby normally moves.
The midwife should have seen you, no matter where you are in the UK you should have been offered monitoring in either a day assessment unit or labour and delivery (which ever they have) hope you and baby are ok.

1horatio · 19/03/2017 16:33

The midwife had a duty of care to me and my baby, especially given the circumstances.

Yes, she had. I think you should make a complaint.

Aeroflotgirl · 19/03/2017 16:35

I agree, if you are having reduced movements, any hospital shod take you, they have a duty of care. I wod lodge a formal complained.

Aeroflotgirl · 19/03/2017 16:36

I read a similar thing happen, and the baby died. You can never be too careful.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/03/2017 16:36

slothlikesundays there's been a spate of threads lately where any OP who has expressed any dissatisfaction to the way they've been treated have been jumped on and just been told to be grateful that they should be grateful they dont have to pay. The NHS aren't infallible. No profession is.

This MW was out of order not to even entertain the OP. OP did you get name?

JessieMillz25 · 19/03/2017 16:37

Please complain. As pregnant ladies we are told constantly to go get checked if something feels off with movement. I would have found this situation very distressing. I wonder how recently going in for a check up for reduced movement has been a thing as my mum always claims she very rarely felt me or DTS move and no midwife was ever concerned. I wonder if this being a recent thing means people are less understanding?

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