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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:
StrangeLookingParasite · 19/03/2017 17:13

I turned up at a MAU (admitedly on Labour ward) who didn't know me and had a baby 90 seconds later. On an ambulance trolley.

Holy crap!

listsandbudgets · 19/03/2017 17:17

Yes complain especially if you told her you have OC.I hope you've been seen and monitored by now.

I had OC in all 3 of my pregnancies - only 2 of my DCs are here the first was stillborn at 37 weeks as it went undiagnosed - had no idea what that awful itching meant :(

I was monitored very closely in my second 2 pregnancies, had OC diagnosed about 28 weeks with both, treated,monitored and induced at 38 weeks. The one time I had to go to a hospital far from home because I was worried about movement they took one look at my notes and arranged an ultrasound and monitoring within the hour but even before that they found my baby's heartbeat.

YADNBU they should have seen you. I'm sorry you've got OC and I hope the itching is under control and your induction goes well.

Foureyesarebetterthantwo · 19/03/2017 17:21

You absolutely can go out of area for any type of maternity crisis and indeed to give birth, I gave birth to my children out of area, one time I just presented at the maternity hospital halfway during labour, I think we might have phoned to say we were coming in.

allzwell · 19/03/2017 17:24

You can call any hospital in the uk for emergency help. We wouldn't turn anyone away because of this ( or shouldn't ) . In fact, I would be more careful in getting a proper history and assessing you because you are away from your normal hospital of care and unfamiliar to us.

But I can see her POV if the usual hospital was less than 1 hour commute away: if the unit was busy , you might be waiting for more than that amount of time to be checked. Could have explained better though.

OvO · 19/03/2017 17:28

I'd complain.

I had no idea you couldn't just turn up and be checked out. I did it a lot with my 3rd pregnancy as my 2nd DS was stillborn. Every midwife/doctor was understanding, kind, and professional.

I went to big city hospitals all the way down to tiny country hospitals.

Like hell would I stick to stupid rules about only going to 'my' hospital if I thought my baby was at risk.

MsHooliesCardigan · 19/03/2017 17:32

DD was 12 days late. 3 days before she was born, her movements slowed down a lot. She was still quite active and I definitely had more than 10 kicks a day but she went from being incredibly active to just 'normal' which was a huge change. I phoned my midwife and she got me in for a scan 2 hours later. DD was fine but the midwife took my concerns extremely seriously.

LolaTheDarkdestroyer · 19/03/2017 17:39

Sorry but if you were concerned enough to have to visit hospital in the first place then your priority should have been getting back to your own home and own hospital.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 19/03/2017 17:52

Sorry but if you were concerned enough to have to visit hospital in the first place then your priority should have been getting back to your own home and own hospital.

Bollocks, this is rubbish advice. If you're concerned about baby's movements, you call/turn up at your nearest MAU to be checked as soon as possible.

TurnipCake · 19/03/2017 17:53

Absolute rubbish. I used to work in a unit where we would get holiday-makers all the time. Reduced foetal movements needs seeing to asap, not waiting until the next day or going to their own hospital. Unless we need to start keeping women in confinement again?

Aeroflotgirl · 19/03/2017 17:55

Her actions could cost a babies life, that is dangerous, please do complain!

twattymctwatterson · 19/03/2017 18:00

Op some of the posters on here have absolutely no clue about the significance of reduced foetal movement. Have you tried calling 101? If you can't get through to the MAU you could explain to 101 and try to get them to arrange an appointment. Definitely raise a complaint. I wouldn't try to travel 300 miles before having your baby checked. Incidentally I had a minor bleed at 5 months whilst in Newcastle for the day, turned up at the hospital in a panic without calling beforehand and was taken very quickly.

Cutesbabasmummy · 19/03/2017 18:01

I had a high risk pregnancy and my midw8fe told me not to leave the house without my maternity notes just in case I needed to be seen even out of area. So no YANBU.

ILoveDolly · 19/03/2017 18:05

One of the reasons why you are given your notes is SO you can stray from your usual area while pg and still get care.
Hope you are now ok opFlowers

Leggit · 19/03/2017 18:07

Absolutely they should have seen you.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/03/2017 18:10

A cold drink is no longer considered good advice.

Ooh apologies then PossumInAPearTree I didn't know that. I was just going by memory.

corythatwas · 19/03/2017 18:15

LolaTheDarkdestroyer Sun 19-Mar-17 17:39:53
"Sorry but if you were concerned enough to have to visit hospital in the first place then your priority should have been getting back to your own home and own hospital."

My jaw is on the floor. Shock

So if you think you might need urgent intervention to save the baby's life (and possibly your own), your first action should be to shut yourself up in a train for many hours, just to make sure an ambulance can't get at you??

What else? If you think you're having a heart attack, you should go up in an aeroplane? Stroke?- why not go for a nice swim?

This is dangerous advice.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/03/2017 18:16

Sorry but if you were concerned enough to have to visit hospital in the first place then your priority should have been getting back to your own home and own hospital.

Why? I have numerous health problems. One means I need being seen asap when my lungs start ri misbehave. If I happened to be visiting family in London. I should be able to access London hospitals. Not think "shit. I better go back home in case I piss an understandably overworked professional off by daring to use a different service". Neither should I be expected to stay in my city for the next 30 years 'just in case'.

The MW here was unnecessarily rude.
No excuses.

Original poster
Toobloodytired · 19/03/2017 18:20

Sorry but if you were concerned enough to have to visit hospital in the first place then your priority should have been getting back to your own home and own hospital.

Always that one person who wants to liven a thread up!

Maybe you should keep that advice in mind if you should ever have an accident away from home!

OP posts:
Falafelings · 19/03/2017 18:34

Of course you should be able to get emergency attention due to reduced gestalt movement.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/03/2017 18:39

Ignore them toobloodytired.

Has the MW rang you back yet?

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/03/2017 18:40

Sorry actually you said you'd be ringing them back didnt you?

Aeroflotgirl · 19/03/2017 18:43

Sorry but if you were concerned enough to have to visit hospital in the first place then your priority should have been getting back to your own home and own hospital

Whoever offered this dangerous advice should be ashamed of themselves. Op should be going to the nearest hospital to her. Not making the dangerous 3 hour journey back, which could cost her babies life!!!!

IJustLostTheGame · 19/03/2017 18:46

Complain.
I experienced no movement in 12 hours whilst on holiday in the UK when pregnant.
I went to the local hospital and was taken in immediately and monitored. The midwife was lovely.
Dd was fine.
I'd forgotten my notes too.

cauliwobbles · 19/03/2017 18:49

I hope to God the maternity unit you end up having your baby in has the same attitude to women turning up demanding care whilst not going through the appropriate channels or you may find yourself labouring without a midwife to help you.

You should have rung the maternity unit you have had assigned to you and followed their advice. They would have, if appropriate, rung the unit you were local to and advised them you were coming and if it was genuinely too busy advised you either to go to A&E or another maternity unit.

UnicornButtplug · 19/03/2017 18:50

You were not wrong to expect care at all. However having left, I would have gone straight round to a & e to see if they could refer me to the mau

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