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AIBU?

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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:
Softkitty2 · 19/03/2017 18:50

It literally takes 2 seconds to put monitoring on. Some of these people who work in care have lost their compassion. Yes it is an over stretched service but that doesn't mean you lose your humanity and start acting like a twat.

Aeroflotgirl · 19/03/2017 18:51

I agree with unicorn, I would not have left that hospital!

Ecureuil · 19/03/2017 18:55

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

The midwives and the Dr's on this thread are telling the OP that she did the right thing and should have been seen. Why do you know better than them?

MsHooliesCardigan · 19/03/2017 18:56

Some posters seem to think that pregnant women shouldn't dare stray more than half an hour from their local hospital. How progressive.

Toottootcar · 19/03/2017 18:58

If she's ring her own MAU the only advice they could give would be to go in for monitoring - so the only difference that would make would be a phone call in advance, no big deal.

Neverknowing · 19/03/2017 19:09

I don't see how anyone could say you're in the wrong here? Wow. The midwife was unessisarily rude and turned you away? I understand they're busy but something could have been wrong with your baby doesn't matter where you are you needed help and should have gotten it Angry I hope you're all okay.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/03/2017 19:18

whilst not going through the appropriate channels

She did go through the appropriate channels. Doctors and MWs on this very thread have said she did the right thing. She went to her nearest MAU. Which is the err, appropriate channel. Hmm

TurnipCake · 19/03/2017 19:24

Appropriate channels? Hmm

The OP did exactly the right thing. A&E don't have midwives or CTGs.

ChasedByBees · 19/03/2017 19:28

You did the right thing OP. Complain to PALS but first, do get checked out.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 19/03/2017 19:28

And the same appropriate channel she'd already been advised to take by her own unit before she left home.

Even if the OP had used the wrong channel for that unit, surely the MW should have told her what she should have done in order to be seen and assessed rather than just turned her away.

C8H10N4O2 · 19/03/2017 19:42

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

This is batshit and downright dangerous advice. Nobody in this situation shoudl be waiting for the next available 300 mile train trip before getting medical advice.

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

RTFT The OP was following medical advice both on safety to travel and protocol if something went wrong. The staff she spoke to were not and ignored an above average risk pregnancy.

Are you guys the staff of the MAU the OP went to?

DartmoorDoughnut · 19/03/2017 19:57

Hope you get an apology tootired and that everything is ok with you and your baby Flowers

Original poster
Toobloodytired · 19/03/2017 20:01

*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.*

Are you saying that had I received monitoring from them, a woman would be labouring on her own??

Please confirm.

OP posts:
Original poster
Toobloodytired · 19/03/2017 20:08

Also, for the ones who are reading parts of my replies.

Please can I remind you, I was advised by midwife and doctors at my local hospital that should I require assistance, as long as the hospital has a maternity unit, I can access it.

I rang the hospital countless times but the line was engaged, apologies for going in!

As others have said why the hell would I ring my local unit simply to be told either come home now Hmm or go to my local hospital which I did.

I didn't DEMAND them to see me right that second & cut everyone else off, I was more than happy to wait, I wasn't even given the opportunity!

Please for the love of god! Stop saying "you should have gone through the proper channels, not demanded treatment", please learn to read all words and not what you want to be able to kick off!

This isn't a sprained ankle this is an unborn baby! I don't care what you think was right or wrong, I followed advice! My child is priority, my child is entitled to care.

So please to all the ones who think they are qualified doctors and midwives, who clearly are going against everything the actual midwives and doctors have said, pipe down!

If I'd have turned up to a&e for a sprained ankle, I can't imagine they'd have said no no back home you go! We can't deal with you......this is the bloody council!

OP posts:
Original poster
Toobloodytired · 19/03/2017 20:09

This isnt** the bloody council!

OP posts:
Maudlinmaud · 19/03/2017 20:18

Op calm down! This cannot be healthy for you or your baby. Please go and get seen.
I remember your last thread on this subject and you said iirc you have been monitored by midwives for movements 6 times before. I'm sorry for what you went through today, it's madness but all you can do now is go and get seen.

Swirlingasong · 19/03/2017 20:21

Not read all seven pages, but you did exactly what I advised to do during my pregnancies. In fact, the importance of taking notes everywhere so that you could access care easily was always stressed to me

I hope all is well with you and the baby.

Original poster
Toobloodytired · 19/03/2017 20:21

I'm calm, I just get annoyed as now there's an actual medical reason to me worrying.

Next Saturday isn't long but Christ it's dragging!

OP posts:
frozenfairy123 · 19/03/2017 20:26

One of my friends is a midwife and there are times when there are only 2 midwives in and 4-5 women in labour. They could have had serious emergencies and been in a very high level of stress. They were rude to u but maybe they weren't coping? Worth complaining anyway as if it was staff shortage then they need to know. Also some hospitals are better equipped than others. X

phoenixtherabbit · 19/03/2017 20:42

The midwives working on mau aren't generally the same team that are working on labour ward surely?

When i went to mau (the last time) i was monitored by one midwife, who then decided to keep me in gave me a stretch and sweep and sent me up to induction suite. I was then greeted by another midwife. So I'm guessing in my hospital at least, being monitored does not take away from someone who is either being induced or is in labour.

It's not about not coping. It's about the fact that ops baby could have been in danger, and this midwife did not care. Op has said she would have waited.

At the end of the day op you did what you needed to do, you did use the appropriate channels and you were treated appaulingly.

Aeroflotgirl · 19/03/2017 20:43

Please go back if your concerned, don't wait.

Blondeshavemorefun · 19/03/2017 20:50

yes any mau can see you so this mw should have said, theres a wait but we will see you and check baby out, doesnt tke long to plug you into a machine and hear babys heart and check their movements

reduced movements is scary, ive had 3 lots (38.4w preg)

but

personally i think you were a bit silly to travel 300miles from home after being diagnosed with oc and told they will induce you very soon

Atenco · 19/03/2017 20:51

I'm just so shocked at the people saying you have to go through the proper protocols in a medical emergency.

RebootYourEngine · 19/03/2017 20:57

Im on the fence with this.

You say that you tried phoning 20 times but couldnt get through. Didnt this tell you that they were probably busy. If i hadtried phoning somewhere 20 times with no answer i wouldnt just turn up. I would have gone through a&e. Explain why you were there and not at the MAU.

But reduced movements are a concern.

The nhs is on its knees. Maternity services are suffering. At my local maternity ward there have been days when woman are having babies on the main ward because the labour ward is full. Days when every bed on the wards and chair in waiting area are full. Days when one midwife is looking after two, three, four labouring women. They could have genuinely been full however the midwife should not have been rude to you.

TurnipCake · 19/03/2017 21:01

What would A&E have done? They don't have CTG machines there, they would have rung the day assessment unit from triage and sent her up

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