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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To expect people at reception areas to be more helpful! RANT WARNING

15 replies

VoluptuaGoodshag · 15/04/2007 14:45

Honestly I'm seething at the fecking pond life that work at front of house facilities. My friend had her first baby on Thursday. I called the hospital to find out when visiting times were and was told 7-8.30pm. A bit inconvenient but I'd make the effort. Couldn't make it on the Thursday evening as I only found out in the evening anyway. Couldn't go on the Friday coz had other stuff on. Called on the Saturday to make sure she was still there and hadn't been discharged. Realised that I perhaps wouldn't be allowed in with kids so called back to check and was told yes, family kids only. Then tried to arrange babysitters at short notice and had no luck for the Saturday night. Checked on the website for directions to notice that there is also a visiting hour between 3-4pm - ARRRGGGGG. Called again on the Sunday to make sure she was still there. Got a brain dead drongo on the phone who kept transferring me round several wards. Had to call back 4 times using the direct line number before I finally got through to the right ward and was told that she'd moved wards. Had to call again to get that ward to finally be told that she was leaving today and I've missed my chance. She lives far away and had to come to this hospital to have her first because her local hospital is a midwife led unit so I really wanted to visit as she wouldn't have had many other visitors. I am now going to have to post the presents to her and I'm so fecking pissed off. If I'd been told initially that there was another visiting hour I could have visited no problem. Bunch of twits. And why do they always sound like they are most inconvenienced by your calls. It's a fecking reception, you get calls, you are polite, if you cna't hack it then go and get a fecking job watching paint dry as the thought processes should be quite so taxing for you.

OP posts:
Elasticwoman · 15/04/2007 18:48

Why don't you write a letter of complaint to the hospital? You've got nothing to lose but 10 mins of your time and a stamp.

Donbean · 15/04/2007 18:54

Why didnt you just check the website in the first place, then maybe you wouldnt have been so "inconvenienced" by a busy maternity unit trying to do a difficult job as well as answering the phone to people answering questions to answers that are clearly posted on web sites......
Just a thought.

llareggub · 15/04/2007 19:24

YABU

It is a hospital, not a hotel.

hunkermunker · 15/04/2007 19:26

Did you really ring the hospital nine times to not find out something that's on the website?!

Kbear · 15/04/2007 19:27

Not unreasonable to expect to be told the correct visiting times when you ask though.

VoluptuaGoodshag · 15/04/2007 20:52

OK so I was stupid in not asking a further question re afternoon visiting hours in the first instance but hey what if it was someone who didn't have access to the internet and was relying on correct information by phone. And I called all those times to try to find out if my friend was still there. Yes I know it's a busy maternity hospital and yes the nurses do a great job but I'm referring in particular to the person answering calls who clearly has nothing to do with the medical side of it at all. He just fields the calls and then transfers them on into the ether as quickly as possible.

OP posts:
llareggub · 15/04/2007 21:20

Personally I wouldn't call the ward to check if a patient was still there. I would call the home of the patient - after all, if I know them well enough to visit them in hospital then I'd know their number, right?

A whole different thread is whether non-family members are welcome on maternity wards. Post c-section I got really irritated by the hordes of people traipsing in while I tried to establish breastfeeding in a daze of painkillers, with unwashed hair and a catheter. Not a good look.

VoluptuaGoodshag · 15/04/2007 21:28

They live about 130 miles away from the hospital so would have taken about 3 hours to get home whereas I live about 20 minutes from hospital.

She did have a C section after a long labour. I had the same and I loved that people came to visit me even though I live in a big city anyway. She lives miles away, her parents are elderly, her in laws live even further away, her friends live miles away. Could it possibly be that a quick half hour visit to say hi would have been so awful. I'm sensible enough to know that if she looks knackered or just not wanting visitors then I'd not outstay my welcome.

Forgot to say that I'm juggling 2 toddlers whilst DH is working away and just trying to do a something nice.

OP posts:
llareggub · 15/04/2007 21:34

That is a nice thing to do.

I like your name btw

VoluptuaGoodshag · 15/04/2007 21:49

Ta - except I'm no longer Voluptuous and can't remember when I last ....

In the whole great scheme of things ..... I needed a rant so did so. I've got the kids in bed and have had two glasses of wine and feel a whole lot less frustrated

OP posts:
llareggub · 15/04/2007 21:51

Jolly good.

To be honest I was feeling a bit argumentative earlier. After two glasses of wine I might have rang the hospital to complain on your behalf!

VoluptuaGoodshag · 15/04/2007 21:53

Actually I'm feeling rather pissed. I've got about another third glass worth in the bottle should I just finish it or be sensible and admit my head is swimming and I feel silly

OP posts:
llareggub · 15/04/2007 21:55

are you working tomorrow? oh, go for it! finish the bottle.

I've had about a bottle of wine in the last year and a half due to pregnancy/breastfeeding...lucky you!

VoluptuaGoodshag · 15/04/2007 22:04

I've been good - had a look at the bottle and decided it was a good glass worth so shall save it for tomorrow night and I'm back on here with a cup of cocoa and some toast.

OP posts:
llareggub · 15/04/2007 22:08

good for you.

I, on the other hand, have fallen off the diet wagon and have ate the remaining new potatoes from dinner and the mini eggs from Easter.

There's always tomorrow

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