12+4 and no scan date in sight. aibu

[Toastedsesame]

Its my second pregnancy, my midwife booking appointment wasn't until 11+3. The hospital have my referral / paperwork but there just isn't physically space for the amount of 12 week scans they need to book in at the moment. I was told the antenatal dept is on its knees and my paperwork is currently in a pile on the managers desk waiting to be assigned a scan date / fitted in. I was told to call back in 2 days.

I'll be basically 13 weeks by then. I'm nervous as hell and the anxiety is keeping me up at night. I'm desperate to get all the screening done that needs to be done in this time.

I don't know what to do except sit around and wait for Thursday, when I'll likely be told the same thing and asked to call back.

Does anyone know how I take this further? I hate having to fight for basic care.

I'm 19 weeks and had my 12 week scan at 12+3. However, baby wouldn't behave for the nuchal measurements so had to be rescanned at 13 week and 15 week to get a due date, so I missed the chance to get the combined test done. They will offer quad test after 16 weeks for DS and Edwards and Patau's can be picked up at 20 week scan so it isn't the end of the world if your dating scan is late.

Thanks for the kinds words.

I am not worried about seeing baby / the scan so much but the screening is worrying me. I don't want to wait til 20 weeks to find out something is wrong, I've been there before and it is not something I wish to go through again.

That was exactly my worry- I didn't want to wait til 20 weeks with only Downs accounted for (especially with Downs not actually being the same level of worry as the other two!).

I don't think OP is worrying unnecessarily, she knows 12 week scan is 12 week ish but I'm sure knowing the hospital haven't got her on the list, never mind got a letter in the post, with only a week left to meet that target gestation for screening, is fair concern.

Hope they get you sorted OP 🙂

For posters saying ‘scans aren’t necessary/important’ what if the lack of one delays discovery of a condition that requires a TFMR? The knock on effects could be heartbreaking.

I was in a similar position as my booking referral was delayed. I think i chased it at about 11 weeks and they did take it very seriously. There were certain measurements they couldnt get due to the baby's position, so I was given an emergency appointment the following day to ensure I was seen in time. It is important.

Just to be clear, I'm absolutely not trying to belittle the OPs concerns and completely agree that these appointments should take place within the time frames. Scans and screening are extremely important. I'm just trying to reassure you OP that sometimes it feels last minute to us but actually may all be in hand. There's still time at the moment and the NHS have to provide those appointments so it would be very unusual for them not to happen within those guidelines. I really hope you hear from them very soon as pregnancy is stressful enough!

@Zebraaa lol be quiet 😴

Hi OP. Keep at it. I had to after the midwife forgot to do my paperwork which triggered the scan. Fortunately the doctors surgery gave me her bosses number so I spoke to her and she sorted it. Good job too as we came back as high risk on the combined test and we’re able to have additional testing. I agree you don’t want to have to wait til 20 weeks to find out something is wrong and nor should you have to. Good luck. X

Any further advice please anyone?

I have put a complaint through PALS and they have escalated it and asked management to contact me directly to resolve but I've heard nothing.

I've tried calling the antenatal clinic 32 times today and the phone just rings out. I've tried several numbers and been told "they're busy sorry bye" and hung up on.

I'm furious. 13 weeks tomorrow.

How long since you contacted PALS? If more than a day I'd contact them again and get them to put pressure on the team to contact you. There's still plenty of time, so I wouldn't panic, but you do need to keep up the pressure so that time doesn't run out. Just be really annoying to them.

Also try and find a direct number for the scan department or community midwives office rather than antenatal clinic, in my hospital I know they would be more likely to answer the phone.

I’m a former midwife. This is pretty rubbish. We did very occasionally have too many patients for too few scan slots and then an emergency list would be done, usually at the weekend. It’s a speciality that can’t be compressed because you have to have both the facilities and qualified staff in order to run extra services.

I’m almost sure that the PALs input will get you a response, they do have quite serious clout. Give it to the end of the day.

If you don’t hear anything you could also email the director of midwifery and copy in the CEO. That will get you a response.

Good luck.

I had similar in my last pregnancy, they sent me a letter saying my 12 week scan would be at 18+4 weeks, I had had several bleeds and a previous miscarriage. I called the midwife and said I would be happy to travel to any hospital it didn't need to be the local one and I was worried about not being able to have downs/Edwards/patu screening and also if my baby was still alive after the bleeds. They re booked me to a hospital about an hour away and I had my scan at 13+3. My 20 week anatomy scan unfortunately was not fine at all.

Hi OP, NHS manager here. I'm sorry you're experience waits and obviously you understand why but it's incredibly frustrating and a bit scary for you I'm sure.

PALs are meant to respond within 24 hours, that's the point of them. If they haven't I would call again and explain you want to escalate to a formal complaint. I would also email your concerns to both PALS and the formal complaints team. Formal complaints usually have to be dealt with within 40 days which doesn't solve your problem, but it records it and gets someone moving as departments are monitored against delayed complaint responses.

Next I would contact your local MP, and or your local CCG - they will email or call the department manager directly and scare the bejesus out of them to get a resolution ASAP.

Depending on the manager/clinical lead they will either book you in ASAP just to shut you up, or they will explain where you are in the waitlist and give an estimate date you'll be seen by (as they won't prioritise you over someone who's been waiting longer just because you've complained). Whilst the latter is the "right" thing to do, many will do the former as it's easier.

Are you able to go with little notice? I'd ask them to put you on a cancellation list to be rang to go too.

Best of luck xxx

Also, depending how desperate you are, you can possibly find the name/email of the department manager or clinical lead on the Trust website and try them too. X

@Zebraaa you win hands down stupidest comment of the day award. The pandemic may rule and define your life but for the rest of us life continues and everyone should be allowed to receive adequate care regardless.

When I went for a private 7 week scan the lady there said my 12 week scan will most likely be 14 weeks as they're just so busy. I haven't even got my booking in appointment which is over the phone so not even bloods until 9+4 😭

@Zebraaa

Well, what did you expect getting pregnant during a pandemic. The amount of times I’ve read on here “it’s a great time to have a baby!” Yet berating others to follow covid rules, stay home, protect the NHS 🙄 ALL NHS services are affected. ALL staff are on their knees.

@Zebraaa Disgraceful comment, I’ve reported it. You literally have no idea if the OPs circumstances.

Could you phone your midwife? Tell her exactly how anxious you are and what you have done so far.

I’ve had a couple of first scans at 13+6, the cut off date for the first scan is 13+6 I believe so you still have time.

@Arrierttyclock

When I went for a private 7 week scan the lady there said my 12 week scan will most likely be 14 weeks as they're just so busy. I haven't even got my booking in appointment which is over the phone so not even bloods until 9+4 😭

I wouldn't worry about your bloods being around then, that's normal sort of time for the booking bloods

OP I hope they get this sorted for you today, I can see you've had some really good advice. Just goes to show that this isn't normal or acceptable and they shouldn't be fobbing you off. If it were me once I'd got my appointment I'd still be complaining about the antenatal clinic attitude and lack of answering the phone. What if you are ringing about something more urgent? I hope you know what I mean by that, not saying yours isn't important. Fingers crossed!

You are doing well to be so calm OP, I think I'd be borderline psychotic if I were you.

If I'm right in assuming that you've had a previous loss after an anomaly scan then you should be receiving a higher level of care anyway. Do you have a bereavement midwife you could call? It may be worth getting in touch with Tommy's or SANDS for advice on how to deal with this. You shouldn't have to be fighting for basic care.

@Zebraaa

Well, what did you expect getting pregnant during a pandemic. The amount of times I’ve read on here “it’s a great time to have a baby!” Yet berating others to follow covid rules, stay home, protect the NHS 🙄 ALL NHS services are affected. ALL staff are on their knees.

Behave yourself.

Clown.

You have tried calling a department 32 times! You know they are busy and they are going as fast as they can. Stop ringing them ffs.

@Yesmate I'm going to ignore your dumb comment.

Thanks to everyone who has chipped in with advice - lots of great posts and things for me to do.

I finally spoke to a midwife at the antenatal clinic today. She said I will be offered a dating scan at some point but I will not be offered the combined screening. This is because of a shortage of sonographers and staff sickness / covid difficulty. She had the cheek to suggest I paid privately for screening (£300-£400) I am waiting for a call back from the manager.

I am still furious.