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.

Keep going, that's appalling. It's not optional as to whether they offer it to you (I know some don't get it because they can't get baby in position but they do have to make two attempts, which can be in the same day).

Back to PALS with an escalation. I can't believe they haven't even offered you the chance to have an appointment if one comes up in the triage side of things, I had a growth scan when I went in for RFM as they kept some slots back for that sort of thing, and rightly so.

Both scans for mine years ago were 13+ weeks. It’ll be fine as long as done by 14 weeks I’d think

Sorry read your update which is horrific, complain!!!!

@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.

Pipe down.

With my first 12 week scans weren’t a thing, not sure they were with any of my kids 🤷🏼‍♀️ With my third I didn’t get an appointment with a midwife until I was about 13 weeks. I didn’t have a 20 week scan as I had an amino at 19 weeks.n

It’s a difficult time at the moment.

[quote Toastedsesame]@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.[/quote]
How cheeky , I'd be asking if the nhs are going to pay for that private screening 🙄🙄

@Pinkyavocado

With my first 12 week scans weren’t a thing, not sure they were with any of my kids 🤷🏼‍♀️ With my third I didn’t get an appointment with a midwife until I was about 13 weeks. I didn’t have a 20 week scan as I had an amino at 19 weeks.n

It’s a difficult time at the moment.

Well things have changed now so not sure how helpful this is to the op. Lots of things were different years ago 🙄

Once this is resolved I would check out how busy the other hospital are if it's an option.

@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.

What an absolutely ridiculous and UNHELPFUL thing to write

@Toastedsesame Oof, that's awful.

I was warned at booking in yesterday that my 12 week scan would probably be closer to 14 weeks because they're very busy right now, but they said they'd definitely get it done before 14+4 so I could get the screening, even if it meant that they scanned me at an odd time.

Have they indicated when the dating scan would be?

I hope someone calls back soon!

I had my 12 week scan at 14+1 and they could do all tests. That was in 2019 so long before covid hit. They'll sort it just keep on at them.

@TakeYourFinalPosition no, couldn't give me any kind of indication. Just said that it was almost certain I would not be seen in time for the screening.

I had my scan with my first baby pre-covid at over 14 weeks. I was slightly miffed at the time but there’s nothing that can be done generally, it’s just one of those things. It’s still fine to have it done a bit later but I understand why it can cause some stress

Now 13+3 and still nothing.

I've spoken to various sonographers and midwives and its the same story every time: staff sickness, shortages, nhs on its knees. I won't get the combined screening, I'll only get the downs test and then a blood test at 20 weeks for everything else. Its a waiting game for the dating scan.

Have you gone back to PALS to escalate your complaint? Even if it doesn't change things for you (although I bloody hope it does) if you end up making a formal complaint it will be recorded that their staffing levels don't allow them to offer the correct service and it might help improve things which would actually benefit the staff too. I'd like to think they'd be more wary of fobbing off PALS.

I know my hospital has afternoon scan appointments kept free in case anyone needs one at short notice (I had one after RFM last time), maybe tell them you're going to turn up in the waiting room and just see for a free slot?