20 week scan cancelled twice

[Kfcinbed]

Would IBU to complain?

My first 20 week scan was booked for the end of February and was cancelled - rebooked for 13th March when I'll be 22+5. At the time of rebooking the midwife told me that the 14th March was the very last day they would do it as it has to be done by 23 weeks.

They've cancelled the second scan this morning - I've called and been passed around multiple departments for about an hour until a receptionist told me I've been rebooked for 18th April.

I explained I would be 28 weeks pregnant at that point and the scan needs to be done by Thursday, as my midwife advised. The consultant refused to speak to me (he was there as the receptionist kept putting me on hold to speak to him - she even tried to put me through but he wouldn't pick up the phone). He said there's no scans available until 18th April.

They've taken my number and said they will call if there are any cancellations - but I assume those won't be this week.

Feeling pretty devastated - local private scans to me don't offer the anomaly scan, and others further away are £200 ish or have said I'm already too far along at 22 weeks - and they advise you to go back to the NHS anyway if they find anything.

I don't know what to do!

Considering making a complaint to the hospital tomorrow (if I can get through)! I know the NHS is busy but the midwife previously told me it has to be done before 23 weeks and I feel helpless that I'm not able to check on the health of my baby.

Any advice?

This happened to me in my first pregnancy, I contacted my midwife and explained. She was furious and phoned everywhere until I got an appointment for that week.

That’s really poor, it does need to be done by 23 weeks. Complain to PALs.

Yanbu. Can your mid wife help here? Mine did in a similar situation. It really should be done by 23 weeks

You would not be unreasonable to put in a written complaint to the NHS, in my opinion. It's pretty shocking that you would have to wait until 28 weeks for your anomaly scan, and I'm not a medical professional but I would assume that the bigger the foetus gets, the more difficult it will be to see certain things on the scan and there's a reason they do it as close to 20 weeks as possible. The state of the NHS these days is scary.

Nope that is outrageous - get on to your midwife and PALs straight away. I cannot believe they think that is acceptable - what if you had to consider a TFMR?

I'd contact your midwife, see if they can help

No that is not acceptable. You need to complain loudly to PALS. The main point of the anomaly scan is to pick up any major health problems for the baby which would legally allow a decision to terminate before 24 weeks gestation.

Ring PALS asap.
Shocking and unacceptable!

Let us know how you get on OP

I would call PALS and make a complaint, also see if you can get in touch with your head of midwifery.

You are right, it is completely unacceptable for them to canc it twice

If it were me I'd be straight up to the hospital and wouldn't leave until I'd be fit in.

28 weeks is too late for the mid T scan. Ideally needs to be done by 23 weeks. Do your local trust have any other hospitals that can offer the scan.? Where I live there’s the main hospital where you’re booked for delivery but several other sites that have antenatal services such as scans that they can allocate for appointments.

I would speak to your midwife and ask her to chase this up for you or speak to PALS. Hope you can get it sorted

This is unacceptable. But it is also sometimes impossible to fix. If there is no space, there is no space. And to fit you in, they would have to cancel someone else’s appt. It’s just horrendous and only destined to get worse. I really feel for you OP.

Thank you! It's the only place in the trust that offers scans - I have my midwife appointments at other locations within the trust.

I did call the midwifes today who said they can't book the scans, and they transferred me to the scans department who said that the next date is 18th April.

The midwife should be intervening on your behalf.

Im a sonographer and this is NOT ok. They must make space for you and that may involve moving other appointments but 28 weeks is far too late to have this scan. If a problem is found there are huge implications for what happens next. I really urge you to complain until this is rectified. Sometimes scan have to be moved and it is what is is but to move an anomaly scan to 28 weeks is not at all acceptable.

For the sake of your baby you need to help keep phoning people until you're seen. Don't let them fob you off

Ring PALS immediately first thing tomorrow morning. They will sort it for you. I found out when you complain to pals they sort things out very quickly for you .

Thank you! I asked my midwife at the last appointment if I was able to contact her if needed but she said there was only the number to contact the midwifes in general. When I called today, it connected me to a switchboard, not someone who knows me and they just forwarded me on to the scan department.

I think I will call them back tomorrow and see if they can help!

Definitely complain. I’d contact antenatal clinic manager, PALS and the outpatient matron. Tell them you’ll contact the CQC if it’s not sorted sooner. There is no way this is acceptable. It’s done at 20 weeks for a reason!
If it’s an option, I would consider transferring my care to another hospital based on this.

Nope I would not be accepting this I would phone and make a nuisance of myself and I would be spending all day as much as possible on the phone calling anyone you can , different hospitals / trusts to see if anyone could fit you in. No way do not just accept this. They are hoping you just go away and be quiet ... shout as loud as you can to anyone you can , including the chief of your local hospital. This is so so important incase there's something wrong with your baby.

Thank you so much for your insight - I will definitely call both the midwife team and PALS tomorrow - the midwife I spoke when rebooking the first time did say that they have to make sure I have it by Thursday 14th, but the people I spoke to today didn't seem at all concerned by it being late so it was quite confusing.

Also check if the Maternity Voices Partnership has a branch covering your hospital. They're like PALS for maternity services.

I really hope you get sorted tomorrow.

I don't seem to have a specific midwife - I did ask the person I was seeing and she said I might see different midwifes so there's no one that I can go to who is in charge of my care specifically - I have just been contacting the midwife number which seems to be a switchboard unfortunately.

They do! Thank you. I'm emailing them now.

Would absolutely second getting in touch with your local Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) team - or also you will live within a Local Maternity & Neonatal System (LMNS) who could also intervene on your behalf. Ours have midwives available every day who would recognise the urgency and make some calls.