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?

Agree re going via PALS as complaints via them are cascades more widely than just someone finding you a single appointment and this is likely to be a wider problem. You are right to make a fuss about it! (Midwife working in this area of practice…)

So you are correct - my husband just called triage and they said it's a wider problem - and some people aren't having their 12 week scan until 18 weeks. Which is still two weeks earlier than the 8 - 10 weeks late my scan will be though! They weren't able to help so will have to call PALS tomorrow.

I think you should tell us what failing Hospital Trust this is. It should be in special measures.

Don’t just go to PALS, cc in the seniors for the area if you can find them and the chief exec/medical director/chief nurse. PALS are a great service but I think they’re overloaded in some trusts due to the sheer volume of complaints now. They definitely are in my local Trust at least!

Thanks for this advice - I'll call tomorrow and follow up with an email and copy in whoever I can find!

Did you manage to get it sorted?

Update for anyone who is interested - I actually ended up going for a private scan as I was scared I wouldn't hear back from the hospital. Baby boy is fine, measuring slightly big but all within normal ranges, thank goodness. I know we're very lucky to be able to do this and I dread to think about anyone else in this position who isn't able to go private.

I called PALS and they asked me to put it in writing in an email. I did that straight away and haven't heard back from them or from the hospital at all.

The private sonographer advised me to of course still have my NHS scan as their scan doesn't replace it, but it did help put both mine and my husband's minds at ease that our baby is ok.

I also emailed the CQC for the hospital as they didn't have a phone number available. No response as of yet.

I've requested to transfer hospitals - the other hospital trust has already been in touch and has scheduled my first midwife appointment.

I'm now 23 weeks so I'm past the last date that the scan should have been done. I'm really disappointed.