Manchester maternity rates inadequate

[Mushroo]

A report has come out that has labelled Manchester maternity services as inadequate. I’m currently 18 weeks pregnant and due to give birth a at Wythenshawe and now a bit terrified!

The report highlighted lack of adequate staffing and being left alone during birth / something being missed is my fear.

Has anyone given birth here recently? How was your experience?

Im considering hiring a private midwife or doula but obviously that would be expensive so I’d rather avoid if possible!

Thank you x

Don’t know about that specific hospital, but over 50% of maternity units are rated inadequate or requires improvement. Staffing is the main issue as the service is chronically understaffed.

Sorry title should say ‘rated inadequate’

@Mummyme87 i hadn’t realised! That’s shocking - Manchester’s response has been that it is hiring more midwives, but if everywhere is short not sure where they are planning to magic up these midwives from?!

I had DC2 at wythenshawe 2.5 years ago and they were brilliant. They were stretched but the care was brilliant. Community midwives also great.

I had my first baby at Wythenshawe, I can’t tell you how wonderful the care was. I was there for almost ten days. The midwives were a unique mix of incredibly competent but also down to earth, kind and relatable.

So much so that I chose to have my 2nd there even though I’d moved and was much closer to other hospitals. As it happened, I had to move to a different hospital at the end so didn’t work out, it was fine, but the food wasn’t as good as Wythenshawe and felt more medicalised😁

Congratulations and good luck with everything. xx

I've had both of mine (now 3 and 4) at Wythenshawe.
Midwife care was variable.
I can absolutely recommend Dr Elaine Church. She delivered both of mine and I've always said that if I were to have another, even if I was a euromillions winner and could have anyone private, I would choose her. Amazing doesn't cover it.

@Mushroo nope, no magic pot of midwives so everyone is in the same boat, recruitment but as quick as they come someone else leaves. It’s incredibly sad and very political.
i wouldn’t look at CQC ratings, I don’t the CQC at all. Even personal experiences are going to be hit and miss, as for every two good reports someone will have something negative to say.

Thank you everyone - the positive personal experiences have put my mind at rest a bit.

I might ask my midwife what her view is as well, particularly as I’ll be in over Xmas which I imagine is hard to staff at the best of times.

I gave birth to my first where the maternity services in a hospital went from good to inadequate 2 months before. It niggled away at me the experience was frightening and dangerous. The hospital was inspected again the day after my daughter was born and remained inadequate.

I gave birth to my second in a different hospital and the experience was like night and day.

I gave birth on the birthing unit in 2021 and again in May this year. Wythenshawe are fab and the care was amazing. The two downsides are parking, and there's so many different phone numbers for everyone. My advice would be to ring triage for everything (01612915317) and they can direct your call. You can use triage for 6 weeks after birth too

PS if the parking machines still say cash only, just drive up to the barrier and say you've only got your card. They let you out for free

@Lollipop49 thank you! Yes parking is a nightmare, luckily found a space so far but it’s always been the last one, dreading trying to find one in labour. The lack of cash tip is also super helpful!

Glad to hear the birth itself was fine, were you on the ward or the midwife led unit?

I was on the midwife led unit both times and liked that surgeons, NICU and strong pain relief was just down the corridor if needed.

Are you choosing between Wythenshawe and Saint Mary's? I've heard Saint Mary's described as more clinical and Wythenshawe more homely

I used to work for the regulator who rates hospitals. It’s more than likely going to be one of the safest units right now as they will be under extensive monitoring. Try not to worry about it. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

@Lollipop49 ah great! I’m planning for midwife led at Wythenshawe but the reports just gave me a wobble so I debating moving to stepping hill or looking into a doula / private midwife.

@Frightenedbunny that’s a very good point, fingers crossed that’s the case.

I was I induced and delivered emergency by C-section at St.Marys.
I think it was excellent and I felt supported by staff right from the beginning of the induction. I had good prompt pain relief and kind help with breastfeeding at the end.

I have 2 friends who have delivered at Wythenshawe in the last year and they were happy with their experiences too.

@Bigparrot thank you :). This thread has made me feel a lot better

Regardless of how the hospitals rated I would really recommend a doula. 100% will be worth every penny and will be there for you no matter how bad staffing is.

@Kgold i have started to look into this! How did you go about finding one?

I have a read a recent statistic (which I would imagine is true), that for every 10 newly qualified midwives, 9/10 will have left midwifery within 12months.

I’m due to give birth in Wythenshawe maternity unit in 7 weeks and this is stressing me out too!
i even cried today about it. We live 25 minutes away or else I would consider a home birth.

i read the entire report and the worst thing we’re that they weren’t cleaning the birthing pools to a set protocol - how can you be expected to relax in a birthing pool if all you can think about is “is this clean”

and that for safety they rated it inadequate saying that there wasn’t enough qualified staff with the right skills or training to keep women and babies safe from avoidable harm - wtf!

@Mamabear345 so glad it’s not just me.

I mentioned it to my SIL who is a GP, and her response was that the CQC always pick up stuff around paperwork but it’s actually safe and it’ll be fine.

I just sat there thinking, how can they know it’s safe if there’s no paper trail?!?

Im just hoping since it’s been flagged as not up to standard hopefully it’ll be forced to be safer whilst we’re there because of the extra checks.