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Original poster

Are you going to watch Panorama : Midwives Undercover tomorrow ??

37 replies

Summerfruit · 02/05/2007 11:26

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PrincessPeaHead · 02/05/2007 11:30

definitely!

wouldn't miss it
even tho it is bound to be horribly depressing and angry-making

Summerfruit · 02/05/2007 11:32

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Beauregard · 02/05/2007 11:33

What time is it on?

Original poster
Summerfruit · 02/05/2007 12:23

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StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 02/05/2007 12:31

I will watch it, have read the aricle in the Daily Mail today . Sadly I'm not shocked at all. Even more sadly I don't think it will make a difference.

Fimbo · 02/05/2007 12:32

Yes, I will watch it

Original poster
Summerfruit · 02/05/2007 12:34

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GrumpyOldHorsewoman · 02/05/2007 12:37

Definitely. My DDs were born 9 years apart (1994 and 2003), and my ante-natal and birthing experiences couldn't have been more different. Pre natal care in 2003 was almost non existent (really, I only met my midwife 3 times during my entire pregnancy-although I did speak to her on the phone when I had been sent home from hospital after false alarm when 4 days overdue). And I gave birth to DD2 in a major university hospital. It was awful.

mamma2kids · 02/05/2007 12:40

Is it like an undercover thing (following a midwife)? Or an expose on gaps in the service type of thing?

Original poster
Summerfruit · 02/05/2007 13:05

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oliveoil · 02/05/2007 13:11

It is filmed at St Mary's Manchester where I had both my daughters and quite frankly I am appalled

the midwives at both my births were fab and dd1's birth was horrendous and we thought we would lose her

not sure if I could watch them slagging off the staff, will try and keep an open mind

there is an article in the Manchester Evening News and the midwives are really upset that someone they took in and welcomed as a member of staff was really a journalist

will try and find article

oliveoil · 02/05/2007 13:12

here

mrsmalumbas · 02/05/2007 13:14

I want to watch it...but have a governor's meeting at school...bummer. In a way I do think that maybe there is an element of sensationalism going on, but on the other hand I am curious to see it. Since it was undercover...but then, things can be edited to show them in a bad light, etc.

oliveoil · 02/05/2007 13:16

my births were in 2002 and 2004 so unless it has gone hugely downhill I would say it is edited

I had a section with dd1 and was in for 5 days and a midwife was always on the end of a buzzer, answering my sobs and b/feeding queries

same with dd2, one midwife at my side the whole time, from first push to arrival

Tutter · 02/05/2007 13:17

i knid of don't want to as it will unnerve me (ds2 due july)

but i know i'll have to - information is power and all that

[depressed]

Tutter · 02/05/2007 13:18

i'm afraid to say that if we still lived in london we'd be having this baby privately

have read and heard too many scary things in the last 2 years

Original poster
Summerfruit · 02/05/2007 13:24

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jdd0709 · 02/05/2007 13:28

I'm also going to be watching it nervously. My NHS birth in London in 2004 was a shambles, frankly, and I haven't been too impressed with the local hospital for this one in Surrey so far this time. I am trying to work out whether we could afford to go private as i really can't face it again .... When are they going to do something about this!

Tutter · 02/05/2007 13:29

which hosp, jdd? (had ds1 in surrey)

jdd0709 · 02/05/2007 13:30

though I did encounter a truly appalling midwife amongst a few good ones and mostly indifferent ones but the majority of the 30 or 40 ones I saw last time were simply over-worked, under-resources and harrassed. System indeed.

jdd0709 · 02/05/2007 13:30

Currently booked at East Surrey - where were you?

edam · 02/05/2007 13:30

I love the comment from the hospital that 'we are busy but that's because lots of people choose to give birth here'. What?! It's the patients' fault if you are too understaffed to provide acceptable care?

Think is, I'm sure it's possible to find women who have had good and bad experiences at most units (apart from, was it North Middlesex where they kept killing mothers and babies?). But good experiences don't mean there is nothing wrong. Hospital and PCT bosses get away with giving maternity low priority because new mothers tend not to have the energy to complain or don't want to revisit distressing experiences.

edam · 02/05/2007 13:32

If you are going private, check the Healthcare Commission website for any reports of inspections/outstanding investigations. And make sure you know what they'd do if things go wrong - few private units have special care so you may face ambulance transfer to the NHS. Private is no guarantee of safety, I'm afraid.

jdd0709 · 02/05/2007 13:34

I was thinking about the birth centre in Tooting which is in the grounds of St Georges for special care. Seems like a good compromise to me as I think the NHS is probably the best place to be with a sick baby after the birth at least. Would definitely go there if money was not an issue.

jdd0709 · 02/05/2007 13:36

You're absolutely right edam about how they get away with it - I really regret not putting a formal complaint in but like you say I was so traumatised and exhausted after no sleep on a filthy ward with no help for 5 days that I didn't. You are just so glad to get home with your baby that you can't face it.