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Original poster

Are maternity wards clean??

60 replies

Spod · 28/08/2003 12:08

Sorry - I hope this will be my last irrational fear.... but quite a few people/books are warning me to take my own antibacterial wipes into hospital because the bathrooms aren't that clean... I'm going in for a csection and dont relish the thought of cleaning their bathrooms for 4 days but......? I do have concerns about getting an infection while I'm in there. On last nights local news, there was a feature on my local hospital - apparently all the consultants have been sent an email telling them that the cleaning contract has been cancelled and they are now responsible for keeping their own areas clean and emptying their own bins..... this didnt help my fears.... what types of experience have you all had???

OP posts:
wickedstepmother · 28/08/2003 14:35

My neighbour was out on the 3rd day post c-section.

LucieB · 28/08/2003 14:36

pph
Agree about C&W. The bathrooms in the postnatal wards were disgusting. I really wish I had formally complained, and will do if its the same when I have no 2. Getting woken up at 6am by the cleaners polishing the floors was also a high point! Luckily I was only there a few hours after having ds - wouldn't have wanted to stay any longer. Having said that the midwives and nurses who work there were fabulous as were the doctors, one of the reasons why I have decided to go back and have no 2 there.

princesspeahead · 28/08/2003 15:41

sambo - mar 98 and oct 2000.
think it had improved a bit by 2000, but not much!

Jimjams · 28/08/2003 16:01

I was out 3 days after each section (and second one had some complications- caused by first one- so don't worry if this is your first section). I still got myself out there asap though! I saved bathing until I got home as well although I did negotiate the shower in hospital

SamboM · 28/08/2003 16:03

Ah pph I was sept 2001 - it had got worse again.

Just thought, maybe they do it on purpose to try and get people to leave quickly If so it works!

SamboM · 28/08/2003 16:03

Make that 2002

judetheobscure · 28/08/2003 16:17

My hospital sounds similar to c&w re. grimy baths, showers etc. and blood not cleaned up. And the midwife had the cheek to tell me I really ought to take a bath to help my stitches heal - she had to be joking?

Original poster
Spod · 28/08/2003 16:37

Oh God i can't wait to go in now! grimy blood stained showers and scum everywhere... great. and they wonder why mums get anxious before birth with simple things like cleanliness to worry about. I mean just how difficult is it to keep the places clean - I'd like to hear from lots of people telling me they only spent 2 days in for a csection... please!!!!!!!!

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aloha · 28/08/2003 17:01

I was in for five days but my friend discharged herself after two - she felt fine. To be honest, I could have left after three - I was gagging to get home and I think things would have been much better for me at home - nicer bed, more sleep, real food etc.

You may well be in a side room if you are having a section anyway which helps IMO.

I was in the NHS bit before my section as I had complications, and the bathrooms were pretty revolting. My insurance paid for a room in the private wing afterwards which was a LOT cleaner.
I think grimy bathrooms are par for the course. However, I didn't have a bath until I got home with ds.

Davros · 28/08/2003 17:42

I was out 3 days after c-section and could have gone a day earlier if I'd been prepared. Did not get offered a separate room due to c-section (I think everyone on that particular ward may have been c-sections) but went into separate room on day 2 after badgering all staff all the time. The separate room (amenity rooms they call them) was also dirty but was much nicer to have a bit of space. Cost about £60 per day. Wouldn't have minded socialising with the other mums but it was like a cattle market with people coming and going and beds being shifted at all hours of the day and night.

eidsvold · 28/08/2003 19:51

post c-section and stayed in for five days, dd on SCBU for three weeks - had my own room - with ensuite and it was cleaned spotlessly evey day. The other areas of the hospital that I saw was also very clean - toilets, bathrooms, etc.

Dd was in london teaching hospital - wards/ICU in terms of cleanliness - BUT the parent/ on call staff rooms were only cleaned if you requested it. The general area in the parent corridor was grubby - we tended to eat out rather than prepare rooms there. The bathrooms tended to be okay - had showers with flip flops on though....

WideWebWitch · 28/08/2003 19:52

This thread doesn't half make for depressing reading. It all sounds so Victorian. Blu, blueegh at the cockroaches and silverfish, how vile. I even more sincerely hope I manage to have this next one at home after reading this lot.

Gem13 · 28/08/2003 20:15

On the tour at the local hospital 15 expectant couples walked across the birthing mat in one of the rooms. 'You can give birth on this' said the MW showing us around.

Not me, I thought.

Go on a tour and check it out.

bossykate · 28/08/2003 20:46

was at guy's in july 2001 - pleasantly surprised by how clean it was, as had heard lots of stories in a similar vein to this thread. however, an nct classmate who went a week later had a very different experience...

Original poster
Spod · 28/08/2003 21:18

can u get a home c section?

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fio2 · 28/08/2003 21:23

I came home 2 days after my 2nd section I was on the ward though and this woman opposite me had a section just before me and I am not kidding you an hour or two after that baby had been born she got out of bed and walked to the toilet!!!! I felt like a right failure but I think it spurred me on to get up and about quicker and I hate hospitals too - all that blood in the shower-YUK!!

Original poster
Spod · 28/08/2003 21:27

fio2 - thanks... good to hear it is possible to leave quickly.... are there medical reasons for longer stays or is it simply down to whether you can move/walk/exit the building?

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OldieMum · 28/08/2003 21:28

I took in Mr Muscle bathroom cleaner and I was glad I did. I was in hospital for two weeks and my bathroom was cleaned only twice in that time.
I had an amenity room. I didn't have to pay for it - I was told that patients had to pay for one if they had requested it, but not if they hadn't (Kafka, we need you in the NHS).

Linnet · 28/08/2003 21:29

My local hospital where I had my dd in 1997 was very clean. The cleaners would come in at 8am every morning and clean the ward while we were all at breakfast. The maternity wards in our hospital only have 4 beds to a room with one bathroom between us all. there were only ever 3 women in the ward I was in for the 5 days I was there. the bathroom was spotless from what I remember, although I don't remember really looking that closely. But I defintely don't remember any blood lying about in puddles for days on end.

fio2 · 28/08/2003 21:31

yes I think its just how quickly you recover and how long you need stronger painkillers for. Also you have to be caring well for your baby I think. And...it depends on how busy the midwifes are and whether or not they can be bothered to fill in your discharge forms, and if they are busy and need your bed they kick you out as quick as poss When are you going in? September, October and November are always busy months IME all christmas and post christmas conceptions

Original poster
Spod · 28/08/2003 21:35

going in in mid october... hoping they will want me out as fast as i wanna be out!! have plenty of help lined up at home where its cleaner!! So theres no post-op reason to be in for ages? like waiting for womb to shrink or something?? i guess thats the same for normal births anyhow... i guess its a case of waiting 48 hrs or so to make sure no reaction to aneasthetic and stuff?

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marthamoo · 28/08/2003 21:39

Spod, this is a more realistic fear than your ugly baby one

Hospital where I had DS1 was foul - particularly the bathrooms. My community midwife told me not to take a bath, only have showers. There was dried blood on the toilet seats and the bidets, and the baths were beyond belief. To my horror, the toilet rolls were standing on the floor -the wall holder was broken. This for women who've had tearing or episiotomies.

The food was horrendous too (don't know if there's a correlation!)

We'd moved house and area before I had DS2 but I went prepared - took my own loo roll, and antiseptic wipes. Didn't need them, the wards and bathrooms were immaculate..and the food was good too.

Like everything in the NHS it's a complete lottery.

fio2 · 28/08/2003 21:39

have you got a date? cos I had ds 16th October and that was a very busy day!

Original poster
Spod · 28/08/2003 21:44

17th October... lets hope its still as busy!! seriously.. how much does it hurt... have had major spinal surgery so am expecting it to be far less painful than that was....?

OP posts:
Original poster
Spod · 28/08/2003 21:45

the ugly baby one isnt really a fear - more of a funny look at things really as its something everyone must think but no-one admits to! we have said many times that if we think ours is ugly we will notice and say so!!!!

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