Anyone in Oxford having probs with scans at JR?

[jasmine51]

Hi
Is anyone in the Oxford area having problems getting any kind of scan at the JR? Im at the 20 wk stage and have been told today they are unlikely to be able to give me an appointment 'due to unprecendented demand'.
Seeing as I didnt get a 12 wk scan there either, what are my rights to 'demand' a scan, even go private and have the NHS pay?
Also...if there is 'unprecedented demand' what the hell is going to happen when all these 20 weekers decide to drop, in May/ June...what happens if your delivery hosp has no space? Anyone got any any experience of this and can advise?

I had my 12 and 20 week scans for both pregnancies at the JR. First 12 week scan was more like 14 weeks due to "demand" but otherwise no problems. Surely, if they can't do it they have to refer you to another hospital or private clinic (at their expense)? I would pester your midwife and GP - you have a right to an anomoly scan under the NHS.

Oh and re the delivery - my midwife said they are very short staffed at the women's centre. As a community midwife they are only supposed to call on her to attend the hospital in a dire emergency but she's been there a lot lately - after her regular community shift . I am planning a homebirth and really hoping that a) I don't have to go to the hospital and experience their staff shortages (b) if I have the baby at home my midwife isn't too knackered from all the extra work loaded on to her!

msbossy doesnt sound good does it. Whats up in Oxford, is there a major baby boom or something? I would love to go to the community hospital in Wallingford on reflection but my risk level has gone up again and I'm not allowed . Im considering checking out neighbouring county hospitals just in case there is no room at the JR when the time comes and I have to go elsewhere. What a pain

I spoke to them yesterday as I'd just had the 12 week date through and it was too early. They only had one other time slot and nothing else at all - but I would agree that surely you have a right to a 20 week scan. If all else fails and you get desperate I recommend the Beard Mill Clinic but obviously that will cost money. I suspect the current peak is a combination of people off sick and the August birth boom coming through for 12 week scans.

I used to work in a maternity department and it was pretty rare people got sent to other hospitals, even at peak times (which tended to be 9 months after Christmas and 9 months after the summer hols :) I guess our nearest is Reading, if the JR do fill up. I hope it doesn't come to that!

I agree with owlbooty that it is unlikely you'd get turned away when in labour. I've never heard of this happening at the JR and not heard anyone complain that they appeared to be too busy. In fact, many many friends have had their babies at the JR and there are only two negative stories I can recall among much praise (only one was a medically serious issue).

i've just had the date through for my 12 week scan at the JR.
Am already faintly concerned about how busy/short staffed they're going to be - had my last there (CS) and the operating staff (sure that's not the tech term!) were absolutely brilliant, truly couldn't fault them, but care on the ward afterwards was distinctly ropey. Prob not their fault - seemed to be very understaffed and ridiculously busy.
Hoping it may be a bit better this time round...

Also, Jasmine - you never know, you might be able to have the baby at the JR then transfer to Wallingford for example the next day if all has gone well and they just want to keep an eye on you - worth asking, maybe?

How bizarre. I had my 20 week scan there a few weeks ago. Like others have said, if they can't accommodate you, then surely the NHS should pay for you to have a scan elsewhere/book you in at another hospital nearby...

I second Beard Mill if you do need to go private. We went there at around six weeks as we'd had a scare and NHS couldn't get us in at short notice. The lady is lovely and is actually a specialist in foetal medicine, so does know what she's talking about. But really, you shouldn't have to pay to get what you shoud be getting for free on the NHS.

Bit worried now about delivery at the women's centre if they are short staffed. Haven't yet had that chat with my midwife, so that could be interesting...

When are you due, by the way? It would be great to keep in touch with other mums to be in Oxford and surrounding area. I'm going to be a first time mum, so all this is new to me.

Keep us posted

Thanks all.
I had my private scan at Beardmill at 12 wks and loved that experience... was mesmerised by the mill stream but couldnt see any fish! Annoyed that I was left with little choice but to get a private scan but if I had the money I would go there every time, Victoria is lovely.
owl thats a nice idea re getting transferred to Wallingford - I'll ask about that.
Caring I'm due in June and I live on the Wallingford side of Oxford. I'm about to start aquanatal in either Didcot or Berinsfield and I also do yoga in Henley so I'm hoping to meet other mums too. My DH works away and might not be around for much more than the actual birth so getting a fun group together would be nice. When are you due?

Hi Jasmine,

Ah, I'm down in Botley, so the other side of town. Due April 29th - as everyone likes to point out, it could well be a royal wedding baby...

We're doing NCT classes in Jericho starting in March, so should meet some people there. Would definitely be good to meet some more mums on here though.

Caring Botley is not a million miles away...quite often there using the retail parks! Once you have dc I could hit Aldi for you for supplies!
re the Royal Wedding...ok, so how many times have you been asked if you are going to call dc William or Katherine? I had actually decided on a name years ago and unfortunately it does have a royal connection so am watching the 'most popular' names lists carefully whilst desperately thinking of backup names.
Will be interested in your NCT class feedback. I registered for a local one starting April but have just been told it is over subscribed...I sense a theme in my life here! Is your partner going with you? My dh is going to be away practically til the 2nd stage of labour (and no later if he wants to keep his dangly bits for making other dcs!). the NCT websites seme to imply it is important to take a partner with you - cant believe everyone is in the happy position of being able to do this though

Ooh, jasmine I'll be trying to get along to aquanatal soon. I can't go to the Didcot one (although the pool is much nicer) cos it's during the day. Will go to Berinsfield. If you want lots of advice on how to work the NHS system - go to the Weds one with Liz.

O and the MW's who run the aquanatal do a good line in antenatal classes too
(they should really give me comission...)

Ha ha Jasmine. Yes, this baby is definitely not being called William or Kate! William was actually an option until that announcement, now it would just seem a bit weird!

My husband is coming along to the NCT course. It's an evening one, which isn't on the NCT website for some reason. It's being run by a lady called Virgil. Let me know if this isn't the one you've enquired about and I'll dig out the contact details. It is in Jericho, so a bit of a faff to get to, but am hoping it will be worth it.

In an ideal world, yes, partners would be with you at every stage. But, this isn't an ideal world! Could you take someone else along with you, just for support?

Just out of interest, how much are the antenatal aqua classes? I just go to the standard one up in Botley, which is free on my sports centre membership. How different to normal classes are these special ones?

mother - yup, planning to go to Berinsfield shortly. Would much prefer Didcot but the timing is wrong. Just need to woork out if I still fit into a swimming costume...
Caring William is the name we want but as you say, its got the potential of becoming a bit common and naff this year

I think aquanatal is £4 a session.

For those on the Wallingford side - I also go to antenatal yoga in Henley (its this side of the town so not as far as it sounds). Term starts tomorrow and it is £80 for 8, or was it 10 weeks? excellent class

Hi Ladies,

All my scans have been at JR and not had any problems with them.

Dating scan was fine.

12wk scan was rushed (i was 11+6)!! The woman was foreign and very rude to me, accused me of being overweight and due to that she could not get a clear picture of baby! Baby pictures were fine and midwife was more than happy with it.

20 wk scan was done at 20+4, had a trainee doing it with a fully trained sonographer and they were brilliant. Was in there an hour.

Honestly ladies you should push for your scans especially the anomaly scan! Your midwife can transfer you to another hospital if they cant fit you in.

Im due 9th April and although i had one bad experience at the JR with the foreign sonographer i wouldnt say it was a bad place especially after they were so great when i nearly went into a coma in 2008.

I live in Bucks (bordering Oxfordshire) though and chose not to go to Milton Keynes hospital.

New to this site also so would love to meet any mums to be around the same time......

Hi everyone

I'm 11 weeks now and waiting for my first scan. I've chased my midwife who has given me a number to call at the JR. I've tried it about 50 times. Most of the time it just rings out until I get a recorded message to say that you can't leave a message! Then sometimes it's engaged, which gets my hopes up but then when I call back it just rings out again!

Should my midwife be chasing this up, or is it just up to me?

Thanks!