Was this midwife right to try to cancel my booking-in appointment

[dollius]

I am eight weeks pregnant and have chosen to deliver in hospital. I am supposed to be moving to the middle east with my family when I will be seven months pregnant, but we have no departure date confirmed yet (DH's work), and I don't even know for sure which month we are going. For all we know, it will all go up in flames anyway and we won't be going anyway.
Have just received call at work from midwife saying she wants to take me off their books because I "may" not be delivering there, and therefore my booking-in appointment should go to someone who "needs it more" than me. This would mean not being seen by an obstetrician at all during my pregnancy and not having any notes.
Presumably I do actually require some care before I go? What if there are complications? I may well be coming back to the UK for birth anyway.
Should I really be excluded from NHS care as a result of uncertainty about my whereabouts on a specific day? Surely lots of women end up giving birth in unexpected places if they go early or there are complications?
What does MN think?

That's got to be wrong. You are their patient NOW, so they need to be looking after you NOW. - Complain.

Absoloutly not! I can't beleive they would say such a thing. The bottom line is you need care throughout your pregnancy not just during delivery. Tell her your not cancelling your appointment and get her to tell you on who's advice she was wanting you to camel and get a vey strongly worded letter sent off.

What a flipping cheek!

So she thinks you're not entitled to any scans/tests/general antenatal care because you may not be in the UK when the baby is born?

Bonkers.

Ask her who had this idea, and then consider complaining to the Supervisor of Midwives. We all know that MWs have an enormous workload, but to suggest witholding antenatal care on the basis that you might be away when the baby is born is not right.

Legally you are entitled to pregnancy care so imo she was very wrong to do that.

Ridiculous!!! I will be moving when I'm about 6months pregnant and I told my midwife this at my booking in appointment. She wasn't remotely interested. As far as she's concerned, I'm her patient now and she will 'book me in' to our local hospital. When I move she'll transfer me to a midwife in the new area. If anything I'd argue you 'need' the appointment more as you will need up to date notes when you move countries.

Good luck

Appalling, definitely complain.
What do they mean "someone who needs it more"?? YOU need it! You're pregnant!

Thanks everyone - v glad to see I am not losing my marbles!
I did say "I DO need the appointment" and she eventually backed down with a lot of huffing. I really felt like I was a major incovenience!
I couldn't believe it.
Will definitely raise it at my booking-in appointment, which has NOT now been cancelled.
Thing is, she might have cowed anyone less self-assured than me, which seems awful.

doesnt sound right at all