I had my son at Walsall Manor Hospital in March, and my sister had her son here just last week and I am adamant I will never go back here. Firstly, its important to mention that the staff are hugely over-stretched by the recent closure of Sandwell Hospital, however the ward staff's treatment of women who are frightened and in pain is, quite frankly, inhuman.
I had already been in labour for 24 hours by the time my contractions were 4 mins apart, and whilst on the phone to the delivery suite I was informed by a midwife that I really should wait until my contractions were more frequent before bothering them, and that I would most certainly be sent home if I wasn't in labour. I asked her if she would mind actually examining me before attempting to diagnose whether or not I was in labour over the phone, at which point she hung up on me. Her name in Tracey, by the way, and to this day I would still cheerfully thump her if I ever saw her.
Tracey checked me over, and discovered I was only at 1 cm dilated. I advised her that we have a family history of not being able to dilate (both my mother and sister suffered the same and had to have c-sections), by this point my contractions were even more frequent, and could I stay in because things did not feel right. She said no and sent me home. Got home, waters broke, phoned delivery suite, same midwife answered, I was advised to return to the Manor.
Upon return I was experiencing one long, continual contraction, she examined me whilst I was very distressed and told me I was still at 1 cm. My partner told her that he would not take me home, so she arranged for a bed. I asked her if I could have pain relief, at which she remarked that I was not in labour as I was only 1 cm, and couldn't have any pain relief until I was at least 3 cms. I asked her just how bad the pain could possibly get, to which she responded 'You can still talk to me, can't you?'
When I was on the ward, I spent 6 hours in pain believing I couldn't have gas & air, until a lovely nurse asked me if I would like some pain relief. I told her that Tracey had said I couldn't have any yet, which she told me was absolute rubbish. Was in labour for a total of 2 days, after which, as I suspected, I required an emergency c-section, and both my son and I contracted an infection during the labour.
Delivery suite experience was great, they were very caring, but back on ward same problems with staff so jaded by the job that they just don't care anymore. Left in dirty bed after my c-section, expected to care for baby without any help after surgery, buzzer left unanswered, made to feel like a diva when I asked for help, left hospital hugely depressed, having not slept for the entire 6-days I was there. My sis experienced the same conditions during her recent stay, and neither of us will ever return to that awful place.