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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Rescheduling cancelled midwife appointment

8 replies

ma4pie · 01/12/2011 16:50

Just a quick one for anyone who had an appointment cancelled yesterday (because of the strike) ...
As advised by my GP surgery I called today to reschedule. No joy. Apparently my midwife contacted everyone on her list for yesterday last week - I have yet to receive any call or text. The surgery can't / won't pass on a message for me or give me a number on which to reach her. Not sure what to do. Any advice from anyone in a similar situation would be appreciated. All they have told me is that she is booked up until January if I want a new appointment. I'm 28 weeks - don't really want to wait that long.
PS - totally support her going on strike!

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Keziahhopes · 01/12/2011 17:05

Hi - could you call the midwife line, ours is staffed by the midwives from the area an hour a day and get in touch that way. Perhaps say you will see any midwife anywhere rather than miss an appointment. My mw was on holiday for 16week appointment, so it was one from 10 miles away that did it and she was very good.

gallicgirl · 01/12/2011 17:05

Isn't there a community midwives office you can call?

My hand-held notes had lots of phone numbers and MW was on there. I think I was only having appointments every 4 weeks at that point so don't worry too much unless it's 4 weeks since your last appointment. You could always book a GP appointment, make him test urine, bp and foetal heart-rate and explain you were forced to do that by surgery's lack of helpfulness!

Can anyone remember if you have blood tests at around 28 weeks?

Bue · 01/12/2011 17:48

That's ridiculous! They won't even pass on a message? How 'woman centred' of them Hmm

If you can't find a number for the community MWs I would take gallicgirl's suggestion - make an appt with GP and the surgery might realise they need to be more helpful in future!

RueDeWakening · 01/12/2011 17:51

Don't you get anti-d at 28 weeks, if applicable?

gallicgirl · 01/12/2011 18:07

hmm yes, think so. I'm fairly sure they took bloods at the same time for me.

LimeFlower · 01/12/2011 18:40

I would call the surgery and said-sorry,nobody's been in touch.They won't give you her number or pass the message? Seriously??? WTF??? And who are you supposed to contact in case of...whatever? I'd try again at the surgery,in case of lack of cooperation from their side I'd put written complain.

Oeisha · 01/12/2011 19:01

Yup, bloods are done around 28wks. And Anti-D if you need it. NHS Purple book guidance.
MW should have written contact numbers on your notes, ring one of those and explain if not, then:

If not, ring GP back and ask to speak directly to the practice manager. Get them to sort (explaining this isn't the first time you've tried to sort this with the surgery and it's unacceptable that they're essentially blocking you from recieving proper antenatal care by refusing to give contact details for a MW/someone) it and say you'll give them "until the end of the day, or until tomorrow lunch time"...they're just as responsible for your antenatal care as the MW team is.

If you're near a hospital with a maternity unit, there's a good chance they have an antenatal unit, so might be worth calling them if you get no luck with MW or GP fairly promptly. You can usually get the number for these guys online somewhere.

You have the right to timely care, just like every other Mum out there. You shouldn't have to wait until Jan for an appointment, what are you meant to do in an emergency???

Difficult to be hard-ass, but I've found some receptionists at GP surgeries are often a little too jobs-worthish sometimes, to the point of risking people's health, despite NOT being medically qualified to make these decisions. Just go straight to the practice manager, refuse to tell them why until you've got to someone with medical qualifications/power that sees this is important - you have the right to not disclose this information to an unqualified person.

ma4pie · 08/12/2011 19:08

Thanks for all of the advice. After no joy I decided to go to my GP surgery on Wednesday - when I knew the midwife would be there - and speak to her directly. Turns out my previous midwife had moved abroad in the 4 weeks since my last appointment. This probably explains why no-one had bothered to contact me over a rescheduled appointment. The new midwife was wonderful and said if I could pop home to get my notes she would wait at the end of her booked appointments to see me. Good job as a complication came to light (nothing too serious). Guess it pays to cut out the middle man.

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