What would you do??

[Lovemyprincess4eva]

I apologise in advance for the long thread but I am just wondering what if anything you would do about the issues I had recently when in hospital.

I was taken into hospital on the tuesday afternoon with severe stomach pains. (I am currently 24 weeks pregnant) I was first seen by a doctor who assessed me and advised that I would need to stay in the hospital as it could be early labour pains. I was put into a room on the delivery suite and given painkillers.

Over the night I didn't see anyone even though I was advised I would see another doctor once they came out of surgery. And when my mum arrived at the hospital she was told I had been sent home even though I was still in the same room. She thought this odd but had seen my husband so knew where I was.

The following morning I was not given any breakfast or pain meds until I pressed my buzzer after 9am. I was then told they would find me some breakfast and they were sorry that the kitchen staff had forgotten me.

Through the day I did not see any doctors and when I did buzz for a nurse in the afternoon was told they were coming asap and that I was being put on a ward. The day staff checked me a few times and gave me pain meds. Once the staff changed over I did not see anyone again and only when my husband went out at 11pm did someone then come into my room to check me and apologised they had not done my earlier checks but did not give me a reason. I then had to question was I going to a ward. Within 30 minutes someone came and took me to the ward where I was told the bed had been ready for quite some time. I was also asked when I came back into hospital after being discharged on Tuesday which I didn't understand as I had never left the hospital, which I told the nurse and she just said oh sorry I must be mistaken.

Once on the ward I saw doctors and nurses regularly and my pain was taken under control and I was discharged on the Friday.

However on being discharged I have read through my notes and it clearly states that I was given painkillers and sent home on the Tuesday at 18.28 as I had no signs of labour or infection. This is totally opposite to what I was told. As I was told it could be labour or an infection and I was being kept in.

I am now concerned because I have to go back to see my consultant about these issues and the notes I have to show them are incorrect. So what would you do if anything?

Thanks in advance and again sorry for long thread xx

Oh no, that sounds terrible. Just explain everything that happened to the consultant. They will understand that something went wrong and do something about it, hopefully. Is your husband going to see the consultant with you? If so it will help to have a voice to back up your concerns and help to tell your side of the story.
It would be a good idea to write a letter to the hospital outlining the situation and your concerns. Nobody should be left in a room like that ever and they really need to be told that they failed. Make sure that they are fully aware in your letter that your notes were wrong and that you had not left the hospital. You may want to speak with a patients advice group for help with this, there should be information about local groups who can help you on the internet, or even in the hospital.
I can't really advise any more than that. I hope everything turns out ok, don't be fobbed off with excuses

I would definately write a strongly worded letter to the hospital and speak to my midwife about changing my place of brith if it was me...

From a notes/history perspective it sounds like someone forgot to tell you that you could go home, so your notes are now wrong and they should be corrected.

But the really worrying thing is that if they thought you had been discharged, then you bascially weren't under anyones care while there which is shocking! Imagine if something had happened to you or the baby and they didn't even know you were in the room each shift change! personally this is something I would find really really concerning and should be reported.

I have emailed our local PALS service and they have said they are going to forward my email to the complaints department at the hospital. I just can't believe it happened. I know everything is ok now but what if something had happened in the night and they had not known I was there.
Hopefully it will help other people from being left like this.

I am more concerned about my notes being incorrect than anything else though.

Yes my husband is coming with me. He is so annoyed at what happened he wants to make sure the doctors know everything. Xx

That's good. Just a little word of caution though, try not to get emotional when telling the consultant about it. My mothers fella has been banned from the local hospital after he accused the doctors of giving my mother MRSA (which they did, but because he was making an accusation they didn't like they had him banned).
Don't worry too much about the notes. They can be easily changed and once you've spoken with the consultant I'm sure that will be sorted for you.

Thanks for the advice. Its so hard to stay calm when you think that something could have happened during the night.
My husband keeps getting so upset because he says everything he has was in that room his wife and first baby and no one was taking care of us. I can fully understand why he feels that way but this is why I am dealing with the hospital as he is very angry at the moment x