slightly shambolic midwife service...

[sophie150]

had a pretty stressful morning this morning. The good news is that I had my 12 week scan and everything looked good. but took a long time to get there! first of all they asked for my green notes - I explained I hadn't had a booking in appointment and presumed that we would be doing all of that stuff today - I had queried with the the GP receptionists before and they suggested that this seemed ok (its my first so I don't know what is normal for my area). The midwife then says, 'oh must be because the other midwife is on maternity and we aren't getting a replacement, we must have just not got round to you yet!' (I'm 12+4 and went to the GP at 4 weeks so they've had some time!). So we book in another booking in appointment.

Then go into a different room for the scan and the scanner won't work! they spent 20 minutes trying to work it out and then eventually the nurse and clerk have to drive to the hospital to get a new machine! Good thing was though that in the 30 mins that took the midwife did all my green notes with me so I didn't have to go in for another appt. Finally had the scan about an hour after starting the appointment (so the poor ladies after me had to wait that long!).

The midwife was lovely, albeit a bit rushed (she didn't ask how I was feeling/ ms etc), and obviously doing her best, but overall it wasn't a great introduction to my maternity care in the NHS! I presume I'm not alone?!

Yesterday I went for my consultant appointment at the hospital it was booked in at 10.50 I was seen at 1. Omg I was so hungry! The delay was due to A father getting rather aggressive :(

Also they mislaid my referral so didn't get a booking in till really late.

However none of this really bothered me, cause o was happy just to be seen! They are doing their best.

Ive not been impressed with my mw care. So far Ive had to arrange my own GTT test at the hospital, consultant apt at hospital, my own blood tests.
Mw didn't have any of my test results, kept go in and out of the room, botched up my apt time....everything was so rushed and I wanted to ask a few questions and she had one foot out the door....
Ive enquired about transferring directly to the hospital mw care.

Don't even get me started on the new ipad computer system my nhs have brought in. We don't have notes anymore or access to them, nor does my G.p a&e out of hours doctor anyone else other then my midwife who is a pain to get hold of!

Yeah, I'm generally not that impressed with midwife care so far.

I just keep thinking that if it all goes tits up in a way that massively concerns me, the credit card will come out and I'll go private.

I see someone different every time I go, although I'm supposed to have one midwife at the surgery. Booking appointment was rushed on a Sunday morning because they realised my scan was in 5 days and I hadn't had it. Also my bloods got taken twice as they lost them. But individually people are very nice, I just feel I have to do all the asking for things and reminding them what I need, when it's my first pregnancy and I'd like to be guided and looked after! 28 week appointment on Friday though so hope I get ame questions answered.

I think it's just the nature of the nhs sadly :( I've had similar experiences with non-maternity issues too. I have paid for a lot of private care antenatally to ensure timely scans etc.