Fed up with poor communication within NHS

[Noodledoodledoo]

I am really getting fed up with the systems in place currently. Anything I have booked has been fine - anything booked by the midwife has been a flipping nightmare!

First scan I turned up to - no record of me at all - was squeezed in, when I raised it with the midwife they blamed the hospital.

This morning I turn up for my GTT test to get moaned at by the phlebotomist about the fact my paperwork has not been filled in - I was just given the letter with date on it - so assumed that was all I needed - luckily I had my notes with me with the blood form at the back but got told off that the midwife hasn't filled it in.

It's my first pregnancy so not sure how I am supposed to know what people should be doing and check they have done it!

Ugh, same. I've "fallen through the cracks" with the community midwives every step of the way. It's infuriating. I've not gotten calls returned in any sort of timely matter, I was allegedly booked for the hospital antenatal class and tour but then the hospital had no record of the booking and no further availabilities until long after my due date. The midwife claims she mailed me the confirmation of it 2x, can't see how that's possible if there never was a confirmation.... Had another midwife tell me I had cloudy urine and asked me if I wanted it tested (ummm, yes OF COURSE) said I'd get a call if there was an issue, a letter if not. Of course got neither so assume test wasn't done. Still haven't seen my 28 week bloodwork (I'm 36+3)... Which also, allegedly mailed to me 2x and now presumably somewhere in London. It's very scary, I'm not from the UK so relatively new to the NHS system as well as it being my first child. Just keeping my fingers crossed the actual birth goes ok.

The problem I've had is because my community midwife is in a different authority to the hospital I am attending. Whilst you are allowed to choose to do this, and everyone I've seen has been supportive of my situation, I've had similar ongoing problems with communication.

I have had notes walk, requests for retests disappear and been told I couldn't have my 28 week bloods done by midwife and told to go make appointment with the hospital only for them to say they didn't do that (I've now sorted).

My local midwife struggles with my notes because they are not in a format she is used to. And she's unsure of procedure at the hospital as its different to the hospital she is familiar with.

I don't know if this is a similar situation to either of you. Its clear that there is a problem between different Trusts because there is no standardisation or consistency of care and our health service is clearly not national.

The only thing I can say, is to inform yourself and chase things up if you aren't sure. If you don't know 'whats normal' then ask on the antenatal threads on MN as it will give you the right questions to ask (don't forget that everywhere is different so it'll only give you a clue about what should be happening).

Its so frustrating, but ultimately I know its not likely to change before I have baby.

Same here .

I've had to chase every appointment, every scan, every test. Yes I turned up for my first scan(emergency as bleeding) to be told my appt had been the day before, at a different time. It took 3 attempts and 5 phone calls to book an.appointment with my consultant to discuss an Elcs. Today, at 37 + 4 wk I get a letter with the results of my screening for rubella, HIV etc which was done in first trimester!!!

It's unbelievable and sometimes I fear for people who are less pushy / don't have time / have poor grasp of English etc. I never had these problems with my first pregnancy (same trust, different, older midwife) so not sure what's changed in 4 years. Less funding, fewer admin people?

My hospital got a new computer system... NIGHTMARE. Bookings lost, booking letters telling me to go to the wrong department.
A real shame as the clinical staff all seem excellent and the women on the desk just seem mortified by it all.

I think it's just less money = fewer admin/support workers + 'cost cutting' new systems that don't work. :(

Haha squizita that sounds familiar with my hospital too. They have just put in a new booking in system. I've not seen it used yet. Its not a bad idea because it has different languages... but the problem I have is that when we tried to use it, we couldn't as the english was so poor you couldn't work out whether the answer was yes or no!

I wish it was a cross trust thing - I am going to the hospital which is the one they prefer us to use. All appointments I have made have been fine. It just seems to be when the midwife and HCA I have in every appointment get involved it all goes pear shaped.

So disorganised - I am going to go in and be a lot more bolshy at my midwife appointment on Thursday - few up of being fobbed off.