First of all I apologize if this seems like a bit of a privileged problem, but I can't seem to find any information or advice anywhere and I was hoping that I could find some here.
A bit of background, I am 26 weeks pregnant with my second child and have been receiving private consultant led antenatal care since I found about about my pregnancy back in June. This is my second time doing so. My husband and I decided that we wanted consultant led care and as it was not available on the NHS we were prepared to put the money aside to pay for it. The first time around it was a very positive experience from first scan through to the birth, even though it was a difficult one.
Sadly, though we had a terrible experience with community midwives after the birth. I would detail it here, but it is another long story in itself and one that led to my husband making an official complaint.
Last week, however, I had to call my local GP surgery to book a flu injection as I had not been called and there had been a mistake with my notes that my GP was not notified of my pregnancy. A few days later I start getting calls from the midwives service to tell me that they have booked me into their antenatal clinic. I called to say thank you, but there must have been a mistake as I am already attending antenatal. The response was both patronizing and frustrating with a lot of there there "dears" and an attitude of we really know what is best for you. When I said I work the day of their clinic I was informed (of which I am fully aware) that I am entitled to days off to attend antenatal to which I told them I was already taking time to attend another clinic and did not see the necessity to attend two. The midwife concerned then insisted that I had to see her and invited herself to attend my home on my day off this week. I was prepared to agree if this would be a one off visit, but the talk to running tests (which I have already had done) suggests otherwise.
I wonder if anyone else has had this issue. I am being told by them that I must attend their clinic even though I am receiving more than adequate care elsewhere and, indeed, it is outside their health trust. I feel that my decision to seek care elsewhere is not being respected and that as a pregnant woman I am being effectively told that I have no control over who I see and who treats me. Given my previous experience with them this is causing me a lot of stress.