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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Can the hospital keep the maternity notes?

43 replies

Katiekat117 · 09/07/2018 01:34

I went in Saturday and forgot to pick them up when I left. When I called to request them they said they didn't have to return them as they are the property of South Tees. It seems petty and childish of them to refuse.

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Original poster

Katiekat117 · 09/07/2018 01:38

She was upset with me because I said I was switching hospitals as I'm sick of poor care and it's 2 hour travel which I think is too long in an emergency.

OP posts:

GinIsIn · 09/07/2018 02:02

Have it had the baby? They don’t usually give them back after.

Original poster

Katiekat117 · 09/07/2018 02:20

No. I'm 38+3 and still in pain. Other hospital won't take me with out the notes.

OP posts:

bombcyclone · 09/07/2018 02:57

I had to deal with this, too. I was told that it was some kind of data protection issue.

After speaking with the head nurse it turned out that I could get the notes, but that there was a request form I needed to fill out (plus an admin fee) before I could do so.

Bit of a time delay when going that route; potentially easier to have your next obstetrician request them, or have your GP request them and immediately forward to the next hospital.

I found the whole thing utterly infuriating; so sorry you're in such a tricky (and surreal) spot.

Dreamingofkfc · 09/07/2018 05:48

The notes belong to hospital, although it's pretty unusual for them to keep them when you've not delivered. However, if you are transferring care,cthey would need to book you and give you a set of new notes anyways

bellinisurge · 09/07/2018 06:08

I thought the whole point was you have your own notes with you in case you have to give birth in an unexpected venue.
And you are entitled to them under the data protection act (now GDPR).

MaverickSnoopy · 09/07/2018 06:21

I don't understand how it could be a data issue when it's the OPs data. Besides which under GDPR you have the right to erasure of your data and it must be transferable. So I'd gently push the GDPR line.

TipseyTorvey · 09/07/2018 06:46

I had this. Ended up having to formally request them and pay something like £40 and wait weeks for them to be sent. I learnt my lesson for DC 2 and took photos of all my notes everytime they updated them. It's really annoying.

GinIsIn · 09/07/2018 06:50

Oh I see. I changed my care at 24 weeks and the new trust said I had to have new notes anyway - have you tried speaking to the MAU directly?

bellinisurge · 09/07/2018 06:54

I'd go to PALS.

BertieBotts · 09/07/2018 07:04

If you haven't given birth yet then surely you need them in case of emergencies?

It is usual for them to keep them after birth IME. My German doctor was surprised by this because she expected me to have them.

PotteringAlong · 09/07/2018 07:10

It doesn’t massively mAtter if you don’t have them. I accidentally recycled mine with DC3 when I was 37 weeks pregnant

Original poster

Katiekat117 · 09/07/2018 12:52

The hospital has said they no longer have my notes. New hospital wont take me without them. So now I'm stuck. Looks like home birth it is.

OP posts:

BlueBug45 · 09/07/2018 13:03

You need to put in a complaint to PALs immediately and kick up a stink. Some women cannot safely have a home birth. What happens if you have problems before you go into labour?

gekiort · 09/07/2018 13:04

What is your GP saying?

Brown76 · 09/07/2018 13:12

They must have your notes, they will need to be accountable and have records of your care for insurance purposes and in case anything goes wrong. They are the property of the hospital and are usually archived after you give birth. Contact PALS or supervisor of midwives and complain. You shouldn't have to pay if you are still pregnant, although I understand why they charge for historical copies.

bellinisurge · 09/07/2018 13:14

Hospital is lying. Or shit. Or both. Speak to PALS.

WhirlingTurkey · 09/07/2018 13:14

Your notes must be somewhere though. They haven't just destroyed them, surely, so where are they?! I'd be very pissed off in your shoes OP. What if you phoned them to say you've reconsidered and don't want to move hospitals after all, pretty sure they'd suddenly turn up then, right?

Do you have a named community midwife you can contact, your midwife linked to the hospital?

Definitely suggest making an appointment to speak to your GP to ask what you are meant to do nwo and PALS sounds like a good call too. I'm sure there is a way to resolve this, but FWIW if you just turn up at a hospital in labour they can't turn you away!

Original poster

Katiekat117 · 09/07/2018 13:27

I plan on going in tomorrow to the hospital and saying my bag was stolen with the notes if I cant get hold of anyone today. I've not spoken to my doctor in 10 months as he is that hard to get hold of so I don't think they have any notes on me. There is only scan details in the notes as I have have no blood or urine tests done and no talks about what happens birth plan wise. Its my first pregnancy sp I thought id trust them to know what they are doing. Hopefully I can get booked in and seen properly. If anything happens tonight ill go to the a&e or call 111.

OP posts:

bellinisurge · 09/07/2018 13:31

Please ask PALS to get on the case.

TeddyIsaHe · 09/07/2018 13:40

You haven’t any bloody or urine tests your whole pregnancy? What! That can’t be right, surely?

WhirlingTurkey · 09/07/2018 13:53

If you've really not had any blood or urine tests through your whole pregnancy then you really must contact PALS ASAP. Unless you were offered tests but declined them. Have you had Whooping cough vaccination? Do you know your blood type?
What hospital was your care under? I wasn't thinking your GP would have notes, but might know how to get them, or be able to request them for you / phone the hospital.

Original poster

Katiekat117 · 09/07/2018 13:54

I was rushed through any appointments and they kept saying they'd do I next time. Also they kept saying my weight gain was good and I just realised I haven't been weighed since the beginning of the pregnancy.

OP posts:

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 09/07/2018 13:58

Oh my god that’s absolutely fucking awful.

BlueBug45 · 09/07/2018 14:08

OP it's common to only weigh you at the beginning of pregnancy if your BMI is in the normal or overweight categories e.g. between 18.5 to 30.

In regards to your GP - is your practice a single-handed practice? Otherwise you see any GP at the practice who is on duty as you won't have a specific GP assigned to you.

In regards to urine tests they take about 2 minutes. You just need make sure you have a sample ready before you go into the appointment to see the HCP. So you need to turn up about 10 minutes early to ask for the sample pot from reception and to produce your sample.

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