Queen Charlotte -- first midwife appt. at 16 wks. Is this normal?

[Uwila]

If anyone has been to Queen Charlotte recently, I would very much appreciate your input. Did you wait until 16 weeks to see the midwife for the first time? I am particularly interested in hearing from people who had a ceasarean at QC. How long was the wait for consultant. I've been assigned to Ms. Dhanjal, but I can't find her on dr.foster or on an NHS search. Anyone know anything about her? Or any other consultants at QC.

There's some background here that might help explain things. I am in Sunbury, which falls in the St. Peters catchment area. I wasted no time in standing up and refusing full stop to go to St. Peters. I was refered to Kingston, they said no. So, my GP referred me to West Mid. They said no too. But, somehow I managed to slip through thte crack and get a nuchal at St. MAry's in Roehampton (which is where West Mid patients have their scans). So, mu GP tried for Kingston again. Got no where. So, last week she wrote a letter to Queen Charlotte. Today I got a letter asking me to phone them for an appointment. So, I did and they said an apointment had already been made for me on 15 Dec. at 9:00am. I asked who the appointment was with. They said Ms. Dhanjal, but that I would be seeing a midwife. So, I'm a bit concerned that this seems rather late for a first midwife appointment. So, I obviously have to take the day off of work to go see her, to ask for a referral to the consultant (my first child was born by emergency caesarean and I very much want an elective one this time round).

If anyone could tell me if this is anormal schedule at QC, and/or can give any advice on any of the consultants at QC, I would be most grateful.

THANKS!

I had a booking in appointment at QC at 12 weeks. Here a midwife took my medical history, took my BP. I then had a regular scan (not nuchal fold since I was over 35 ... had this instead at the FMC which I agree is excellent and where I also just had my 20 weeks scan which was much more detailed than the NHS 20 weeks scan), then off for bloods, then I was offered the chance to see a consultant if I had any special issues to discuss.

I did see a consultant because there was a worry of pre-mature birth and he referred me to a specialist at QC which I've seen three times and have been now been given the all clear.

All and all I think that the care has been good - though my last appointment the midwife didn't really do anything - and I had to wait and see her for over an hour and a half.

I don't think that waiting until 16 weeks is necessarily bad - I'd just confirm that they have you scheduled in for a 'booking-in' appointment. If so then you should have the chance at this to see a consultant if you wish.

Hope this helps.

I thought a consultant was a doctor, so why are they being called Ms. Dhanjal and Mr Bennett (as opposed to Dr Dhanjal and Dr Bennett)? Am I being really thick?

you are a dr from qualification, once you become a consultant you are too exalted to be a mere dr so you revert to mr/mrs/ms/whatever. english eccentricity.

KATG - think it is a historical thing that for some reason consultants were Mr instead of Dr. Some sort of status thing. Think that it has changed recently - something like that only applies to surgeons now, but only have a very dim recollection of whatever the current position is. no doubt somebody better informed will come along in a mo with a clearer explanation!

Thanks for the explanation. How strange!

Consultants get to be called Mr or Ms or Mrs or Miss rather than Dr so they don't get mixed up with ordinary doctors (or something like that). It's a status thing I think

I had my son at QC kast year. First app about 14 weeks, a bit late cos of Christmas I think. I was there for a good 2 hours. Had scan, some blood tests, saw a midwife, a dr and the head consultant. I can't remeber her name it may have been Dhanjal. The starting age for free nuchal fold scans is 37 now so they didn't offer me one. I only saw the midwife again there once at the 20-22 week scan because if you don't live very close your dr does all the regular chieck ups. That was until I got gestational diabetes and I was there every week. Had an elective caesarian. Everyone lovely except for one consultant who had no social skills and was a complete doomonger and a one post birth midwife who was rubbish.

Hi
I had my 1st baby at QC and I can't stess enough what a good experiance I had with the staff. They were brilliant throughout my pregnancy. I had my 1st booking with midwife at 14 weeks (I think the shortage of staff within the NHS in general is making the appts later). My daughter had to be seen by a paediatrician after her birth due to some complications, and again, they were brilliant and so understanding and caring. I LOVE QC !

Thanks everyone. You have been very helpful. And reassured me that QC is a good place to have the baby.

I went through a lot of hassle trying to get booked at a hospital other than the one in whose catchment area I live. So, all of the hassle led to only being referred a couple of weeks ago. And, that may be why my appt isn't until Dec.

Anyway, I now feel quite comfortable with the date and the care that I (we) will recieve there.

Thanks again!

uwila, I live very near qc, so if you need any help at any point, or want to stop by for a cup of tea after an appointment, just send me a CAT.