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Original poster

Shocked to hear that you don't get 20 week scan routinely in Highlands...

35 replies

Kbear · 12/01/2008 21:42

Friend told me tonight that where she lives you have to pay if you want a detailed 20 week scan in Highland Region? Another example of a postcode healthcare lottery. I took it for granted that the whole of Britain got the same maternity care (naively).

As if that's not bad enough she has to go 100 miles to have her baby.

Am shocked of SE London.

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pootleflump · 12/01/2008 21:49

My friends in Glasgow didn't get one either so don't know if it's a Scottish thing?

weeonion · 12/01/2008 21:54

its a random thing in scotland - some health board areas offer more than one scan - others will just give a dating scan. its caused alot of anger and upset.

whinegums · 13/01/2008 10:52

Hi, I posted earlier this week about the same thing when I found out there's only one scan (unless complications) in Glasgow. Fired off email to Nicola Sturgeon (my MSP, and Scottish Health Minister) and have been invited to one of her surgeries to discuss. Don't see how that will help me at this stage though.

I finally got first antenatal appointment through for end of month, when I'll be about 15 weeks - 6 weeks after I first went to the docs! I don't want to criticise the care until I've actually experienced it, but I am angry that some of us in Scotland don't get the same treatment as others, both in Scotland and the UK. We all pay the same taxes after all. It's very unfair that if we want a 20 week scan (or nuchal translucency test) that we have to pay around £200 each for them!

100 miles to have the baby?! That's not good! If she has to travel that far anyway, is there any chance she could transfer her care to one of the areas that do offer the scans, etc in Scotland?

loopielou · 13/01/2008 12:14

This applies in Edinburgh too. I think fife do get their 20 week scan as I have family there and they all have. I moved from Edinburgh to Portsmouth last month and they were surprised that I never got any more scans after my dating scan. Ive had a very complicated preg and its only down here that I have been getting scans to check the baby. I was told they cant do it in Edinburgh as they just dont have the funding. Shocking isn't it.
xx

kaa0901 · 13/01/2008 21:49

i live about 15miles outside glasgow and we only get a dating scan unless its a complicated pregnancy. Am now pregnant with #2 and am going to push for the 20 week scan. had scans every 3 weeks with #1 to check his development after me having surgery whilst pregnant and found it really reassuring.

whinegums - when are you going to the "surgery" to discuss the lack of scans? which health board are you. i;m lanarkshire (going to Wishaw General)

kathxx

ayrshirelolo · 13/01/2008 23:26

Hi guys, i lived in Glasgow when pregnant with dd and moved when 30 weeks pregnant to North Ayrshire, who instantly gave me another 2 scans to check baby's growth, etc. I'm now 37 weeks preg with no 2 and the difference in care between Glasgow and Ayrshire is unbelievable - i still have pregnant friends in Glasgow! 20 week scan routine down here, and others if you need them! It's really shocking the difference in care, let us know how you go with Nicola Sturgeon, whinegums! One of my friends in Glasgow (who'd previously miscarried twice) was told she wouldn't get more than a 12 week scan on NHS and ended up paying privately for more as she was so nervous!

expatinscotland · 13/01/2008 23:30

You don't routinely get one in Edinburgh/Lothians, either.

Maternity services have been cut back in the Highlands and it's not uncommon for pregnant women to have to travel that distance for care - and it's a very long 100 miles, too.

expatinscotland · 13/01/2008 23:31

You don't routinely get one in Edinburgh/Lothians, either.

Maternity services have been cut back in the Highlands and it's not uncommon for pregnant women to have to travel that distance for care - and it's a very long 100 miles, too.

weeonion · 14/01/2008 17:09

when i was pg with dd - i was really pissed off by this so went and saw my mp, saw head of maternity services in health board. mp wrote to health minister etc etc. all to no avail of course. the word i got back was that a/ there wasnt enough trained sonographers and b/ when they shut down the queen mums then SG & PRM woudl offer more scans.

TBH - i did get more scans. i paid for nuchal @ 13 weeks and for 20 week anomoly. had another 2 at prm when they though bubba was too small.

have heard of others who "fell over", "had a bump" etc etc and were offered more scans.

BellaBear · 14/01/2008 17:11

There's no dating scan or nuchal scan in West Herts, you get a 15 week triple blood test and a 21 week anomaly scan.

kaa0901 · 14/01/2008 17:24

lol weeonion- think that's a fab idea to "fall over" and get another scan.

have my 1st antenatal appt next week so will discuss it then and request a 20wks scan to see what happens.

kathxx

tissy · 14/01/2008 17:27

I'm in Ayrshire as well, and had many scans, as I had a large fibroid.

If you're going to see Ms Sturgeon, good luck! I would, however go armed with FACTS; stats about why you SHOULD have a 20 week scan- many health boards don't offer them, and the reason is that there isn't (I believe) a huge amount of evidence that routine scanning at 20 weeks affects the outcome of the pregnancy."I want to see/ bond with my baby" wouldn't be classed as a good enough reason for what would amount to a huge investment of time and personnel.

As I expect you are aware, Ms Sturgeon has covered herself in glory in the eyes of the public by keeping the A+E departments in Ayr and Monklands open, contrary to the considered advice of many professionals who live and work in both areas. She hasn't, however stumped up any money to support this, so both health boards are now going to be VERY strapped for cash in the next few years. It will prove impossible to meet the ridiculous waiting time targets they're expecting the hospitals to meet without any investment, so the patients of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire can expect to see a significant deterioration in their services, not an improvement.

whinegums · 14/01/2008 18:24

Hi, I don't know if I'll actually go to meet Ms Sturgeon - depends on what else I've got on at the time! I doubt very much that she'd be able to help anyway.

How cynical Tissy! Politicians scoring capital with good news that they can't actually deliver??? That can't possibly be the SNP can it????

If I do go, I'll post to let you know what she says. Yes, facts required - however NHS Quality Improvement Scotland recommended way back in Feb 04 that everyone should have a scan in the first trimester including screening, nuchal test, etc (not offered) and the anomaly scan in the second; the report has lots of stats!

daisynova · 14/01/2008 18:44

Due to the area size of the Highlands region and the smaller population numbers will be why your friend has to travel over 100 miles to have her baby. If she didn't live in such an isolated area then she wouldn't have as far to travel.

But I do agree - it can't be pleasant knowing that you may have such a journey when labouring.

Original poster
Kbear · 14/01/2008 19:05

She actually lives 12 miles from a big town on the west coast but you can't have your first baby there, you have to drive to Inverness. Ridiculous.

OP posts:
OldieButGoldie · 14/01/2008 20:01

I used to live in the Western Isles (Uist)and not only can you not have a first baby there despite there being a modern hospital, you have to leave the islands well in advance, about a month before your due date. Just one of the joys of living in a remote area.

Now I live in Glasgow and am 34 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I was automatically given scans at 14 weeks, 20 weeks and 28 weeks and thought nothing of it. At my 28 week scan I got on the couch and the sonographer asked me "Why are you here?". I replied "Because I was told to come". I didn't realise that it wasn't routine. She went off to find out why I was there and it turned out to be because of my age, they do a growth scan to make sure the placenta is working ok etc.

I've been happy with my level of care in Glasgow but can understand that for most women its a long haul from 12 weeks to due date with no scans for reassurance in between. I think this just reflects the state of the NHS in general and feel that this country is heading back towards private health care as the norm.

sweetkitty · 14/01/2008 22:21

Oh don't get me started on this, we get one scan at about 16 weeks (the same time as your FIRST appointment with a MW) this is Lanarkshire btw. I have had 2 scans already die to previous mc so will not be getting another one at all (sonographer told me they don't have enough sonographers to offer 20 week scans).

I was in Ayrshire when first pregnant with DD2 got 2 scans at 12 and 20 weeks and got told the sex, no nuchal fold though.

In SE London had 2 scans and a nuchal fold one. Really really makes me that how many scans you get depends on where you live.

We are paying for a private anomoly scan at 22 weeks.

whinegums · 15/01/2008 09:19

OldieButGoldie, do you mind me asking how old you are? I'm 35, and I've been told I'll only get one scan.

OldieButGoldie · 15/01/2008 15:04

Whinegums, I'm erm, 46

doggiesayswoof · 15/01/2008 15:13

Only one scan here (Glasgow), at about 13 weeks. TBH I would rather have one at that stage than wait till 20 weeks - if I was only getting one, I mean. It's interesting that the recommendations in the 2004 quality improvement report have not been acted on - I remember being told during my last pg (in 2004) that I would prob get 2 scans if I had another baby. Ho hum.

I'd love to have a private detailed scan but we cannot afford it.

Hey whinegums you should try and see Sturgeon though - if anyone can do something about it, then she can.

bobsmum · 15/01/2008 15:17

I'm in Stirlingshire, but having dc in Glasgow. I got one dating scan at 12 weeks.

But there's a new policy at PRM,Glasgow to scan all previous section mums at 30 weeks, so I'll get another one soon.

Think I had 3 or 4 for various reasons when in Herts.

Mistymoo · 15/01/2008 15:23

If there are complications, pains of any sort then Inverness will scan you. I only had one scan with my ds but had at least 4 with dd. She was breech and so was in pain with her and then as she didn't turn the consultant had me scanned near my date and opted to turn her after measuring her size etc. They don't tell you the sex but when you have a scan at about 38/39 weeks to check if its breech you can find out yourself

nailpolish · 15/01/2008 15:24

i know you odnt in edinburgh because there just isnt enough appointments to scan every woman twice

they do in fife (i had dds in forth park maternity hospital) purely because they can as they are not so chocka with appts

CatIsSleepy · 15/01/2008 15:30

varies in england too-
my friend who lives in Harpenden had to pay for a 12-week scan as it wasn't offered on the NHS in her region

whereas me in good old SE London had a nuchal scan at Kings free of charge as well as the 20ish week scan

LoveAngel · 15/01/2008 15:32

My friend who lives in Portsmouth only got offered a 16 week scan on the NHS (she paid for the 12 week nuchal scan). In my area (north London) we are routinely offered a 12 week scan and a 20 week scan. Strange how it diiffers.