What do I do, should I just not bother with an appointment?

[insertwittynicknameHERE]

Saw my consultant yesterday, was told to make an appointment with the MW at my GP's for next Monday (13/07/09) when I will be 39+3.
They have no spaces for me (MW only works at GP's on Mondays) so cannot do an alternative day.

I rang the maternity home to see if I could speak to my consultants secretary to see what I should do. She just told me to call my GP's.

Spoke to GP's receptionist again who told me there is nothing she can do.

WTF am I supposed to do.

Shall I just not bother with an appointment and hope the baby comes soon.

Call the maternity unit at the hospital and ask them what you are supposed to do. Perhaps they will see you in antenatal clinic or on the day unit. Or the community midwife should visit you at home if she doesn't have space in the clinic

Thank you for replying

When I rang the maternity unit she just kept saying to ring GP's.

Our community MW's don't do home visits until after you have had the baby, or so I have been told anyway

I am actually looking into seeing if I can find a private MW as apart from not having an appointment I don't know who to call and speak to

Why does the consultant want you to see the midwife? If it's just for a general check then I would just book it for the week after, if it's for something more specific though and it's urgent do you have a mobile number for the midwife? ours will quite often squeeze you in at the beginning or end of the clinic if it's urgent, I'm sure yours would too.

Do you not have your mw phone no in notes?

Do you have a phone number for the community midwives ?

Otherwise, I'd phone the unit back, ask to speak to a midwife, and if they still fob you off, call PALS and tell them what is going on

It's outrageous that you are being treated like this

I've had an antenatal midwife appointment at home. Ring the hospital and ask to speak to the head of midwives.

We don't even get a number for our MW here. We get the number for the ward we are going to be on when we go into labour, but if you have any problems before 20 weeks even they wont see you!!!!

It has been one thing after another with this pregnancy and it has now got too much for me. Just been on the phone to DH at work in tears (over something so stupid FGS). So many things in this pregnancy have gone wrong and I was just about keeping it together, trying not to worry and trying not to let the anxiety take me over again. Then something this stupid tips me over.

I'm going to take DD out now, need some fresh air.

Ask your receptionist to get the midwife to call you. Leave your number with her.

The receptionist may not understand the implication of what you're saying. To her, the midwife has no appointments, the clinic is full, nothing she can do.

Either the midwife will squeeze you into her appointments for next monday or she will arrange an alternative arrangement

I agree - ask to speak directly to a midwife either via the GP or via the hospital. Someone will have to see you somewhere. If your midwife is not able to then someone at the hospital must take responsibility. If you had a concern they wouldn't be able to fob you off like this. I have had similar responses in the past too - make yourself such a pain in the bum that they find it easier to listen to you than put up with you on at them!!
good luck

Sounds very much like my shared care! Although we recently had a letter from the GP saying they were re-evaluating their system because there were so many complaints. We now see the midwife for certain appointments and the GP for others. Is it something you can see your GP for? At least it'd be someone? Alternatively, I can see a midwife at the antenatal clinic at the hospital for 'emergencies'. Maybe you should just drop by. They might be less likely to tell you no if you're standing there. Good luck!

Sorry you're having so much grief . I'd 2nd some of the suggestions re. calling the antental ward and/or the head of MWs and giving them the problem - and if they pull the "nothing we can do" line then refer them to the consultant.

If it helps, we got throroughly fed up with NHS care when I was about 36 weeks and went with IMs - and even though it was so late I'd say that, for us, it was the best thing we've ever done. By the time DD was born (at 41+3) we were welcoming friends into the house rather than MWs and the post-natal support with superb. It is a lot of money and you shouldn't need to spend it, but if you really are feeling abandoned by the NHS it may make the rest of your pregnancy (plus the birth plus the early days with your new LO) a lot more pleasant.

Fingers crossed for you, whatever you decide

Oh yes i forgot my midwife went on holiday for weeks 38-40 of my last pg, one appointemnet she had someone covering her clinic, the other time i just made appointement with my gp, after all it is a fairly standard check bllood [ressure etc. if anything is amiss the send you off to the hosp (at least round here)

Well I got a call earlier this morning from the GP's receptionist to let me know that she has arranged for me to have my appointment at the hospital and to apologize for the problem.

I am that she went out of her way for me, but so pleased. I have written to the practice manager to praise the receptionist and I have also written her a thank you card.

I am really shocked that she did this, I have never had such good service from them before. I was thinking of changing GP's (due to some other problems) but I think I will stay for the time being.