Slightly away from the point, but I do fear that at my local hospital, a serious incident will occur.
A member of my family has recently given birth there. She had previously had a C section, so had never experienced a natural birth. Waters broke, contractions started, rang hospital and was told not to go in until 1.30 pm. She was ok with this, but from the way that she was describing the contractions, i realised that she should go in sooner. Hospital still adamant that she should not go in until 1.30.
Eventually got there, in some considerable pain. She was told not to report to Maternity but a sort of assessment area. This did not deal justwith maternity, so she had to sit there for some time until it was her time to be dealt with. Contractions getting stronger. Then told to make her way to Maternity. Lift not working, no wheel chair, she had to climb a full flight of stairs. By this time, pain unbearable. Eventually got to Maternity. By now beginning to feel the need to push, but she does not realise this! Mid wife eventually decides to examine her. Of course, she is fully dilated, and midwife begins to realise the urgency. Again, told to walk to delivery suite, almost collapses in corridor with members of the public present. No wheel chair, MW casually saunters on ahead.
Told to 'get on that bed, and start pushing". No monitoring of baby, no pain relief. Baby born at 4 pm, thankfully all well.
Am I alone in thinking that this treatment was wholly unacceptable, from being told to stay at home for far too long, to a complete lack of care, esp for the mother. To have to basically almost crawl down a corridor, and climb stairs is so humiliating. Remember, the mother had not experienced a natural birth before. No regard made to this at all.
I really do believe that these were conditions akin to the third world.
A few weeks later, an article appeared in our local paper, with a picture etc of a mum who had given birth in the car park. Again, similar story, she simply had not been given enough time to get there. Article treated in a jokey way, but I for one do not think that treating women in this way is a joke at all. I fear that something serious will happen.