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***PANORAMA TONIGHT!*** Filmed at my local PCT BARNET GENERAL HOSPITAL, and they have issued a statement.....

135 replies

VeniVidiVickiQV · 02/05/2007 14:17

Dated 26th April 2007

"Dear Mothers To Be

Re: Panorama

We are writing to inform you that Barnet General Hospital will be featured in a 1 hour Panorama Special on Maternity Services.

The Trust is being featured as a result of undercover filming that took place at the start of the year at Barnet Hospital. The programme will make a number of accusations about the care our women receive which are either untrue or taken completely out of context.

At Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust we endeavour to provide the best possible care for mothers and babies. We have recently received an external award for the systems and processes we have in place to ensure that we provide women with a safe and quality Maternity Service.

Whilst the Panorama programme may highlight some concerns in the provision of Maternity care, we have conducted a thorough investigation of the issues Panorama has raised with us. We would like to reassure you that we have found no evidence of our mothers and babies receiving a substandard care or coming to any harmm. As a Trust we strive to give all our motehrs and babies the best possible care.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to speak to either your Midwife or the Doctor caring for you.

Yours sincerely

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Clinical Director Women's and Children's Services.

Carol Littlehales, Head of Midwifery.

OP posts:
NuttyMuffins · 03/05/2007 20:33

Caplillery refil or something isn't it.

expatinscotland · 03/05/2007 20:33

How long would it have taken for them to take the fucking nail polish OFF her after the anaesthetist had put her out and the consultant had gotten started on the incision?

DrDaddy · 03/05/2007 20:34

I'd have to take that up with Mrs DONGworth, I think...

WriggleJiggle · 03/05/2007 20:36

What a brave couple.

Lio · 03/05/2007 20:36

switching on now. had horrible birth experience at barnet general, had home birth second time. So sorry to all others affected by this.

JoanCrawford · 03/05/2007 20:38

Had my children at Chase Farm Hospital - hell hole. Just appalling, like a third world country.

MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo · 03/05/2007 20:39

also - something I learned at nct last week.

you have a right (for a fee) to see your records for your labour.

if you found your experience difficult to deal with then getting your records and discussing them with a midwife afterwards may help you move on/ reconcile yourself with your feelings

PeachyChocolateEClair · 03/05/2007 20:40

This is breaking y heart . As some on here know DS1 was born after I'd been fitting with eclampsia (NOT at these hospitals) and I didnt find out until after, but his heart trace had caused serious concern and the Consultant refused to come out to us as lab had lost our blood test results . he seemed OK when he was born, I'll never know if his disabilities (HFA / AS and he has problems with low muscle tone) was related because nobody knows but it could certainly have been a trigger factor . I only found out about the problems at birth by reading my notes, and didnt get a DX or eclampsia until heavily PG with ds2 a year later.

But then a firend of mine wasn't told her baby didnt breathe for three minutes after birth and they didnt advise her to take her for tests that wold have picked up her DD's heart condition (fortunately now operated on after she became ill later )

And my cousin of course whose baby was discharged after a day to go home, had heart attack a few days later (vital clues on ascan had been missed). he died on the transplant list in Reception year, after a routine op resulted in MRSA.

Its so very, very crap!

JoanCrawford · 03/05/2007 20:44

I'd love to see the records of dd2's birth. Seeings as it was just me and dh throughout the labour and the midwife only putting in an appearence when the head was out. I would imagine most of it would be made up.

JoanCrawford · 03/05/2007 20:45

god Peachy that's shocking.

WriggleJiggle · 03/05/2007 20:45

Unfortunately my records are almost impossible to read - they were written on kitchen roll - seriously !

Vev · 03/05/2007 20:46

Three mums died in one of our local hospitals - 2 with post-partum heamhorrages and one with pre-eclampsia. This was within a 3-4 month time limit. The hospital have stressed they have now reviewed their "protocols"!

MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo · 03/05/2007 20:50

Do it Joan Crawford. I hope it will help you

MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo · 03/05/2007 20:52

Vev - my aunts sil died of pph after delivering her stillborn son - where were these deaths?

Waswondering · 03/05/2007 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo · 03/05/2007 20:56

abbie

PeckaRolloverAgain · 03/05/2007 20:57
Sad
Aufish · 03/05/2007 20:58

I gave birth at the Royal Cornwall Hospital to my first 2 children. After my second child was born there I refused to return. The care from the midwives was disgusting and when I was trying to breast feed my first born child I had one midwife grab my breast and ram it into my son's mouth. I gave birth to my last 2 children at home, but when I was 32 weeks pregnant with my third child I went into false labour and I got a stroppy midwife who was trying to force me to take a tablet for a medical trial which I did not want to do. I received very limited care after the refusal and I discharged myself within 12 hours because of the treatment. The death of Caitlyn was not the first death that I personally know of my auntie's best friend's baby died a year before my first born through neglect at the hospital because the midwife had gone to get some food for herself and left a trainee in charge. She received a huge pay out from the trust. I had to give birth though there because it is the only maternity unit in Cornwall.

expatinscotland · 03/05/2007 20:59

I wonder how much Avril earns/annum.

southeastastra · 03/05/2007 21:00

that was so shocking. they spent a fortune on rebuilding barnet and to what cost?

DrDaddy · 03/05/2007 21:01

Too much, expat. And the monkeys who are supposed to look through her I1 forms are probably paid more than the midwives

percypig · 03/05/2007 21:02

I received fantastic care from lovely midwives and docs at our local hospital. Took it for granted, but now realise how lucky I was.

Having said that, a couple we know lost their baby a few days after birth don't know too many details, but the implication was it was due to mismanagement in labour (in our next closest hospital) - heartbreaking and I think there will be a court case.

NurseyJo · 03/05/2007 21:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

quadrophenia · 03/05/2007 21:06

I think the spokesperson for barnet should resign, her responses and denial were disrespectful, she seemed completely incapable of assessing the situations for wht they really were and blamed the midwives in nearly all the points raised, completely failing to see that the shortage of midwives and facilities were the problem.

Sterny · 03/05/2007 21:08

That programme brought back memories. I went into labour prematurely at 34 weeks. Actual labour was fine but was only at the hospital for an hour before he was born. He was whisked off to intensive care immediately and I was left alone for six hours. I discharged myself and was told to come back the next day for my postnatal checks and when I did I was turned away because they were 'too busy' to see me. Makes me feel so sad thinking about it