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Total lack of care shown by staff

Posted By ClaireDn

"Total lack of care shown by staff"

About: North Tyneside General Hospital / Maternity care Wansbeck Hospital / Maternity care

(as the patient),

In early September I went to Wansbeck for a scan with my partner to see the development of my unborn baby, we had the scan and were devastated to be told the baby had died and I would have to go back a couple of days later.

The day before my appointment I was really ill vommiting and could hardly lift my head off the pillow, I rang WARD 10 and asked them for advice as I was coming onto that ward the next day. The nurse that answered was just not one bit interested and told me to go to my GP or go to AandE and sit and wait.

I went to ward 10 at 9 oclock, on arriving there it was utter chaos, a total lack of organisation my partners mam and I were told to wait in the waiting room and someone would come.

Nearly 2 hours later a staff nurse came and told us we would be going to Rake Lane as they had no beds. I asked if they knew this earlier and she said yes so I questioned why they hadn't rang me to tell me just to go to Rake Lane, she just ignored my question, my Partners mam then told her about the phone call the day before telling her that the person was not interested on the phone to which the staff nurse just shrugged her shoulders.

We were sent to Rake Lane and can I just say the difference was amazing the staff on WARD ONE were caring like nursing staff should be, after doing what they had to do they got us both a coffee. They gave me the tablets that was to end the pregnancy I was very distraught as I wanted my baby so much, the nurse at Wansbeck had told me I would be in moderate pain and I would be back home for 5 oclock.

At 1 oclock I started getting severe pains and was told that would be the contractions for labour for the baby I couldn't understand as Wansbeck had never mentioned this, I was in contracting for 6 hours but the baby still had not come the nurses were very sympathetic but I had to come home at 10. 30 that night still with the baby inside of me.

I have to go back to Rake Lane in 5 days time for another scan to see if the baby is still there, and if it is I have to go through that again or have surgery. I could not fault the nursing staff at Rake Lane, but the total lack of care shown at Wansbeck was disgusting. I would never go back to this hospital for anything.

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Responses

Response from Annie Laverty, Chief Experience Officer, Patient Experience, Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT 10 years ago
Annie Laverty
Chief Experience Officer, Patient Experience,
Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT

Submitted on 11/09/2013 at 16:44
Published on Care Opinion at 20:34

picture of Annie Laverty

Dear Claire,

Firstly I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your baby and for all the sadness and distress this will be causing you. It is devastating to hear news of this nature and I'd want to send all best wishes to you and your partner at this very sad time.

I am aware that you have posted a number of stories about your care this afternoon and all of them concern me very much. Please can you get in touch with me urgently annie.laverty@nhct.nhs.uk or ring me on 07876502899.

We are used to receiving very positive feedback about the staff on ward 10 so you'll understand why I am so disturbed by the care and attitude you describe. We want to deal with this right away and gain more information from you to allow us to do that.

At the risk of repeating myself I'm going to reply with a similar message on each of your posts today just in case you catch one of them. Please do get in touch Claire.

With thanks, Annie.

Annie Laverty - Director of Patient Experience.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT 10 years ago
Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT

Submitted on 16/09/2013 at 19:22
Published on Care Opinion at 19:23

Dear Claire

I am the Surgical Matron who came to see you and your partner's mother in the dayroom on Ward 10 at Wansbeck.

I was so sorry to read your story, and to hear how you felt after coming to the ward. I’d like to apologise for any upset I caused you – it certainly wasn’t my intention. I would like to offer my heartfelt sympathy and condolences too, on the loss of your baby.

On the day you came to the ward, we were expecting you. Because we had a lot of emergency admissions overnight, the ward was full when you got here. I was hoping we could find a bed for you, but it looked like it would take a few hours before we could.

To save you waiting, I suggested you go to Ward 1 at North Tyneside General Hospital (Rake Lane) where they could treat you straight away. We talked about the treatment, how long it would take, and how you might feel.

You asked what would happen to the baby, and I explained about the funeral service, and that you and your family could attend, and we would let you know the date.

I arranged a taxi for you to Rake Lane, and for a 24 hour parking permit for your partner's mother's car just in case you had to stay in. I said if you had any problems, to call me.

I can see from your story that you left feeling very upset with us, and our ward, and I’m really sorry about that. I’ll share your story with staff here, and we’ll discuss what we can learn and whether there are any changes we should make as a result of hearing your story.

If you would like raise any other concerns, or you want to talk this over in person, do let me know and we can arrange a time to meet.

I hope this is helpful.

Regards

Sharon Branley

Matron for Surgery, Wansbeck General Hospital

ext 3390

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