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"Post birth on Willow ward- I couldn't get out..."

About: Musgrove Park Hospital (Taunton)

I had a planned induction due to being overdue and complications at end of pregnancy & was treated amazingly by the staff on fern ward. My baby was monitored daily for around a week before my induction. The whole time on fern ward I was treated fab. There was a cleaner who spent all day cleaning the areas & it was clean enough. The food was pretty disappointing I had a choice of salad or sandwiches every day I went in, Considering I was about to give birth I wanted something a little more substantial So I regularly paid for my own dinner! My induction went really well and quickly on fern ward. Birthing suite was also great and I felt like I was respected and listened to throughout birth my midwife made sure I was comfortable throughout! After birth I was taken by wheelchair to have a shower (near nurses station), it was a pretty dirty shower room & the door had to be kept open with loads of people walking passed in the process which I felt a little exposed! Once finished I then had to walk back to the birthing room as someone else had taken the wheelchair I was using - not ideal! We were transferred to willow ward in the early hours of the morning. initially the care I recieved was fantastic whilst my Husband was encouraged to go home and get some rest. I needed to go to the toilet so the midwifes looked after my baby and helped me to calm & swaddle her. They also sat with me when I tried to feed & encouraged me throughout. They also changed my sheets as soon as I needed. Willow ward was very busy but it was also filthy! Despite what seemed to be a cleaner working - who i saw used the same floor mop to clean above the lights (knocking dust everywhere in the process!) the floor was filthy. When the shift changed in the early morning I was told I had to get up despite having maybe half hours sleep all night. My cubicle curtains were opened & I was told I had to wake up - even if I wanted to sleep again I wouldn't have been able to as the midwives set up a makeshift office outside my cubicle with a table so I didn't get any rest all day as people were coming and going,talking & laughing all the time. When my husband rejoined me I got him to find me some food & drink as I had been offered nothing. I had a midwife in training looking after me which I found constantly contradicted each other throughout my care. I felt spoken down to and treated like I was stupid when I asked any questions! I had real problems feeding my daughter who was obviously thirsty but I was refused formula & offered no help one midwife even said "I have never seen this before" but offered no solutions. I was hand expressed by 3 people at the same time whilst curtains were open whilst people walked by. I was then told" I would probably never breastfeed" But I felt I just wasn't given the chance to rest & let us do it for ourselves! There was a huge pressure on me to feed & i was watched constantly with no privacy I just wanted to go home so discharged myself

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Responses

Response from Musgrove Park Hospital 9 years ago
Musgrove Park Hospital
Submitted on 24/09/2014 at 11:26
Published on nhs.uk on 25/09/2014 at 04:00


I have just read your comments and I am very sorry to read about your experiences while at Musgrove Park Hospital for the birth of your baby. I would very much like to help you; would you like to give me a call please on 01823 344762 or email the Patient Advice & Liaison team: pals@tst.nhs.uk. Lucille Hoose. PALS & Complaints Lead

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