"Poor maternity experience at Queen Elizabeth Gateshead"

I was left in shock after my birthing experience. My waters broke on the Wednesday night but I had no pain, on the Thursday evening the contractions started. when the pain got really bad we went to the hospital about 11pm, I was barely 1cm. they said I could go home or stay.

By this time it was 2am. I was in a lot of pain and could not face the drive home. They would not let my partner stay with me. I was left in an empty maternity ward in the dark with 6 empty beds.

No pain relief at all was given, every half an hour or so someone would pop their head around the corner then leave. I begged them to call my partner to let him come but they refused - eventually at 9.a.m the next morning they let him in.

They previously would not allow me to bath as they were short staffed and could not spare anyone to sit with me in the bathroom. So I was left 7 hours on my own in extreme pain in a dark room and no pain relief, food or drink. it was not until 12.00 that they sent me to delivery suite. I was now 4cm and could have epidural, that was not the end of it. the epidural was spreading up my chest and was dangerous so had to stop it at 4pm.

I did not give birth until 8pm and it had worn off. I ended up giving birth with no pain relief and suffered a serious tear that was stitched with no anaesthetic. I was then taken to the maternity ward and then left alone all night in tears, exhausted and traumatised.

Not a good experience.