"Rushed consultation and lack of communication at antenatal care"

We attended our 28 week pregnancy growth scan and review this morning. We had to wait around 1hr 45min after the scan to see the consultant - it wasn't our consultant but another covering his clinic which we didn't mind. We were advised a doctor had called in sick so they were short staffed and happily accepted this with no complaints.

However the person we saw was extremely rushed and rude, made it clear they were short-staffed and had no time to speak to us.

Myself and my husband had decided upon a second c-section, after much thought, however it was due from what we could calculate on the same week our son started school. This was obviously a worry for us and something we wanted to discuss to see if we could alter the date by a few days if needed. The doctor was uninterested, told us not to bother telling them as they were not my consultant and couldn't help.

They were unaware of my previous pregnancy issue, health issues and asked why I was there for a scan and what I needed consultant-led care for (all of this was in the notes in front of them). I tried several times to explain I had concerns about the c-section and each time they cut me off.

I asked for the doctor to check my recent blood results - which they did and found out I needed a prescription for iron - had I not asked they wouldn't have checked and I would have been left unaware. They didn't even give us their name. Another doctor came in towards the end of our very brief meeting and our doctor said to him that he had to talk fast as everyone out there (ie the patients in the waiting room) was pulling a face.

The doctor rushed us out of the office so fast that we were left confused and more worried than ever about our upcoming delivery. We had looked forward to our appointment in the hopes that some of our worries would be put to rest and we could talk through them with my consultant. We had heard great things about my consultant and prior to this were very optimistic about the second c-section, now we feel very unsure and like the doctor we saw couldn't have cared less.

I understand that short staffing can cause problems, however to be rushed and pushed out like this was unfair, especially when a consultant appointment is meant to be an opportunity to discuss the upcoming treatment and care.