"Most Horrid Experience"

I had my first child 8 years ago at St Michael's Hospital and it was a good experience, all the nurses were polite and friendly and doctors were caring and well qualified. Eight years later I moved house and became pregnant with my second child, this time I was booked into Southmead hospital which I was told was the best hospital in Bristol!

However, my experience of it is anything but good. On my 12 week scan the nurse treated me like I was dumb - she wasn't polite or friendly, told me she was going to date the birth of the baby and nothing else - I was in and out of her room in a flash and was told to wait for the doctor- it felt like being on conveyor belt in a production factory. Whatever has happened to good old friendly manners?

Later in my pregnancy I developed abdominal pains so I was sent to the assessment unit at Southmead - again I got the same treatment - cold, unfriendly attitude from midwives, who just seemed indifferent to me. After waiting nearly 3 hours I still didnt see the doctor and I felt unwell and wanted to go home. I spoke to the midwife about it who was totally indifferent to my concerns and said "if you want to go home I can't stop you" - so I left. Only to find out later that she had written in my yellow book "patient went home against medical advice"!!! She never once advised me not to go. My Husband was absolutely shocked that the nurses had let me leave in the state I was in!

Needless to say I transfered from Southmead to St Michaels. I am still not sure why I was treated like this at Southmead maternity Hospital.