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"A&E visit for complications during pregnancy"

About: The Great Western Hospital

I went to the accident and emergency department on Sunday 21/08/16 due to a bleed and cramping at 15 weeks pregnant. After 40 minutes I was seen by a friendly nurse who asked me a few questions and then asked for me to take a seat back in the waiting room as the nurse was going to contact the gynaecology unit to see if they could see me. only a 20 minute wait and the nurse called me back in to discuss further what had happened. The nurse asked to take my bloods and then placed a catheter into my arm but didn't say why they were doing so. I assumed in case I had an infection in which case they could give me anti-biotics through this. The nurse then took me up to the gynaecology ward to be seen and left me there in a very cold waiting area. After a 30 minute wait I was seen by a sister who asked me the same questions as the nurse and then said they would check to see if they can hear the babies heart beat with a small device but said to me that there was a good chance they wouldn't be able to hear anything but not to worry. This was a ridiculous thing to say and I thought to myself why are they even bothering if the sister doesn't think it will work anyway, just causing me to worry! The sister didn't find the babies heartbeat and then said they would inform the doctor to come and see me and to take a seat in the cold waiting area. I then waited for a further hour whilst watching many sisters and nurses wander past me with not much to do. Many of the staff didn't smile or check to see if I was being seen too, the sister who I had seen didn't come to say the doctor will be with me shortly. I was just left, worried and upset. After waiting a further 30 minutes I decided to walk down the corridor and ask if I was going to be seen soon and if I was going to have a scan to check my baby was ok. The sister who had dealt with me then came and said that they don't do any scans at the weekend but the doctor would see me. I said that you hadn't heard a heartbeat, I had been bleeding, cramping and I was extremely worried I could be miscarrying so please could someone put my mind at rest and do a quick scan. The sister told me to wait back in the cold waiting area and I was very upset at this point. Nobody seemed to care and they certainly weren't busy enough to give me a little time to explain to me what could be happening and try to put my mind at rest. Another 30 minute wait and I was then rushed into a scan room by the sister and I was told I was getting a quick scan by a very unhappy person who didn't want to be doing it. Turning on the machine took them 2 minutes in total, they said to me I hope we can give you some good news which sounded terrible, I was petrified at this point! The person saw the heartbeat and said that's fine you had nothing to worry about and told me that's it now and started turning the machine off. The doctor then saw me and gave me no advice, no aftercare and I left feeling tired, upset and still had no idea what could have happened. The whole experience was terrible!

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Responses

Response from The Great Western Hospital 7 years ago
The Great Western Hospital
Submitted on 24/08/2016 at 12:21
Published on nhs.uk on 25/08/2016 at 02:31


Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience. We are sorry to hear we did not meet your expectations. We take concerns seriously and are keen to investigate and take action as appropriate. In order for us to do this, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service by emailing pals.team@gwh.nhs.uk or calling 01793 604031.

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