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"No support or advice during miscarriage of..."

About: St George's Hospital (Tooting) / Maternity care

My GP referred me here and said they would request I was dealt with by gynaecologists because I have a condition that causes higher miscarriage risk. They also said I would be monitored closely because I'm nearly 35. Two days later I was advised by GP to attend the walkin EPU to date my pregnancy and be assessed due to having abdominal pains. Went in for scan and explained I have a condition that gives me a higher miscarriage risk. The team didn't know about this condition. The member of staff dealing with me then wrote a completely different condition on my notes and I had to correct them. I asked a number of questions and they told me to "let them lead the conversation." Nothing was seen in the scan but they said I was less than five weeks pregnant. They did confirm that by the time my pregnancy should have implanted. They told me I had a PUL and needed blood tests to rule out miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. They also told me my pains were normal. I returned two days later for the second blood test as advised; at this point I was experiencing light bleeding. It was Sunday and Acute Gynaecology had taken over from EPU blood tests. Told doctor about light bleeding, they said it was normal, probably implantation bleeding, which didn't sound possible based on the previous info I'd had. The doc added that if something has gone wrong there's nothing I can do anyway. Spoke to EPU the next day and they confirmed my miscarriage. Was given no advice at all on what to expect, just told to take a pregnancy test in 10 days which should be negative. The person on the phone also offered to cancel my upcoming booking appointment. Two hours later I received a call from a cheerful person wanting to discuss my booking apt, who had to apologise and tell me they had not been informed I'd lost the pregnancy. This was my first pregnancy and my notes showed I am single (actually I have a boyfriend who works overseas 1/2 his time, but there was no box to tick for this). I later woke up in the middle of night home alone and in agony, bleeding profusely and terrified. I'm astonished that at no point was I told what to expect or what to do. I realise the outcome could not have been changed but I am going private next time.

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Responses

Response from St George's Hospital (Tooting) 7 years ago
St George's Hospital (Tooting)
Submitted on 01/12/2016 at 16:17
Published on nhs.uk on 03/12/2016 at 01:32


I am sorry to read of your miscarriage and your dissatisfaction with the care you received.

If you have not already done so, you can talk to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service about your experience and you can be put in touch with managers for the service with the aim to improve it.

PALS can be contacted by email pals@stgeorges.nhs.uk or on 020 8725 2453.

Your comments will be sent to the managers and matron for the EPU and Acute Gynaecology.

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