"Poole NHS Dolphin Midwife Team provide truly superb service"

April 2010 - Poole Hospital

We have just had our first baby. When my partner became pregnant we hooked up with Jenny from the Dolphin Midwife team from Poole Hospital. From this very first home visit to the discharge we had a truly superb experience and service from the staff at Poole hospital.

Our midwife Jenny was so polite, arrived on time for every home visit, she was courteous and knowledgeable. During the pregnancy we moved house. Our new place was in a different town (Bournemouth) however the Dolphin team fixed it so we could still have Jenny as our midwife and still have our birth at the Haven.

I thought that this as brilliant, it met our needs rather than the hospitals needs.

When it came to labour I called the hotline and spoke with a midwife called Tracy. Tracy was so wonderful giving us expert and common sense advice. When she first visited I was so ensured that she was a truly professional member of NHS staff. Wen we first arrived at the Haven our private room with water bath was lovely and warm, quiet and so relaxing. We felt like we were the only people in world having a baby right then, as if it was our own private hospital. I cant explain how the Haven unit completely over delivered on my expectations.

The birth was a long one. Tracy finished her shift and handed over to a new midwife who continued the consistent excellent service we had been receiving. They made us breakfast and cups of tea (even though I think that was my job) and when Jenny our community midwife came on shift she swapped with the staff member that was looking after us. This meant a lot to my partner as she was getting tired and the familiar face was reassuring.

One thing led to another and we left the birthing suite to visit the clinical area for all the pain relief stuff. A few hours later we were proud parents. The after service we gained on the ward was also excellent the midwives were so helpful even though looking back we did keep asking for help when our baby was crying (we are experts on that now!).

I hope others feel the same, often I think the public often has too high expectations of the NHS, the NHS is not a hotel, a holiday or a health club. Its a provider of free health care and I really cant complain about the service we gained.. On this occasion Poole hospital exceed our expectations and that is all due to the great people that work at the maternity unit.

My only negative comment is for the Doctors. Whilst the doctors were excellent and did their job perfectly it was obvious that some training was going on and my partner was internal examined a few times more than was necessary. E.G: Junior Dr did examination, gave her report then a senior Dr did the same, then the Consultant...I appriciate that staff need to be trained and safety is so important but when its something like internal examinations I think a few less could be involved Just a thought.

Thanks Poole Hospital, keep it up.