"Post Natal Care"

After giving birth to my baby boy in our local community midwife unit, I had to be admited to RAH Paisley as I had suffered a 3rd degree tear which required stitching by a surgeon.

My stay in RAH was ok but I feel I have been very let down once discharged. I was told RAH would organise my 6 week check up with a consultant and refer me to my own local physio department. By the time my baby was four weeks old I had no appointment with a consultant, I checked with my local health visitor who advised I wait another week, on week 5 & still without an appointment I phoned RAH.

I spent 45 mins on the phone and was transferred numerous times before speaking to the lady who had originally answered the call! She agreed to look into it and call back - she didn't. After 24 hours I called back & again was told someone would call me back, again no phone call. On my 3rd call I was told that I would need to contact Inverclyde hospital - as I hadn't had any of my pre or post natal care there I questioned this, and was told that a consultant no longer attended Dunoon (my local hospital) and Inverclyde would arrange to see me there.

Following this advice I called Inverclyde, the woman I spoke to couldn't have been more helpful but alas she also could not organise the appointment as I hadn't been a patient there! By this time i've waited 3 days for a return phone call that never happened and spent over 2 hours on the phone. Not very convenient when you have a newborn.

I called back to the midwife unit & thank god it was the head midwife that took my call. She called me back within the hour with date & time for the appointment. That sorted I waited patiently to hear from the physio, at 7 weeks I had an appointment with my local GP. I raised the concern about having not heard from physio, he contacted the physio department & you guessed it no referral for that either! I have now had to refer myself for physio.

As far as I am aware a 3rd degree tear is quite a big thing & it can be a lengthy time to recover. So why was I twice allowed to fall off the records for important procedures? Very disappointing.