"Increased the trauma of the loss of a child"

What could be improved

I had a suspected early miscarriage and was sent by my GP to have a scan at St Georges.When I was called in, the sonographer was very brusque and didn't appear to listen to what I was telling them even though I was visibly upset. I had a pregnancy test but, as I was early on and the nurse didn't see the line, they treated me as if I was lying about the pregnancy. It took a consultant to come in and show them the faint line and for them to believe me.

To improve: Treat patients as if they were telling the truth

I was crying and the sonographer asked the nurse "How is she doing?" rather than asking me.

To improve: Bedside manner

I was at the end of the room behind a curtain but they did not close the door while I was having an internal scan. My dad was sitting right outside on the waiting chairs and could hear everything. Luckily there were no other patients out there.

To improve: Preserving the privacy and dignity of patients

I arrived around noon and was told by nurses that the early pregnancy scanning closed at 11am and that I could either wait in A&E or come back the next day. I waited in A&E for over 4 hours as understandably they prioritised the more severe cases. A few weeks later, after confirmation of the miscarriage, I received a letter saying that I shouldn't have attended A&E for 'a minor illness'.

To improve: More sympathy for the loss of a child

Anything else?

This experience put me off attending this hospital for any future pregnancies