"My Experience with Fern Ward"

I'm currently in the later stages of pregnancy with my husband and I's first child. I'm under Consultant-Led care because of pre-existing health problems.

I'm severely anaemic and the iron tablets weren't working so my consultant decided to get me booked in for iron infusions as I'm having a planned Caesarean.

I cannot fault the staff at all. From arriving at the ward, we were seen to quickly. The first time it did take a while for a doctor to put the cannula in (as he was in surgery so understandable) and the midwife didn't feel confident putting one in my veins (I have very small veins so it's a common occurance! ) I was very understanding of the wait though. I know that these things happen.

Once the doctor had put the cannula in, I was hooked upto the iron drip and my treatment started. I was monitored and not forgotten about and my obs were taken quite frequently. The drip took about an hour and 15 minutes and I was kept for 30 minutes afterwards to make sure I was okay.

I was at the hospital for about 4 and a half hours for a one and a half hour treatment but I understand that hospitals are very busy places so this was fine.

I've had another iron infusion since then which involved the iron accidentally being put into a muscle but the cannula was actually situated in the vein so we have no idea why the iron decided that the muscle was the place to go! A doctor had to put another cannula in my other arm but this was fine.

The only annoying thing with the second infusion was that there were three screaming kids running up and down the ward who had come in with their mum and dad and it took a while for them to be asked to leave. Being on a maternity ward is stressful enough as it is, without screaming kids running about the place. It was hard for the staff to concentrate too. They were finally asked to leave. I understand that it can be hard to throw parents and their children out though.

All in all, my experience with Fern Ward has been fantastic. I'm going there three more times (two more infusions and for a pre-op assessment) and I'm very happy with my care.