"Maternity & Endocrinology Care"

Anything else?

Staff on the delivery suite and maternity ward for both my pregnancies were helpful and supportive. I was concerned about the number of patients local media had said that midwives were in charge of, however, I had an epidural and so had one to one care.

Support for breastfeeding was variable- one person thrust baby towards me, with no success, yet another advised me on positioning etc, with complete success. The ward was clean. During my second stay one mum-to-be was going through labour- on the ward (I guess they must have been full in the delivery suite), but rather disgracefully her partner had to leave at 7pm which was end of visiting hours. Heartlands must improve their maternity capacity.

My treatment and care in the endocrinology unit (and during my pregnancies at the women's unit) has been good, however, my last two appointments have been 'virtual', which means the consultant phones you, rather than a face to face appointment. This is not good enough when there are important decisions to be made about my next stage of treatment.

I have also taken my six month old son for a blood test, to be confronted by signs of norovirus. There should be an off site facility for children to have blood taken, much like the Boots facility in Solihull for adults.