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"Miscarriage and accessing the infertility assessement clinic"

About: Altnagelvin Area Hospital / Gynaecology Outpatients Department / Clinic 1 - Antenatal, Gynaecology, Urology

(as the patient),

Miscarried sadly during covid October 2020. Referred to Altnagelvin to sit alone with pregnant women to be told I was going to miscarry and to either have the surgery or take tablet form. Super cold, super traumatic.

First set of tablets didn't work so had to do it all over again. Second set immediately made me violently ill all over the poor nurse attending with me (who was my absolute saviour throughout this). Two of the nurses were so kind which was too much to be said about the first doctor I had.

There's blunt and there's empathy. My baby died, as were all my hopes and dreams in that moment like be kind or human. It isn't difficult.  Again all told while I was alone.

I had screamed for my partner the agony I was in... but again.. Covid. A car park was his location. Each and every time, I was sat with pregnant patients successfully carrying and he was sat with expecting fathers in a car park. Make it make sense.

Fast forward 2 and half years since the trauma of it all and not being able to conceive naturally again. Referral sent by doctor beginning of 2023 after years trying and I have just been waiting month to month to see if I will even receive a letter to see if they received my referral. It is mental torture. Surely there's a better system. I could not get through to anyone . Just moved throughout the switchboard losing my mind to find out an approximate time line. My doctor said it could be after 5 months however reading below I am totally devastated and disheartened to think this could now be years wait.

Surely patients should be made aware of this in order to try and make other arrangements or forget hoping for a miracle of the NHS.  It seems like going private is the way the government would have this go, but sadly  trying for a family shouldn't have to come at such a high expense.

Totally deflated to a never ending mental painful journey. Updates on a referral should be a bare minimum requirement to simply put people out of the misery if even it is a case of years to be on a list.

I totally feel the pain of others who have written about this service. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

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Responses

Response from Brenda McCabe, Lead Midwife of Southern Sector of WHSCT, Maternity, WHSCT 8 months ago
Brenda McCabe
Lead Midwife of Southern Sector of WHSCT, Maternity,
WHSCT
Submitted on 17/08/2023 at 13:33
Published on Care Opinion at 15:40


Dear Waitingonarainbow

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us

I would like to begin by offering you and your partner my most sincere condolences following your miscarriage in October 2020. Baby loss is a sorrowful experience for any parents and I can only empathise with the grief you are experiencing following this.

On behalf of the WHSCT Early Pregnancy Clinic (EPC) services I also wish to offer our apologies to you for the experiences you have shared in your correspondence. Unfortunately the conditions described in your experience occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when as a region there was restrictions in place regarding visiting for all people utilising and visiting the health services. These restrictions where based on a risk assessment during that time and added to challenges to the usual expected hospital services. Therefore partners were unable to be physically facilitated, as we would usually have been able to provide, owing to the very strict regulations in place required to ensure safe social distancing and helping to reducing the rate of transmission. Options to include partners through virtual means was available and I am sorry that this did not happen for you both at that time. Now post Covid-19 these restrictions have now been removed again and supporting partners are able to accompany woman to the clinic.

EPC services in Ward 43 at Altnagelvin Area Hospital was and is in the same location now, where services are provided to woman who are also experiencing pregnancy concerns and require investigations. Unfortunately, as in your case, some receive devastating news while others may not. This is not predictable and unfortunately this will result in woman with on-going pregnancy’s, with others requiring further investigations to determine their pregnancy and sadly those who will be notified that their pregnancy is no longer on going. In relation to the communication regarding the confirmation of your miscarriage and plan of care options management I can only apologise to you that this was not provided in the sympathetic and empathic manner in which you deserved. I have shared your experience with all the staff working in the Clinic and emphasised the importance and delivery of compassionate communication.

In relation to the fertility struggles and the communication experienced with regards to this matter, I again sympathise that you are now experiencing further issues with regards to conceiving now. In your pursuit of assistance to address this you advised that your GP referred you for the Fertility clinic. However the information that you had been provided regarding expected waiting times was incorrect and currently the Waiting list for the WHSCT Fertility clinic is indeed 2 years.

If you wish to discuss your concerns further I would welcome you to contact Sr Donna-Marie Moore, Manager of Ward 43 on 02871345171 ext 214806.

Kind regards

Mrs Brenda McCabe

WHSCT Acting Head of Midwifery, Gynaecology and New Born Hearing Screening

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