"I get conflicting advice - it's quite disconcerting"

Everyone we have met is really friendly. There is a lovely atmosphere at the PRM. Staff are really reassuring. I’m in the high risk category. We’re very grateful to have been so closely monitored throughout the pregnancy and to have access to such a wide range of services from the PRM. I’ve had multiple clinic appointments, early pregnancy assessment visits, maternity assessment visits and ward admissions so far. Also accessing psychology, physiotherapy and diabetics teams at the PRM.  

The provision of BSL interpreters requires development. My partner is deaf. For all clinic and ultrasound appointments and emergency admissions and ward rounds we request an interpreter to be available. This has been provided for all clinics and ultrasounds. However they are only booked for an hour. My clinic visits always last between 2-3 hours. As we first have the ultrasound then the midwife then the obstetrician then the endocrinologist. This has meant on numerous occasions the interpreter has had to leave mid-appointment for their next booking. At our last appointment a lovely midwife said she would ensure the interpreter is booked for two hours in the future. 

Despite accessing maternity assessment three times and being admitted to the ante-natal ward and each time asking for an interpreter not once has an interpreter been provided here. Furthermore my psychologist put an alert on my file saying an interpreter should be provided. The midwife or health care assistant said they’ll see what they can do and let us know but they don't seem to have followed up.

On our first visit to MA we were told it would take several hours for an interpreter to come and they hope to have me in and out in that time so asked if we’re happy to proceed without an interpreter. Following this my psychologist then added to her alert saying an online interpreter should be used if an in person interpreter isn’t available. On the second and third MA visit and ward admission no one got back to us regarding our request for an interpreter and also our request that if an in person interpreter isn’t available can they use the online interpreter. When I try to follow up the request they just say they’re looking into it.

When I was being discharged from the ward I said to the midwife I’m really worried about an interpreter being available when I’m in labour based on our current experiences. She said it’s complicated and difficult to get an in person interpreter whereas using the online interpreters for foreign languages is much easier. I pointed out there is an online BSL interpreter service available, and that it's advertised on posters in the waiting room.  My partner has a right to be included in the care and birth of his child. I also have the right to have my partner fully informed so he can support me. The hospital not meeting these needs is causing additional stress and anxiety for me and my partner. 

Despite it being in my notes that I should see the same midwife due to the complexity and nature of my health I’ve seen a different midwife every time and a different obstetrician almost every time. 

We request that the same interpreting agency is booked so that they can provide consistency of interpreter.  

I get conflicting advice from obstetricians and midwives. At my 12week appointment my midwife told me the PRM offer a comprehensive inclusive service and have access to the specialists I see (including respiratory). When I later had an asthma attack, I was told by MA and my midwife that they don’t do respiratory and I should go to A&E. At my 24week appointment the obstetrician told me I should come to MA if I’m having an asthma attack but the obstetrician at my 28week appointment told me I should go to A&E.

At all my appointments I’ve been asking about the impact of my asthma and its medications on the baby and about my asthma becoming brittle in pregnancy. Every time they haven't answered, saying they’re not asthma specialists and I’ll need to talk to my respiratory team. Despite my asthma only becoming bad in pregnancy which is when I was referred to respiratory on a 9month waiting list. I recently finally had a telephone with respiratory who told me obstetrics would be better placed to answer my questions. Despite me explaining obstetrics say they can't answer, stating its respiratory’s responsibility. It’s quite disconcerting as a patient to not have access to health care professionals who knows what to do regarding my health. 

I’ve been asking to see the endocrinology team that specialise in obstetrics since 12week pregnant as I don’t feel my endocrine condition is well controlled and it is affected my pregnancy and requires increased treatment in the third trimester. I was promised this would be in place before my third trimester, especially as I’m experiencing symptoms of poor endocrine control, yet this was not achieved until I was 29weeks pregnant. Plus at the appointment the consultant thought I was there to get a diagnosis of the condition I’ve already been diagnosed with, seemingly not having understood my notes properly. The consultant wasn’t able to answer any of my questions and had to refer to the senior consultant. Thankfully at my next visit I saw the senior consultant. 

At MA they wanted to test me for diabetes until I explained I’m diabetic. Again seemingly not having read my notes. Also EPAS told me I don’t need to do anything about bleeding and cramps yet when I went to AAU for an asthma attack a couple of days later they said I need an ultrasound and a rhesus negative injection which I was now borderline of being in the timeframe for.