"dept. fetal medicine , scanning was horrible "

I recently had a growth scan appointment at Kings College Hospital Department of Fetal Medicine, and unfortunately, the experience was quite distressing. The sonographer(he) who conducted the scan applied excessive pressure during the procedure, causing discomfort, particularly in sensitive areas such as my breast and belly. Despite my feedback about the discomfort, it was not addressed adequately. his arm was resting in my breast during the scan.

I felt that the focus of the staff appeared to be more on research data collection rather than on conducting a thorough scan and measurements of the baby. This raised concerns about whether all necessary information was obtained during the appointment.

Specifically, there were missed opportunities to provide detailed information about the positioning and growth of my fibroids and placenta. The sonographer mentioned that the fibroids were in the same position as before but did not measure or provide further details. Additionally, while various tests were conducted for research purposes, there was a lack of clarity or consent process regarding the collection of this data.

Having relocated near Kings College Hospital after the 30th week of my pregnancy, I had previously attended appointments at another reputable hospital in London where the ultrasound scans and blood checks were conducted in a more professional manner, without the focus on research data collection.

Overall, this experience left me feeling uncomfortable and concerned about the ethical considerations of the care provided. I believe there is room for improvement in ensuring that patient comfort, thoroughness of examinations, and transparency regarding research data collection are prioritized in future appointments.