"Let down by coleraine A&E"

I attended Coleraine A&E in November 2024. I was 10 weeks pregnant and started to lightly bleed. Having had previous miscarriages we went straight to a&e. Whilst there I started to take serve pains and the bleeding becoming heavy. I could barely walk my partner wheeled me into the a&e reception to talk to the nurses. I was met by a senior member of staff. They asked why I decided to come on through. I explained I was in serve pain and distress and  bleeding badly. I was told to go back to the waiting area I would be seen when my turn. I would have no problem in that except I was bleeding so bad I was covered in blood sitting in a waiting room.

Every time I needed the bathroom my partner had to wheel me over and help lift me to the toilet. The pain I was in tears knowing I was losing our baby. So deeply distressed and in pain we went again to see if I could have some privacy being covered in blood and not wanting to lose my baby in an a&e toilet!

Once again I was abruptly told to go out to waiting area. I explained that I was losing the baby and didn’t want to in front of everyone and was covered in blood. The staff member repeated go to the waiting area.

I should mention a&e on this night was not over run there was several empty cubicles and no one waiting on seats. I was in tears and and this staff member acted like they had no care that I was about to lose my baby in this way. There was a nurse who did try to get me seen but was told no I had to go out to the waiting area.

I arrived at 6pm and at 11 pm a doctor arrived to see me. I thought great but no they didn’t know how to work the new system spent an hour trying to work it whilst I sat in pain and blood in a waiting room!

The doctor then gave up came spoke to me and said they would then advise when to come to gynae. Are they for real I’m sitting covered in blood can barely move in pain and emotionally I’m lost.

All whilst everyone trying to sort the system and ignore me. I’ve the urge I need the bathroom not wanting to go for the fear it’s our baby. My partner takes me lifts me then holds me as our baby is gone. I tried to get it but couldn’t. They provided me no dish nothing just go wait!!

Finally got to gynae were they confirmed what we knew our baby was gone. The nurses ask if I had the remains of baby this made me cry even more as I was unable to keep these due to the treatment I received. They took away my chance to have our baby tested and buried.

These nurses in gynae could not understand why I had been left 6 hours in a waiting room in pain covered in blood. The trauma I suffered in a&e that night has left me PTSD! To lose a baby with no care from those who are meant to support you having had previous loses none in this way broke my heart even more.

The stress and anxiety I have went through I truly hope no other woman has to ever go through and experience like this. My baby did not matter to them that night especially the staff member who was adamant I wait in a waiting room despite empty cubicles and a&e not at capacity. I have lost trust in this system now.

I am thankful for the caring nurses in gynae. They couldn’t understand why I was not sent to them sooner! That’s the question why was I not sent there sooner??? Why was I not given a dish to save our babies remains??? Why was I treated in such an unbothered and  uncaring way??? Why would you make someone sit in a room with people around in that emotionally stayed covered in blood unable to move without her partners help ???? For a staff member to behave this way is disgusting.