"Excellent care, just a few constraints"

My daughter recently had her son in Ninewells hospital Dundee.

I understand the demands and constraints on the service. 

During her stay in the Labour suite only.  I cannot fault the excellent care that was given to my daughter and my grandson.

My daughter was monitored closely throughout her time in labour suite,  and excellent care was given by the midwife’s she had. Both called Hannah. 

Unfortunately my daughter had to be rushed for an emergency section under general anaesthetic which was scary for us all.  The whole team in labour suite acted very quickly and communicated to a very high standard during it all.  We were kept informed at all times and afterwards the team came to speak to us and offered  support and advice. 

I personally thanked the staff in labour suite for their excellent work and support.

Unfortunately the communication before going to labour suite was not so good.  

We were told in triage go to the ward on a Certain date and time and when my daughter and her partner arrived,  they didn’t know who they were and they were not expecting them,  they felt very deflated by this. My daughter had pre eclampsia. 

The information that was given  in triage what would happen, did not on ward 38. 

My daughter had a procedure and was told it was a success but it wasn’t as she was told, by the consultant in labour suite. 

My daughter waited 4 days before she managed to get a bed in labour suite.  During this time the ward was very noisy and busy so sleep was impossible.  

We understand emergencies come in and there are priority cases but due to lack of sleep she was exhausted before she got to the labour suite. 

Being a young first time mum she also had high blood pressure and this created more anxiety for her,  so she needed more medication to manage this. 

Maybe knowing that there is only 5 labour rooms they are working with,  this would give mums ready to have a child upstairs understand better.  The size of the hospital and the amount of people in the wards seems to me that there is not enough beds and staff in labour suite to keep up with the demands?  

My daughter and grandson are home now and well,  but the whole journey before she got to labour suite was exhausting.  Partners  spending days and nights,  not working, sleeping on chairs etc wasn’t pleasant and this could have been dealt with in the community rather than a hospital bed. 

The ward was clean and even the band 2’s were praised by myself for there good work,  as it’s all about the team, not individual departments. 

Dr Campbell and Rhiannon were fantastic and had excellent beside manners,  they made us feel were reassured,  before and afterwards.

Both senior charge nurses were also very caring in the labour suite,  and I cannot thank them enough.