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Experience makes me anxious about returning

Posted By Swahexp123

"Experience makes me anxious about returning"

About: South West Acute Hospital / Maternity care

(as a service user),

Pros

-own private room

- food was good

- tongue tie clinic available

- breast pumps available

- feeding support from staff - bottle and breast

Cons

- no surgeon available to do stitches post vaginal delivery meaning increased blood loss and trauma awaiting same

- mis-fed cannula leading to infection 

- no catheter placed post birth leading to fluid overload

Thankfully my birth was straightforward but the worry over the lack of surgical back up post birth or even in the event of requiring an emergency caesarean section makes me anxious about returning. The other issues noted can be forgiven as errors can happen with poor communication on handover, junior staff training (student midwives) errors and staffing shortages. 

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Responses

Response from Mairead McKenna, Midwifery Sister SWAH, Western Health & Social Care Trust 2 weeks ago
Mairead McKenna
Midwifery Sister SWAH,
Western Health & Social Care Trust

Submitted on 28/07/2025 at 10:51
Published on Care Opinion at 10:56

DearSwahexp123

Congratulations on the birth of your baby. Thank you for taking the time to post your experience in relation to the care you experienced in the maternity unit in the South West Acute Hospital.

I am glad you felt the support was good in relation to the help and assistance you received from the staff in relation to feeding.

I was a little confused in relation to your cons list. If an emergency caesarean section is required at any time, there is always a consultant obstetrician and obstetric staff on duty 24hours a day to perform this surgery. The obstetric medical staff are also on duty 24hours a day.

If you would like to discuss your experience further or any anxieties you have, please do not hesitate to contact myself.

I wish you and your family the very best for the future.

Kind Regards

Mairead McKenna

Midwifery Sister

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Update posted by Swahexp123 (a service user)

Thanks so much for your reply. It is certainly reassuring to hear there is obstetric medical staff on duty 24 hours a day. Unfortunately they must have been busy at the time I gave birth. Thankfully all was ok in the end and I was grateful for care I received despite the errors post birth noted above which led to delays in my discharge.

Response from Mairead McKenna, Midwifery Sister SWAH, Western Health & Social Care Trust 2 weeks ago
Mairead McKenna
Midwifery Sister SWAH,
Western Health & Social Care Trust

Submitted on 28/07/2025 at 13:39
Published on Care Opinion at 15:39

Dear Swahexp123

Thank you for responding back. Thank you also for clarifying in relation to the communication. I do apologise that there were errors in your notes which led to your discharge being delayed. Regardless of staff shortages or training, the documentation should be correct.

Take care

Mairead

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