"Maternity admission"

Called triage regarding reduced movements. Was called in relatively quickly, and blood pressure was taken. I made staff aware that Parkside had told me, after previous issues with high readings, that I should ask to be checked manually to get an accurate reading, and to always ask for a burgundy cuff to be used. I mentioned this to the nurse, who continued to use the electronic machine (I got a high reading) and measured my arm and said the previous advice was incorrect (everyone following this used the burgundy cuff on me, without me saying anything).

After further repeated obs, using the electric monitor, I then asked if I'd be put on a monitor. They then said - you said your movements were fine weren't they, and I said - No, that's the reason I came in. It was coming up to an hour before I was put on the monitor, which movements of course picked up. I was then left waiting from 8:30. I was told there was a long delay as a senior consultant needed to see me, because my bloods were abnormal and I had suspected pre-eclampsia.

At 11pm I was finally seen, by the junior Dr as the senior couldn't attend. However almost immediately they got paged away, but pre-warned me that they were wanting to keep me in due to my blood pressure. I tried to plead my case to use the manual monitor, they said they  would discuss and be back in 30 minutes.

50 minutes later the Dr came back, said that they wanted to monitor my blood pressure overnight but wouldn't prescribe meds. I asked if I could do this at home with my monitor, advised it was in mine and baby's best interest to stay but they would ask and be back in a minute.

Half an hour later returned and said actually they were giving meds right away, but I needed to stay overnight because it's a new medication. In this time I had been there since 7:30, I could have had my blood pressure monitored every hour and not had to stay overnight. Instead I was moved to fern ward at 1:15am.

I didn't sleep until 2am and was woken at 6am. Several patients on the ward had no consideration for others, watching things on their phone on loudspeaker at 6am, talking on loudspeaker on their phone for hours on end. There were signs for people to use headphones for devices but this wasn't followed and even when brought up, staff didn't ask patients to adhere to this to minimise disruption.

My blood pressure was fine from the very first reading on the ward. I have a physical disability, my husband cares for me full time, so being without him was challenging to say the least. I also have gestational diabetes, all breakfast options were carb based, which then worried me that I would be kept in due to blood sugars.

As I was an inpatient I was told I must use the hospitals glucose readers, which even when reminding staff it was time to test my bloods, would be waiting for 30 minutes.

The only suitable food option for lunch was 2 crackers with a small snack cheese and butter. I can't have orange or apple juice, due to high sugar content, and a piece of fruit would also push my levels too high. The lack of food and sleep made me feel really unwell. I asked if I could leave, but I was told I must see the Dr.

I had to wait until 3:30 to see the Dr. Again, there seemed to be just one Dr allocated to fern, labour and probably triage too. Labour understandably must take priority, but this left Fern patients having 1 person seen every 2 hours or more. I did raise how I felt and that I was really struggling, I was told I needed to bear with them and honestly felt like I was a burden and a nag. I know that the poor Dr is doing their best, but that doesn't mean it was fair on patients to all be waiting on just one very busy person.

I left having had my own thoughts and feelings confirmed, no they didn't think I had genuine high blood pressure, no they didn't think I had pre-eclampsia, no I didn't need any medication. So all in all I spent nearly 20 hours in hospital, taking up a bed, for a plan of action to be seen twice a week going forward.

I feel like some options should be available for those with gestational diabetes, especially considering it is the hospital who emphasise the importance of following the low carb diet. And that further Drs are needed, alongside listening to patients more.