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I was never asked nor helped during the night

Posted By equuleusnb84

"I was never asked nor helped during the night"

About: Maternity care / 2 East Midwifery Led Unit (MLU) Maternity care / Delivery suite Maternity care / Maternity Admission/Assessment Unit

(as the patient),

Towards the end of August 2025 I was in the delivery suite, all the staff were excellent until I was moved upstairs to recover.

The staff upstairs on the day were not very pleasant or helpful and this left me feeling ignored and abandoned after just having my baby.

I was on saline drip and it was approximately 4 hours after giving birth when I asked for help to dress my newborn. The midwife said they suppose they will have to and nurse looked very unhappy to be helping.

I also asked an auxiliary nurse on the same date at approximately 4pm if I could have pain relief and was to go ask a nurse. I wasn't given any pain relief until near 8pm when the staff were due to change shifts. I had asked different members of staff between that time frame from 4 to 8pm for pain relief but I received none.

Nobody helped me with breast feeding and I was never asked nor helped during the night regarding baby feeding. Nobody came near me to ask if we were ok plus I heard the night staff saying the following morning before going off duty that they fed 2 other babies only born because of the mothers having cessarian sections.

A week after discharge from hospital I was back in assessment unit Craigavon with an infection where I had to wait 6 hours where a doctor didn't read the notes only verbally asked me.

I feel I have not received the proper help or support that was needed and required after only giving birth. Very disappointed with the level of supposed care by staff upstairs in maternity Craigavon.

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Responses

Response from Mary Dawson, Lead Midwife Craigavon Area Hospital, Children, Young People and Women's Services Directorate, Southern Health and Social Care Trust last month
Mary Dawson
Lead Midwife Craigavon Area Hospital, Children, Young People and Women's Services Directorate,
Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 15/10/2025 at 16:18
Published on Care Opinion at 16:18

Equuleusnb84,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience of your maternity care within Craigavon Hospital. Firstly, I do wish to congratulate you on the birth of your baby and for your positive feedback in relation to your care in delivery suite. It is extremely gracious of you given your experience on the ward was below the standard of care that we strive for.

As the Lead for the area, I am truly sorry to read that aspects of your postnatal care did not meet the standards that I expect, and what you deserve. Your experience highlights several areas where our service fell short, particularly in relation to pain management, breastfeeding, and postnatal support. Having a baby is a life changing event and as midwives we are aware that it is a time when women can feel vulnerable, and I am deeply saddening to read that you felt you were unsupported.

Please be assured that we take all feedback seriously and are committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care to all women and their families. I will ensure that I discuss your story with the ward sister and ensure your feedback is shared with the wider team during morning handovers. I am deeply concerned by the delay in pain relief and the lack of assistance with breastfeeding. We have worked hard to establish breastfeeding accreditation and as a Trust we are aware of the recommendations from the Mary Renfrew report in relation to woman’s access to pain relief. Please be assured that these concerns will be addressed with the whole team.

Regarding your return to the maternity assessment unit, I truly am sorry for the long wait, unfortunately doctors may be called to emergencies, I am sorry if there was no communication regarding this delay and this will be shared with our admissions team to be mindful of regular communication with women. In relation to your consultation with the doctor it would be common practice for a doctor to review your notes in addition to obtaining a history from yourself. I am sorry if it appeared that the doctor was dismissive of your records.

Thank you for taking the time to provide this feedback which will assist us to improve care delivery.

Kind regards

Mary

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Response from Brid France, Midwifery Sister Craigavon Area Hospital, Children, Young People and Women's Services Directorate, Southern Health and Social Care Trust 3 weeks ago
Brid France
Midwifery Sister Craigavon Area Hospital, Children, Young People and Women's Services Directorate,
Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 20/10/2025 at 12:39
Published on Care Opinion at 12:39

picture of Brid France

As a trust we strive to ensure all our service users receive an excellent standard of care delivered. I can only apologise that you felt unsupported on the maternity ward. I will ensure that your feedback is shared with all staff on the ward to prevent a reoccurrence of this in the future.

Thank you again for taking the time to send us your comments

Many thanks

Brid France

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