"Maternity services at Forth Valley"

In July 2025 I found out I was pregnant and myself and partner were so excited. Sadly after 4 weeks I began bleeding unexpectedly. I tried to phone through to maternity triage late afternoon however no one was picking up at the other end. I phoned several maternity numbers I had but no one was answering. I ended up phoning NHS 111 who asked me to go to A+E Forth Valley.

 I got there for 8pm and waited for 6 hours, with minimum staff interaction despite telling several staff members I was pregnant. During the wait my bleeding became heavier to the point I had to knock the assessment door and tell the nurses what was happening. I was scared and had no idea what was happening to me or my pregnancy. Barely anybody seemed to care what was happening to me. I was eventually assessed again, told I was still pregnant and sent home as there wasn’t anything else they could do for me at A+E. They made me an appointment to go to maternity at forth valley the same day at 10:20. Myself and my partner were absolutely shattered not having slept but went to the appointment regardless.

The small waiting room at Women and Children department was depressing and the TV was on. Instead of a calming, nature documentary, Sky news was playing. The news report was about a young boy who died whilst in NHS care (England) and the report went on and on about how he died, the doctors and nurses didn’t detect his illness and they let him die etc. It was very inappropriate to have on at a hospital especially in a maternity ward. I tried to change the channel but there was no remote and skeleton staff made it impossible to talk to anyone.

The nurses at the ward were absolutely amazing and very kind and understanding of my situation. Very compassionate and I couldn’t fault them. Sadly I was having a miscarriage and there was nothing that could be done. All in all it was a very harrowing time and I feel the if someone could have answered the maternity triage phone in the first place my experience wouldn't have been quite as traumatic as it was. It has really put me off ever tried for another baby.