"Mixed Maternity care at Northampton"

About: Northampton General Hospital (Acute)

(as the patient),

Care on the labour ward was very good. Despite sharing midwives with multiple patients the support I needed was present. The midwife did miss the fact that I was bleeding heavily, but luckily my husband noticed and pointed it out. I then received all the medical attention I needed to ensure that myself and my daughter were okay.

Lack of anywhere to drop off labouring women near to the labour ward was appalling - my husband received a parking ticket when he left the car in a disabled space outside a disused (boarded up) building opposite the labour ward for 10 minutes. He had to half carry me into the labour ward as I couldn't walk more than a couple of steps and there were no spaces in the nearest car parks. I think this needs to be resolved urgently, as his appeal was turned down and it is ridiculous that there is no way of getting a labouring woman into the labour ward in the absence of car park spaces near by.

Care on the maternity ward was sketchy. On admission I was not told anything about the ward routine etc other than where the toilet was. I was provided with no information regarding meals, how to summon a nurse, where the nurses could be located etc. The nurses were very, very busy at times and consequently I was left with little support when I needed it. On one morning I was deperately trying to feed my new daughter and had been trying to for 6 hours. She was crying during this time. Despite my asking for help on 3 occassions from the nurses, no-one came to help me. I was very upset by this. On other days the nurses did provide me with support (checking my C-section dressing and helping with breastfeeding).

Overall I was happy with labour care and disappointed with maternity care.

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Responses

Response from Northampton General Hospital 17 years ago
Submitted on 26/02/2007 at 13:22


Thank you for taking the time to send your experience in the Maternity unit before ,during and after the delivery of your daughter.

Your concerns regarding communications in the unit are being addressed.We will have a folder available at each bedside from the begining of April with generic information for all patients and visitors to read at their leisure.

I have contacted our facilties department re the car parking ticket you received.If you would be kind enough to contact the Patient Opinion office (info@patientopinion.org.uk)with your details I will have your case reviewed immediately.

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