Attended the Maternity DAU unit on Saturday after calling my local midwife led unit with pains and symptoms which appeared to be indicating I was going into Pre-Term Labour (I was 35 wks and 5 days pregnant). Arrived at the DAU unit and was asked to perform a sample - no issues. A healthcare assistant (I think that is what they were as they certainly wasn't wearing a midwife uniform and they didn't introduce themsleves) asked me if my waters had broken. When I said I didn't know, the response was incredibly rude and questioning as to why I didn't know! This is my first baby and I have no point of reference! But no mercy was being given from her! I then had to wait another 1 hour and 20 mins to be even looked at by a midwife and again had the displeasure of being treated by a midwife who thought it was appropriate to speak to me and treat me as if I was 12 years old. I was placed on a monitor for around an hour, and was told that baby was fine. I was contracting but baby was coping. I then had to wait another hour and half to be seen by a doctor (whom I get the impression was covering at least 3 wards), to then be asked the same 2 questions more than 3 times - as if the doctor didn't understand me at all and had certainly not read any of my notes. I was given a painful internal examination and told that I wasn't in labour and therefore I would be given an injection of steroids as a precaution to mature my baby's lungs and some stronger pain relief. I then had to wait another hour to be given a simple tablet and injection so that I was able to go home. I spent a total of nearly 5 hours in the DAU unit only to be made to feel as if I was wasting everybody's time and they thought it was more than fine to just leave me to wait for whatever amount of time that the staff wanted to. Regardless of the fact that when I arrived the ward was empty! The whole experience has shattered my confidence in the hospital as a whole at being able to deliver the standard of care to help me deliver my precious baby into this world and has caused me to remove my care from the hospital and go to Basildon Hospital. I have attended there and they knew more about me within 5 mins than I think any of the staff I have met at Broomfield do. To me, it says alot about the standard of care and compassion I am going to receive there and cannot wait to have my baby delivered safely there and to be able to bring my baby home. Broomfield - you really need to wake up and improve. At this rate, the only thing you are good at is putting people off coming into your hospital.
"Very poor service on Maternity DAU"
About: Broomfield Hospital Broomfield Hospital Chelmsford CM1 7ET
Posted via nhs.uk
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