"Miscarriage Care"

I have recently been treated for my 6th miscarriage. Each time the care I received has been wonderful - this time not so much. Having been diagnosed with a blighted ovum by the Early Pregnancy Unit, they arranged for me to attend the Gynae Assessment Unit just a few days later. The care by the early pregnancy unit has been absolutely first class, I'm eternally grateful for all the help and support they have given me.

I attended the GAU as planned and was seen by a nurse and a student nurse. I was given the pessaries and advised that it was a 6 hour stay - I was aware of this as have had this procedure previously. This time I was extremely keen for the pregnancy tissue to be tested due to the number of miscarriages I have had. One of my miscarriages was a molar pregnancy which also caused me some concern.

By the time my 6 hours were up, I was bleeding and passing large clots. I knew that things were definitely happening but I just hasn't passed the pregnancy sac yet. I was told that I could go along to Ward 36 (gynae) as opposed to going home which I was happy with.

The student nurse explained there were no rooms but I would be In a Triage room - this was fine with me so long as I had privacy. Just before being taken along to the ward by an HNC student, she advised me there were no rooms and I would be in the PATIENT DAY ROOM. In my hospital gown, which was now stained with blood, I was left in the patient Day room and advised there were no rooms. As soon as they left I burst into tears. I felt absolutely MORTIFIED.

The patient Day room is accessible to all patients, it is also behind clear glass for all to see when walking by. To get to the toilets I would have to walk past a bag of patients and their visitors. Nobody came near me until 20 minutes later when I was told a room was available.

2 main things upset me - 1) That they thought it was appropriate for a woman with a complicated history to be handed over solely by an HNC student. 2) That a MISCARRYING woman was placed for all to see in a patient day room without so much as an apology. I would never wish any other woman in my situation to feel the embarrassment and suffering I did whilst sitting alone in that room.

Whilst I'm unhappy about events on arrival to the ward, once I was in a room the care was excellent, this I can not fault. My nurse Sylvia and student nurse Lynsey were very attentive.