This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?

"Horrendous treatment - maternity triage unit"

About: Croydon University Hospital / Maternity

I am 20 wks pregnant and was asked by my GP to attend the Triage unit of the maternity ward the same day as I'd felt unwell for several days. My doctor detected a high temp. but could not identify the cause. The doctor called the triage unit and the doc asked me to go over to have blood tests, taking the letter with me that the doctor had written (indicating my symptoms and results of other checks, such as pulse and heart rate that the doctor had carried out.)

I called the triage unit on my way there to ask for directions when I arrived at the hospital - the midwife who answered refused to provide information - the midwife was rude and unhelpful, so I figured it out for myself after getting off the phone (without going into lengthy detail of the full conversation they responded with questioning on what I was doing visiting the triage unit, but it a horrible tone that was just unhelpful, unfriendly and rude.)

Anyway, I arrived an hour later - spoke to a midwife who took my notes and asked me to take a seat, saying I'd be called when they were ready to see me. A few minutes later, the midwife I'd spoken to on the phone earlier shouted me through (initially I thought that was great - what a short wait I'd had.) but as I stepped into the makeshift reception area they demanded to know what I was doing there. They had all my notes in their hand and was demanding to know why they'd been left in reception, by whom, and, again, what I was doing there. I responded to say the other midwife took my notes, the ones they had possession of, and that all of my details and letter from my document were right there in their hand. The midwife responded by saying "I don't know what's wrong with you or why you're here" - it was horrible to talk to someone in the way that they did and mildly aggressive of them to say that when the midwife had my notes and letter from my doctor (printed just two hours earlier) in their hand. Not only that but I told the midwife my doctor had also rang and spoke to someone who had agreed for me to go to the triage unit for tests, and the midwife responded in a similarly rude and slightly aggressive tone "I don't know who your doctor is - how would I know your doctor?" I relayed what was on the letter - that I should come for blood tests to try and get to the bottom of my symptoms. Their response was "what blood tests?" And it kept on going like this - rude, unfriendly and what felt like almost a refusal to help. When the midwife had all of the information right in front of them. I felt more angry at the time, but I'm also upset. It is an appalling way to treat someone and I wasn't the only one, as the woman next to me was experiencing the same issues and ended up telling me about her experiences. Right now, I'm very concerned about the quality of staff at Croydon University hospital. They don't seem to know what they're doing, nor do they want to help people. My advice, from experience, is to avoid using the hospital.

nhs.uk logo
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Hilary Frayne, Head of Nursing for the Emergency Department, Croydon Health Services 6 years ago
Hilary Frayne
Head of Nursing for the Emergency Department,
Croydon Health Services
Submitted on 28/06/2017 at 12:55
Published on Care Opinion at 14:20


Dear Kerry,

My name is Becky and I am the Clinical Midwifery Manager responsible for the Maternity Triage team. I am truly very sorry for the experience you describe in your feedback and I would like to undertake an investigation into this. Our aim is to provide high quality women centred care at every stage of your pregnancy journey – clearly we have let you down and I would appreciate the opportunity to put this right. If you would like to get in touch so that I can have all the details around your experience, I will be able to ensure the appropriate action is taken.

Kind regards

Becky Board

rebeccaboard@nhs.net

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k