"I arrived at the Early Pregnancy Unit in..."

What I liked

I arrived at the Early Pregnancy Unit in somewhat of a state. I had suffered a miscarriage and my doctor had wrongly told me I would be able to go straight there to have a scan, when in fact it is done by appointment and one had been allocated for me five hours later.

Having been passed from pillar to post by NHS bureaucracy the night before when the miscarriage had started, the combination of having lost my baby and being told I'd have to wait five hours knocked me for six and I turned into a sobbing wreck. I have to say that despite the fact that the scan sadly confirmed my worst suspicions, the care that I received from two ladies there has restored my faith in the NHS.

These two ladies made time to see me, despite the fact that they were clearly short staffed. They calmed me down. They gave me advice. Most of all they were really kind and not dismissive, which is the feeling I generally get when I go to hospitals - no fault of the staff just because everyone is so busy. It meant that by the time I had the ultrasound I was no longer a gibbering wreck and could be as practical as possible (given the situation) about the whole thing.

What could be improved

I felt that the reception when I first arrived on the 5th floor could have been a bit more empathetic. It was not my fault my GP had messed up, I'd just suffered a miscarriage and while I understand they were busy, sitting me in a waiting room filled with children's toys, baby paraphernalia and pregnant women was not the most sensitive tack. Thinking about it sitting pregnant women with somebody who had just miscarried, sobbing her eyes out probably not the best thing for them either.

Anything else?

I felt the lady who performed the ultrasound was very professional too.