What I liked
The staff (receptionist, nurse and consultant) were very friendly and informative and answered any questions I had. They did their job very well despite the obvious backlog of patients waiting to be seen. The consultant was very patient-friendly and very efficient.
What could be improved
Waiting times - I waited 20 minutes to have my blood pressure and weight checked by the nurse and then a further 40 minutes before I was called to see the consultant despite my appointment letter advising me to allow sufficient time to park to ensure I was prompt for my appointment! I was told that this was due to a shortage of rooms in the Womens outpatient department but I was not advised of the wait times when I arrived for my appointment until I asked. I spent less than 5 minutes with the nurse and less than 5 minutes with the consultant - and to add to this I then found that I had to pay £3 parking (which is the minimum charge for parking upto 2 hours) - absolutely extortionate! Luckily I do not need to be under the consultant for the rest of my pregnancy and so will not have to pay these charges.
Anything else?
The service I received was excellent and the staff did their job as best as they could despite the shortages of resources etc.
I have also heard that the maternity wards are extremely short-staffed but due to budget cuts in the NHS, they are unable to take on any more midwives. I had a bad experience at North Tees having my last child in the fact that there was 2 midwives running the labour ward and so I was left with my birthing partner without much other support for the majority of my labour. At one point advising me I should go home, which thankfully I refused and I had my child just 2 hours later. I am hoping, many years down the line, that this experience will be much better, but I do not hold out much hope.Opening hoursProfessionalismServiceMaternityConsultantsNursing staffReception staffAppointmentsWaiting timesHypertensionAccommodationCar ParkOutpatientsBlood pressure check
"Lovely friendly staff, but long wait..."
About: University Hospital Of North Tees University Hospital Of North Tees Stockton-on-Tees TS19 8PE
Posted via nhs.uk
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