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"Vastly different levels of treatment I experienced"

About: University Hospital Wishaw / Maternity Care

(as a service user),

I gave birth in August this year and due to a previously small baby I was given extra growth scans during the pregnancy. I didn't have the same sonographer twice, which actually didn't bother me too much, but what did bother me was the vastly different levels of treatment I experienced. Some of the staff members could not have been more helpful pleasant, polite, reassuring and informative. Other staff members left a lot to be desired, with minimal conversation/explanation and poor attitudes. 

One staff member in particular triggered my post today and I'm only sorry that I can't remember their name, however I can remember which scan it was and the location so am happy for someone to contact me and get more details if they want to look into it further. It was my first growth scan and the sonographer confirmed that it was a growth scan before saying that they presumed I was on aspirin. When I said that aspirin had been discussed but I had decided against it this staff member chided me as being naughty, telling me the medication is just to increase to blood flow to baby. They then went on to comment on every aspect of the scan as measuring small, and so is that, and that.....

I was mortified and have never felt so patronised in all my life. My husband and I had looked into the evidence and reasoning behind aspirin for smaller babies and had thought long and hard about our decision. I don't feel that it is within a sonographers job description to comment on the prescription of drugs - especially not when I had already discussed this with my midwife and consultant. This person had no knowledge of my previous medical history or the reasons for my decision. It might not have been deliberate but I feel that the language and attitude towards me for the rest of the scan was designed to make me feel as bad as possible that I was growing a small baby and had made the wrong decision - it was like I was being judged for being a bad mother before the baby was even born!

What made it even worse was that I attended the appointment in my uniform - I'm an NHS employee myself - so it could clearly be seen that I was a fellow health-care professional who was more than capable of making intelligent informed decisions about my own health. If this member of staff was willing to speak to me like that what might they be saying to others???

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Responses

Response from Amanda Kennett, Senior Midwife for Inpatients, University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire 5 years ago
Amanda Kennett
Senior Midwife for Inpatients, University Hospital Wishaw,
NHS Lanarkshire
Submitted on 23/10/2019 at 12:20
Published on Care Opinion at 12:20


picture of Amanda Kennett

Hi mugwuffin

Thank you so much for taking time to post your comments on Care Opinion. I was very concerned to read about your experience in the Ultrasound department and would like to apologise for the way this made you feel.

I think it would be very useful for me to be able to discuss this with you in order that I can look into this further. Could I ask you to ring me on 01698 361100 and ask switchboard for my extension, this may go through to a secretary if I am out at a meeting but if you leave her a contact number I will ring you back.

Kind Regards

Amanda

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