"Expressing our gratitude"

I want to express our gratitude and thanks for the exemplary care received to my daughter in both of her pregnancies by Dr MacDougall and his team, especially Dr Little who has worked alongside him in assisting with the complications that my daughter faced.

After giving birth to my own youngest daughter 22 years ago, I lost total faith in the NHS, and had been involved in a legal case in which we were successful. I always knew that my elder daughter would go on in life to be married and have children. This happened in August 2017 when she announced she was expecting her first child.

My daughter was always considered to be of high risk due to her BMI and her mother’s (me) history of complications with gestational diabetes and high blood pressure and developing pre-eclampsia at the end, what I didn’t expect, what was to come.

We chose very carefully and consulted legal advisors as to the best hospital we could go to for care, in order to build up our relationship in a hospital and team we could trust. It was advised that we should consider the RVI. After much persuasion and questions from our local midwives, we made it perfectly clear we wanted patient choice and chose the RVI.

The first pregnancy was more or less plain sailing, except for the odd spike in BP and gestational diabetes, she was given the most exceptional care and was monitored very closely by Dr MacDougall.

He saw her whenever she felt anxious and she was to contact the team if she was worried about anything, just having the re assurance he was there was fantastic, he was never in a hurry and took the time with his patient.

 
At about 32 weeks, (1st pregnancy) my daughter became very unwell and was admitted to hospital with what she described as gallbladder pain, (this could not be the case as she had previously undergone surgery two years previously) High BP and swelling in her hands and feet. As the days and hours went by they monitored her closely, on the Wednesday of the same week she saw Dr MacDougall on the ward and asked May I go home? His reply was, I’m afraid not you will need to stay in hospital for the duration of your pregnancy, as we need to run some tests and keep a close eye, as she required a high level of pain relief. Thursday evening was a turn for the worst, her symptoms worsened, she was been sick, her BP was becoming higher, the swelling was getting worse and her platelet levels were dropping massively. At midnight an immediate decision by doctors was to take her to the delivery suite to induce her, as she was so poorly. We still didn’t know the extent of all this, but after been told now her body was shutting down, we felt so close to losing her. Dr MacDougall was asked that night by my daughter and her husband to be informed she had been admitted to the delivery suite, this was the man who she had faith in and wanted him to look after her. her husband stayed all night and I was the second birthing partner and I received regular hourly updates. I arrived at the hospital approximately 8.30 the next morning, I was let in to the delivery suite to accompany them and I saw Dr MacDougall and his team of about 8 or 9 people including two midwives, and my daughter wired up to all this apparatus. My heart sunk, I just didn’t expect to see her like this. Dr MacDougall had finished his briefing to everyone and I stood to one side and he explained his plan of action. He never left her side only momentarily - worried was an understatement but I kept a straight face. Within two hours he made a decision as her platelet levels were dropping he needed to perform an emergency section. She had developed a rare condition of pre-eclampsia HELLPS.

At 12.20pm Dr MacDougall and his team delivered a beautiful baby boy weighing 4lb 10oz. My beautiful grandson was healthy and just needed to go to special care for help with feeding whilst his mammy recovered.

 

My daughter recovered within 24 hours and as time went on her platelet levels were beginning to settle back to normal, her BP was normal her sugar levels had dropped and she was on her way to full recovery.

 

If Dr MacDougall had not closely monitored her, I could be telling a different story but due to his expertise and knowledge, and the care he provided he treated her with such dignity, and I am absolutely overwhelmed beyond words to describe this man in this way. He was absolutely tremendous and we as a family have given so many surveys from the hospital, about the standard of care he and the team provided, but we felt we needed to contact someone higher, as this is going above and beyond what a consultant would normally do.

 

I’ve had both my daughters at different hospitals and the care is no comparison.

People could argue technology has changed, yes, but the NHS staffing levels are under more threat due to the government changes, but this isn’t about technology, this is about a man who needs recognition for what he has done and what he continues to do for my daughter.

I say the words ‘continue to do’ as she has now in the last few weeks given birth by elected section to a beautiful baby girl.

 

During weeks 33 to 37/38 my daughter attended her weekly appointments in the antenatal department, amongst been seen and treated by some lovely staff (too many to mention) and waited to see Dr MacDougall and his team so she could be advised, and followed his instructions for her last few weeks. He continued to do regular testing again for Pre eclampsia and was given medication to lower her blood pressure, as this had spiked to a level which needed treating along with regular extra appointments to the MAU for BP profiles.

He was making sure this HELLPS syndrome didn’t happen again, and if it did it was monitored, although there was a high chance it wouldn’t happen a second time.

My daughter was starting to feel very anxious over these last few weeks, as she knew it was crucial that she was able to go for as long as possible, for the health of her and her baby. The tests were done each week and he contacted her to say that all was fine. It was a step by step, week by week of appointments. I feel that close to the end Mr MacDougall got to know her very well and her anxieties. She had so much faith in him at every stage.

He planned a date for the elected section, which fitted around his work role and of course as always, putting the patient first.

 

It was planned that he would deliver, and he had prepared a detailed plan prior to delivery that she was admitted two days before, to receive steroid Injections on the ward to help with the babies lungs, as the baby was been delivered early. This was necessary for a stay in hospital, as there was a very high chance her blood sugar level would rise, which it did, and it could be monitored.

 

Unfortunately due to family matters Mr MacDougall could not deliver the baby but she was left in the most superb hands of another consultant, Dr Johnson in his absence and she did a fantastic job, and came to see her the day after delivery to make sure she was feeling fine, and my daughter left hospital with her baby the same day.

 

I cannot express enough how so very grateful we are to Mr MacDougall, and his team, and we hold him in very high regard and feel it would be appropriate that this information is shared to the highest executives, within the board of directors for the trust, just to show how overwhelmed we as a family feel towards the standard of care from himself personally, and we would be highly grateful if he could be put forward for an award of recognition for his exemplary care as a consultant in his capacity on the maternity department. If we as a family need to support an award category details, then please do not hesitate to contact my daughter and her husband or myself and please do share this information as you see fit.

I do apologise for the long letter but I felt it necessary to describe reasons, and events due to our families past history, and also to the hospital which we can trust.

We are so glad that patient choice has now been implemented, as we continue now to choose the RVI for all of our treatments when it comes to choice, however, we hope we never need an emergency as we know we cannot ask to be taken to the RVI, as we don’t fall within the catchment area for Newcastle, this is a worry but let’s hope we can overcome this.

On behalf of us all, we wish Dr MacDougall and his family all the very best for the future, and also hope he finds this letter of some gratefulness.

 

My daughter and her husband are blessed with two beautiful children.

 

Thank you so much once again.