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Care Opinion

Induction Birth Experience

Posted By KP2007

"Induction Birth Experience"

About: Tameside General Hospital / Maternity care

(as a service user),

I felt very informed about the induction process; I was given adequate documents regarding what would happen. However, the induction experience was a pretty poor one and I feel it badly coloured my birth experience.

Because of short staffing (I assume due to COVID but annual leave was also blamed by staff), breakfast was quite late (9: 30, which is difficult as a pregnant woman). In addition, the lack of staff led to another woman (arrived at 10cm dilated) being left on-ward for almost 48 hours as her waters hadn’t gone yet (other patients were sent down first as they went spontaneously).

There weren’t very many diabetes friendly options available, and none clearly labelled on the available menu, so I had two blood sugar spikes while on ward. There was no temperature control on the ward, so depending on the time of day it was terribly hot or freezing, and there was only one available charge point to share between four women (unless we unplugged our beds).

On top of this, I was not given an identity bracelet for over nine hours after my arrival (even though I asked for one several times) and was not offered a COVID test for over twenty-four hours (the results of which they lost). Besides this, I do not feel like labour ward adhered at all to my birth preferences. I wanted the freedom to move around the room but was strongly encouraged to labour on my back with my legs in stirrups; I was not allowed to remove my legs from the stirrups despite telling the midwives it was causing terrible pain in my hip.

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Responses

Response from Alexia Charnley, Head of PALS, Complaints and Candour, PALS & Complaints Team, Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHSFT 3 years ago
Alexia Charnley
Head of PALS, Complaints and Candour, PALS & Complaints Team,
Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHSFT

Manager

Submitted on 09/10/2020 at 17:38
Published on Care Opinion at 17:38

Good Evening

Thank you for sharing your experience with us and the story of your induction. I was sorry that this was not as you had hoped it would be and I am sorry that this has not been acknowledged before now. On receipt, this was shared with our Head of Midwifery for their awareness. She has shared these with the Matron and Ward Managers to highlight the issues you have raised regarding name bands, swabs and communication with patients.

The PALS and Complaints Team are able to arrange for you to speak with a member of the senior Team within Midwifery Services. However, in the meantime, I have provided some response to your concerns which I hope you will find useful.

The bay you have described is currently awaiting refurbishment as part of a larger facilities programme. During the refurbishment, additional sockets are to be added however I understand that the beds do not continually have to be plugged in once charged. As a result of your concerns, patients will be advised that the bed socket may be used to recharge their phones to avoid them sharing with other patients.

Your comments regarding food choices for special dietary requirements have been shared with our Specialist Diabetes Midwife to liaise with the catering department to make improvements and to direct patients to choices more suitable to meet specific dietary needs.

While I am aware this cannot change your experience, I hope that this is useful and you will feel that your comments have been shared with the appropriate staff. If you would like to speak with a member of the Leadership Team, the PALS Team can arrange this. Please contact us on 0161 922 4466 or via email palsandcomplaints@tgh.nhs.uk.

Thank you

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