I was referred to this centre to terminate a pregnancy, after having fallen pregnant despite having a copper coil in. Upon arrival, the nurses didn't introduce themselves, and it was remarkably clear they hadn't read my file. This is one of the first things I would do if I greeted a patient, working for NHS mental health services myself. The condition of me having the appointment was that I had removed my coil first. The first nurse didn't seem to know about this, and asked me if I'd ever considered contraceptives and expressed surprise when I told her about getting pregnant despite protecting myself. She then proceeded to take a personal call whilst I was about to get my ultrasound. She returned 5 minutes later and asked if her colleague hadn't been in to do it instead (they hadn't). Then, I was shipped over to her colleauge whose job it was to talk me through the medication. This nurse also had no idea about my having had the coil in, asked me again if I considered contraceptives. When I told her my story, she asked me if my partner was well endowed as she'd "heard that can affect it". Though the nurses were both perfectly nice in their demeanour,I didn't feel at all that the gravity of the situation was taken seriously. I felt unseen as they clearly didn't read my file or communicate amongst themselves before or during my appointment. This was one of the hardest things I had to do in my life and the whole experience was borderline bizarre. Luckily, I can laugh at this now but I worry about a younger woman, with less self-esteem or social capital coming in and having the same experience. Would not recommend this centre to another woman in the same predicament as myself.
"Odd experience"
About: St Johns Medical Centre St Johns Medical Centre Lewisham SE13 7SX
Posted via nhs.uk
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference ››
Responses