"Maternity department secretary"

This is very similar to what a lady has already said on the complaints thread.

I visited yesterday for a routine bloods appointment as i was sent by my community midwife. I had asked her what time to pop in to get my bloods and she had advised me to visit 'anytime'.

Me and some other women were waiting in the queue at the hospital patiently and the secretary started shouting to us all to use the check in machine. When I tried to explain that I don't have an appointment, she didn't stop to listen, she just continued to say the same thing again and again rudely.

Luckily, a midwife was walking by and happened to hear that I needed a blood test for my iron levels. She told me that they don't do those blood tests until 1130 and that my widwofe should have known as it's 'always been the same time.' Unfortunately, she sent me away and asked me to come back later. I then had to pay for parking and leave, only to return 2 hours later.

I phoned the antenatal clinic and asked the same question about when I should come in. They said 130-330. I then explained that I got told something different this morning.

I returned at 1245 and the same secretary was there. She stared at me, with no hello or manners, and I said I was here for a blood test. She said grab a number and sit down. I did as she asked but then wondered how long I would be there as no bloods staff or patients were around. I asked the secretary and she was pretty unhelpful and replied with 'i don't know. They might be on lunch'.

Luckily, the bloods staff came into the waiting room not long after and took my bloods. She was lovely and kind. She said she wouldn't have turned me away in the morning if she had known.

So all in all, secretary was rude on this occasion (plus all my other visits) and hospital midwives and antenatal staff don't seem to agree on when routine bloods are done (lack of communication?).

I just want to end on a positive note and say that the bloods team in the maternity department were lovely and professional.