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Care Opinion

Not feeling safe in the Forth Valley Women and Children Wing

Posted By PregFalk2021

"Not feeling safe in the Forth Valley Women and Children Wing"

About: Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Women's outpatient clinics and investigations

(as the patient),

All staff are lovely and friendly. However, on my regular maternity appointments reception staff in particular are not wearing masks or have them loosely hanging about their chin including the staff member allocated to asking handing out masks to patients. In the clinic the mask only covers a member of staff's face when they leaves their desk. They appear to think the plexiglass surround will stop airborne covid virus from spreading. I'm not feeling safe from coronavirus as a result. Windows are closed in the clinic waiting room too. Surely with so many vulnerable people coming in and out staff would be more careful and considerate. Please make improvements ASAP.

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Responses

Response from Gail Bell, Deputy Head of Midwifery, Women and Children, NHS Forth Valley 2 years ago
Gail Bell
Deputy Head of Midwifery, Women and Children,
NHS Forth Valley

Submitted on 25/11/2021 at 20:01
Published on Care Opinion at 20:01

Dear PregFalk2021

Thank you for sharing your experience of your maternity appointments at FVRH. Please accept my apologies that we have made you feel unsafe in what should be a safe haven for our mums-to-be.

We take COVID and all the relevant precautions very seriously so I was annoyed and disappointed to hear that our staff are not being role models for all that we advise and can totally understand your anxiety.

Since reading your posting earlier, I have visited all areas to highlight the concerns you have raised and asked staff to be mindful of the example they are setting and to ensure they are adhering to COVID recommendations. I have asked for your feedback to be shared. It is important that we do not ignore non-compliance but continue to question and remind staff when guidance is not being followed.

If someone is exempt from wearing face masks then they should seek differing coverings such as a visor and/or wear an exemption lanyard. I agree that the perspex screens offer only minimal protection. Not all of those mentioned are maternity staff so I have linked with the appropriate Team Leads to highlight your concerns but will also reiterate to the staff undertaking these roles.

Within the clinic, the team try to ensure distancing and good ventilation by opening windows. Unfortunately, we are finding that people are closing the windows as they feel cold. I am unsure how we resolve this but have asked the clinic team to look at this.

I am hopeful that by highlighting your experiences with everyone, we will be able to improve the safety of the environment for all of our mums and families. As a team we will be vigilant in monitoring compliance by our staff to ensure high standards of safety are maintained.

I would like to thank you for your positive comment that you find our staff lovely and friendly, they will appreciate this.

I hope all goes well with your pregnancy and that you have a wonderful time when your little bundle of joy arrives.

With best wishes

Gail

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