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Unhappy birth experience at Coventry

Posted By littlemissmary

"Unhappy birth experience at Coventry"

About: University Hospital (Coventry) / Maternity

(as the patient),

I was in labour, and had an hour wait on arrival in the waiting room. I then had to wait for 2 hours for gas and air, while a porter found a pipe to reach into the birth pool. The water was regularly emptied and refilled as got cold.

I was forced to get out to be inspected, and traipse across ward to another room, when I left the pool.

I asked for epidural desperately but fobbed off for remaining 10 hours of tortuous pain. Little help to keep me from laying flat. I was also told off for screaming by an unsympathetic midwife.

Random people were constantly entering to look for equipment. I was then abandoned in a corner of the new baby ward on arrival at midnight, with no welcome information on how to use lights, up right bed etc. Whenever I sought breastfeeding help next day, I was told how short staffed they were. They were not helpful at all.

It took 8 hours for paperwork to be completed to be discharged. On discharge, I was issued with welcome pack information, rather too late!

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Responses

Response from Daniel Ibeziako, Communications Manager, Communications, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 10 years ago
Daniel Ibeziako
Communications Manager, Communications,
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Submitted on 03/04/2014 at 13:03
Published on Care Opinion at 15:16

Thank you for providing feedback on your experience of the maternity services at University Hospital, Coventry.

On behalf of our Head of Midwifery, firstly can I apologise for the distress you encountered both while you were waiting for pain relief and as a result of the staff you came into contact with.

I can assure you that this is not a typical experience. We recently became one of the first Trust’s that introduced the friends and family test in our maternity services so that we could better understand the experience that women have and where possible make improvement to this. Based on recent feedback we have made a number of changes as a result of listening to our service users.

Your comments have been shared with the team so that they understand the importance of listening to women at all stages of the birth, that they recognise the right to an uninterrupted birth and the need to always be empathetic.

We would very much welcome the opportunity to discuss your concerns with you. If you feel this would be useful please contact the Trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0800 028 4203. If you would prefer to contact us by e-mail, our address is feedback@uhcw.nhs.uk

Alternatively, you can write to us at the following address: -

PALS

University Hospital

Clifford Bridge Road

Coventry

CV2 2DX

If you do decide to contact us, please make us aware that you have left comments on the Patient Opinion website.

The Trust is grateful for all feedback, positive or negative, as it means we can better understand what is important to our patients.

Thank you for leaving your comments on Patient Opinion.

Communications Team

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Telephone 0800 028 4203

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