"Lack of customer care"

I recently sadly had a miscarriage and had to visit Whipps Cross when I was pregnant and during and following my miscarriage and thought I would provide some feedback. From what I have read the maternity care needs to be improved, this is something that I would agree with.

Personally, the main improvement needs to focus on staff attitude towards patients. Some of them showed lack of empathy and consideration. For example, I had to cancel my scheduled maternity appointments and return my maternity notes to the receptionist following my miscarriage which was difficult enough, I asked the receptionist what I should do with the notes and she replied "well you obviously won't be needing them". This was only around 9am in the morning so it's not she had had a busy day.

My experience in the early pregnancy scan centre was mixed. The area is very clean and my first sonographer was brilliant, friendly and reassuring. The second sonographer on a different visit was abrupt and did not seem interested and my third sonographer following my miscarriage (who appears to be a trainee) poked me around like I'm a guinea pig even though I was clearly in tears without saying anything to me to reassure me.

I hope the Trust take on board these constructive feedback. I understand the NHS is understaffed etc but it really does not help with some of the attitude amongst the staff.