"Maternity Services very good to very poor."

Recently had a c-sect, which the birth experience for the surgery was exceptional good. Very well run. Excellent team in the operating theatre, from the surgeon, to the nurses & excellent anaesthesia team. My partner was encouraged to be involved by the excellent surgeon. My pain was very well managed. Wonderful experience.

The recovery room was equally very good. Through nurse, attentive, no problems.

The problems began as soon as we left the recovery area. I was taken to ward 206. They greeted myself, partner & newborn will dismal faces & didn't have a room/space to put me. My care deteriorated further as the hours progressed. My pain was managed very badly. I was left alone in agony on many occasions until the on-call doctors quickly solved the problem. My regular medications were handed in to a midwife, nobody checked them. This became a problem a few days later, when only 3 out of the 5 medicines could be found on the ward. I strongly suggest that the Royal Stoke change there policy on medication brought onto the ward. It would take only a simple piece of paper to be signed by the patient & nurse to agree the handover of medications. This would have prevented a great deal of upset & stress, time & money.

I was then reassured (wrongly) that I would be provided with enough take home medications to last me over the Christmas holidays, until my next prescription was ready at my GPs. On the day of my discharge, I waited from 9am to 8pm for my discharge notes (they were never completed until the following day) & my take home medications. Only when the midwife handed the medications, with the observation of another midwife, who pointed out I was short medications. To run out of an items on Boxing Day, was unacceptable. I was also missing 1 item completely, plus had been prescribed 2 things I new nothing about. One of these was an daily injection. I explained I didn't know how to do that, the midwife offered to teach me whilst we were standing the handover room. I declined. It seemed an inapproated place to teach me, particularly I had been waiting do long to be discharged. I was very upset & keen to get back to my baby who was on the special care unit. I had wasted the whole day waiting for my notes that had not been completed & medication that was wrong. I told them I would ring up my GP first thing & sort it out myself, it was Xmas Eve, so not ideal. I was very upset as I had missed many hours away from my baby waiting for nothing.

The same day, I had been refused basic pain relief as "my chart was at the pharmacy", to be told this when you have had a c-section is very upsetting. I waited in agony.

On many occasions I missed meals (as I was the special unit with my baby) & sandwich would be promised.

I had to move to my heavy bags off the ward to special care myself. Nobody would help me. Not ideal after a c-sect.

Special care unit was excellent. Poor communication with ward.

Many other negative experiences. Out of space to write more.