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"the doctors I saw were unsympathetic to my situation"

About: Royal Bolton Hospital / Maternity care

(as the patient),

So I have been under the care of M1/6 for about 2 weeks now, I wasn't sure exactly how far pregnant I was when I went up but I knew I was only early. Over Christmas I went up with pains in my stomach the doctor was unhygienic (sneezing into his hand and not changing gloves) he squeezed my tummy said everything fine and that I could go home.  The nurse advised bloods and scan though so I went back to hospital the day after.

The sonographer was lovely and said she couldn't see anything, which was totally normal for a pregnancy under 6 weeks. The doctors weren't convinced though and insisted on bloods to be done every 48 hours.  After 3 bloods done and my hormone levels increasing slowly but surely, they called me in. The doctor I saw was rude and unsympathetic to my situation of not knowing what was going on with my baby as I had been told it was either ectopic or a miscarriage. They told me I had 2 options; an injection to end the pregnancy or an operation to remove my fallopian tube. I refused obviously and demanded a second opinion. They sent me on my way with a scan date for the weekend.

So I went on to the scan to be told I couldn't have a it then as they don't scan on that day and the nurse didn't know why the doc had told me otherwise. So I ended up having my scan a few days later, once again the nurses and sonographer were lovely.  The sonographer said she could see 2 small sacs of fluid but everything looked fine and normal for an early pregnancy I am about 4 weeks so the baby wouldn't be seen at this point she double checked for signs of ectopic and said there was none and ruled out ectopic.

Me and my partner were so relieved and thought finally we can start preparing to be parents again until another rude unsympathetic doctor came in. They said that in their opinion the baby should miscarry if it hasn't already and went on to waffle about hormone levels and scans miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. I stopped then and said "but I am only 4 weeks pregnant all this that I am experiencing is normal".

They asked me if I was a doctor I told them no, but I know my own body but then they looked at my notes and said they were treating me as I was 12 weeks pregnant. I told then I was 4 weeks roughly but they didn't change their opinion they just it was common for a lot of women to miscarry in early pregnancy and suggested me and my partner go home and prepare ourselves. I was told they would bring me back next week for bloods to make sure my hormones were falling.

I was not accepting that and asked for another scan in 2 weeks time which is as I believe supposed to be a must in suspected miscarriages but the doctor said that wasn't an option

I was quite angry by this point so I told them that the hospital  put me through hell this past week and told them about the doctor only giving me options to kill my baby by injection or removal of my tubes and their reply was that they knew that doctor very well and that they wouldn't have said that to me. I told the doctor honestly that is what I was told but they said it was my word against theirs.

I was also told not to take advice from mum and baby forums and in not so many words basically called the mums who post there liars. I still do not know whether my baby is ok but I certainly am not.

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Responses

Response from Heather Edwards, Head of Communications, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust 8 years ago
Heather Edwards
Head of Communications,
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 27/01/2016 at 08:44
Published on Care Opinion at 09:21


I am sorry that you felt the care you received on the early pregnancy unit by our medical team was not as you had expected,given the pregnancy symptoms you presented with. I have highlighted your concerns with the clinical lead for the early pregnancy unit, to share with the medical staff. I have passed on the positive comments you expressed, regarding the support you received,from other professionals involved in your care Thank you for sharing them.

Please do not hestitate to contact me if you wish to discuss your care further.

Nicky Etchells, Senior midwife /Matron, Antenatal and Gynaecology services

Tel: 01204 390390 ext 4083

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