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"Total incapability of care and compassion"

About: Princess Royal Hospital (Haywards Heath)

It has taken me 2 months to be able to write this review, but I feel it so important to do so to save future women from being in my position in the future. On May 25th 2016 I had an early pregnancy scan at Haywards Heath Princess Royal Hospital - Horsted Keynes Ward, where I was told my baby had died. I, understandable, don't remember much of this appointment, however I was advised I would need to return 7 days later for a follow up scan. I attended this scan, on the 1st June 2016, which is where my concerns lay. I understand that appointments overrun and I expected to be kept waiting for a period of time, not over 2 hours, where I was sat in a room with expectant mothers and their partners joyus from their baby scans and seeing women get the results I painfully longed to have had the week before. However, this is not my main concern - during a triage assessment with the nurse, the same nurse who I saw at the clinic the week before, who told me by baby had died, the nurse asked me to do a pregnancy test. I was shocked and devastated at the complete lack of sensitivity shown by the nurse - when I had to remind the nurse that only 7 days before they had told me my baby had died and that I was no longer pregnant, the nurse said, with not only a smile, but a giggle - that anything can happen in a week and they need to be sure. I understand that a urine sample may have been necessary, but do you not think that asking for a pregnancy test to someone who is clearly heart broken and going through the worst pain they have ever felt is appropriate? Surely asking for a urine sample to "ensure hormones are OK" or to ensure there is no infection - anything but asking for a pregnancy test. It showed a complete and utter lack of understanding, sympathy, care and compassion from your so called nursing staff. I was absolutely horrified and I still am. Not only did that happen, but I was also told I had done a "good job" of my miscarriage by the sonographer. A good job? I don't see how telling a woman who has just lost their baby that she has done a good job is anything but disgusting. I am traumatised by my entire experience at Horsted Ward and I wouldn't want any of my family or friends to be treated there - in fact I wouldn't want any woman in the world suffering a miscarriage to be treated there. The lack of sensitivity, compassion, patient care, dignity and respect is something I never expected to experience and I will ensure I never set foot in that hospital again.

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Responses

Response from Princess Royal Hospital 7 years ago
Princess Royal Hospital
Submitted on 12/09/2016 at 13:54
Published on nhs.uk on 13/09/2016 at 02:32


Dear Elizabeth

Thank you for your message.

I was so very sorry to learn of the sad loss of your baby and offer you my sincere condolences.

I appreciate the events you describe can only have added to an already terribly difficult time and I am truly sorry for this.

I would very much like to discuss your concerns with you in more detail and would be grateful if you could contact me directly by email at jane.carmody@bsuh.nhs.uk or by telephone on 01273 664511.

Kind regards

Jane Carmody

Head of Patient Experience, PALS & Complaints

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