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"Massively disappointed"

About: Birmingham Women's Hospital

I have only three weeks left until my due date and I am terrified due to my experiences here during the whole pregnancy. The waiting times are absolutely unacceptable. Tonight we had to go to triage and we were waiting for over 4 hours to be seen. The waiting room was full of family members (at least 10) taking up all the space waiting to visit someone. Me and my husband couldn't even sit down together because of this rude family. We asked them if they would mind letting me sit next to my husband for comfort as I was crying and terrified and they didn't even understand English. The staff should've told them they had to wait outside. Tre hear in the waiting area is absolutely unbearable and the chairs are so uncomfortable you would probably be better of sitting on pigeon spikes. We were told tonight there was only one midwife on triage which is absurd. I would've been better off going to A&E. Receptionist were miserable as sin, as usual, as they are every time I've ever had to sit in that waiting room. Shop closed. Vending machine wasn't even stocked. You should at least have signs on the walls requesting that visitors please sit outside or in the area outside the shop rather than taking up the limited seating in the waiting room which should be for mothers and partners as a priority.

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Responses

Response from Birmingham Women's Hospital 7 years ago
Birmingham Women's Hospital
Submitted on 05/12/2016 at 15:41
Published on nhs.uk on 06/12/2016 at 01:30


We are sorry to hear about your difficult experience in triage and the long wait you encountered. This is certainly not what we want our patients or parents to experience, and I would like to assure you that we take all comments very seriously and work hard to ensure that patient receive a positive experience. We are now asking relatives and friends to wait in the coffee shop seating area during busy times to ensure there are seats available for women and their partners. We are also working to improve the flow through triage as well as making sure there are refreshment facilities available at all times. Thank you for taking the time to feedback, if you have further feedback or would like to know more about getting involved with our Family and Patient Advisory Council, please email us on connect@bwnft.nhs.uk or ring 0121 627 2747.

Thank you!

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