"Antenatal 12 week appointment- first contact"

1. Not booked in properly, after telling person on desk I was there I waited 25minutes, when I asked about my apt I was told I hadn't been checked in, had been given wrong urine sample kit and not provided with necessary forms to fill out while I waited. It was not clear this apt would not include a scan and that we would have to re-book for this.

2. Toilets I was directed to for my urine sample - 1/3 toilets had a toilet seat, the sanitary bin was overflowing and I had to put a funnel with my body fluid on into a full general waste bin with others (when I told the nurse I met they said they are always dirty this time of day, complaints have been made and nothing ever happens).

3. I was asked personal questions by nurse in waiting area, I noticed someone else in the waiting area nearby had also been involved in a conversation with a medic involving personal issues without the offer of a private space.

4. This is my first child. The appointment with the nurse felt less of a question and answer session and more a lecture about things I must and must not do while pregnant, there was little to and fro or understanding of my personal insight or situation. The nurse spoke about all the risks in pregnancy without any balance of positive messages. I was at the appointment with my husband and have an excellent network of support around me which helped me balance my emotions , I am not by nature an anxious thinker, however it was a generally stressful experience (my blood pressure reading was high for the first time ever in my life). I do worry that for someone with less resources and an anxious disposition the tone of this appointment would not have been at all supportive.

5. I have been told that the hospital will try and book me in for a scan before 14weeks but they are not sure they will have capacity as they are already fully booked. This does not reassure me with how it will look at 39 weeks when I want a bed. We are now looking into other hospitals in the area under patient choice. I had been warned against CUH by friends because of its previous reputation and other people's experiences, I thought I would give it the benefit of the doubt but it has been quite a frustrating and disappointing start to pregnancy. Poor communication, poor understanding of patient need and unacceptable hygiene in the toilets in the antenatal area.