"Too understaffed to give good post natal care"

My daughter gave birth here on 19th June.

Her waters broke on 18th and she was sent home for 24 hours.

When she returned, she was left pretty much to herself.

She had an epidural which was sited wrongly so didn't work and had to have another.

Baby's heart rate was dropping and so she ended up with emergency C-section.

She had baby around 1.30pm on 19th.

She and baby both had infections - a risk once waters have broken over 24 hours.

The care in HDU was extremely good - however, once she and baby transferred to post-natal ward it was a completely different story.

Her partner stayed most nights but had to get some sleep on night 3.

I couldn't stay that night either.

There was nobody around to support her.

The next day she was left in a bed with bloody sheets for hours on end, despite having requested they were changed.

Daughter had to go to the toilet and was then told off for letting baby cry (she was gone 5 minutes only).

She was also told she couldn't take baby to bathroom with her - so damned if she did/damned if she didn't.

Also was left without drinking water for several hours, despite request for water and the fact she was becoming dehydrated.

The rule is one visitor/supporter only on a 24 hour basis (others can visit in specified hours) but the woman in the next bed had several - very loud - visitors all night.

When daughter/her partner complained, the response was basically 'tough'.

When I raised concerns with staff I was told there is one midwife and one health care assistant for seven women and their babies.

This is not sufficient.

My daughter's experience at St Thomas's wasn't even 'good enough', let alone good.

If she has any more children she will definitely not choose to give birth at this hospital.