"Surgical termination"

I wanted to write a review here having seen some of the negative reviews posted - I saw them a few days ago before I had my procedure today and they caused me a lot of worry at a difficult time. Earlier today I had a surgical termination at 7 weeks' pregnant at Marie Stopes in Buckhurst Hill, and I cannot speak highly enough about the entire experience, from start to finish. Firstly, with the counselling I received prior to the procedure which helped so much. Secondly I wanted to have a general anaesthetic and had some initial difficulties with getting agreement for this because of my medical history, and the individual in the clinical referrals team could not have been more helpful in getting this fixed - they went above and beyond (hassling my useless GP who couldn't have been less helpful) to get what was needed so that I could go ahead with the general anaesthetic.

Sadly this was my 2nd termination - the first I had a few years ago also at Marie Stopes in Brixton, London - so I have something to compare to and honestly, all of the staff from start to finish in Buckhurst Hill were amazing. The nurses, the anaesthetist, the surgeon - people could not have been more kind, patient and gentle. Even though this was my 2nd termination I was absolutely terrified - partly because the decision for me was so much harder this time around - and once inside the the theatre the nurses and surgeon had to calm me down for quite a while and make sure I was ok and asked me several times if I was sure this was what I wanted - at no time did I ever feel rushed or pressured.

I waited 8 hours in Brixton to have the procedure - at Buckhurst Hill it was done and I was awake and having a cup of tea exactly 2 hours after my appointment time. I don't know if I was just lucky on the day, but not having that huge long wait makes such a big difference, not only for your mental state but because you have to fast etc.

At Brixton once I was recovering I felt very rushed by the nurses afterwards to leave. I vomited because they tried to rush me to leave earlier than I felt able. At Buckhurst Hill the nurses were amazing. So caring and lovely and I cannot thank them enough.

My only negative of the whole experience would be that the recovery room after is quite small and set up in such a way that the chairs are facing each other and quite close together - this means there is very little privacy and you are literally staring other girls in the eye. I was very aware of this particularly as I was quite upset and crying quite a lot, and I felt bad for the other girls as much as anything who shouldn't have to see this - everyone is going through their own experience. That's not a criticism in any way of the clinic or staff, just something for the management to think about.

All in all, if anyone else finds themselves in a similar sad situation and is visiting Marie Stopes in Buckhurst Hill please don't worry - you will be fine, and everyone will look after you. You will be ok x