"Delivery suite are fantastic, post natal care..."

My wife gave birth at Walsall Manor approximately 2 months ago. After giving myself time to process and consider the care she recieved, as well as time to enjoy having our son at home, I have decided to leave feedback, for whatever good it will do.

My wife was initially seen and assessed in triage on the delivery suite after her waters had broken slightly earlier than expected. Despite us being first time parents and probably not the calmest the midwife in triage was fantastic, both to my wife and to myself. We were then transferred up to Primrose ward where, despite it being clear that there was not enough staff, my wife was lucky enough to have been allocated a very pleasant midwife who cared for her well before her transfer back down to delivery.

I can only describe delivery suite, during the most emotional 18 hours of my life, as absolutely amazing. Dedicated staff who were friendly, caring and approachable were an absolute credit to the NHS and midwifery in general.

Sadly, on my wife's transfer back to Primrose, this fantastic care ceased. The difference between the care on delivery suite and the post natal ward was night and day. In the interest of fairness I will say that it was obvious that they were understaffed, yet this still does not excuse the indifference that my wife was met with from some staff members despite a rapidly falling HB and her increasing levels of discomfort and anxiety, which was such that she did not wish to be left alone on the ward for fear of not being adequately looked after. As is to be expected, some of the staff were trying hard despite the low staffing levels causing them obvious difficulties in giving adequate care to their patients but a number of midwives acted as if my wife and child were more of an irritant to them, as opposed to anything else and required constant requests to provide basic care such as pain relief.

Eventually we were transferred back to delivery suite due to my wife requiring a blood transfusion where the fantastic care we experienced earlier during our stay recommenced.

I understand that the trust and the NHS in general is experiencing financial and staff shortages and that the blame for this lies with those well above the management at Walsall Manor Hospital. I also understand that the vast majority of staff struggle to provide good care in adverse circumstances but regardless of this the attitude of some staff members on the post natal wards was indifferent at best and I am grateful that my wife did not require any emergency treatment whilst on Primrose ward, as I am not completely certain that it would have been given to a good standard or even that there would have been adequate numbers of staff to attempt it.