"Absolutely disgusting and potentially..."

What I liked

The receptionist on Ward 63 who sent my notes to Emergency Gynae - Thank you for being the only member of staff with any compassion.

What could be improved

I admitted myself to A&E at MRI knowing I was 5 weeks pregnant and suffering from pain in my right side and cramping. I had 3 positive urine pregnancy tests at home previously. MRI referred me straight to St. Mary's Early Pregnancy Unit where I was left for 4 hours before I saw a Dr. She examined me and said I looked fine. I expressed concerns about my pregnancy and asked for a scan. The Dr. declared that 'highly unusual' and ran to check with the consultant. The Dr. came back and said I should ring ultrasound the next morning and I would be scanned that day. I rang ultrasound the next morning and the lady on the phone was extremely rude - she said she didn't have any idea who I was, they hadn't received my notes and if I turned up, I would be told to go away. I went back to early pregnancy and the receptionist (the only kind member of staff - I cannot thank her enough) was very sympathetic and passed my notes to Energency Gynae. I went to Emergency Gynae and again waited hours to see a Dr. I finally got a Dr. who was rude, unhelpful and patronising. I have a medical background and told the Dr. so - I said that I had concerns my pregnancy may be ectopic and demanded a scan. She pointblank refused me a scan and I gave up fighting and went home. Several days later, I began bleeding so admitted myself back to Emergency Gynae. Again, I waited hours to see a Dr. (the same Dr. who refused me a scan several days earlier) and she refused me a scan and told me to go home. I advised the Dr. to inform the consultant that I had found a leaflet in one of the private rooms of the Emergency Gynae, stating that all pregnant women with bleeding will be scanned and that if I did not receive a scan, I would take legal action against the consultant - she got up and left the room. 15 minutes later, a nurse came into the room and said 'follow me' - no explanation or apology and I was lead to Ultrasound.

Anything else?

I was scanned and showed an empty uterus. I went back to Emergency Gynae and saw the same Dr., who slapped down my scan results and a negative urine test and said 'You know what that means don't you? You're not pregnant, are you?'. I got very angry at this point and consented to a blood pregnancy test. I had the test then went home. I got a phone call a few hours later confirming my blood result was positive for pregnancy - I had a pregnancy of unknown location - and was told to come back for more blood tests. All of a sudden, my notes were marked 'urgent - ectopic' as though that made up for their original delay. I am shocked and totally appalled that Manchester's flagship Maternity Hospital could miss something as basic and as dangerous as an ectopic pregnancy. I am horrified by the attitude of the staff and the level of contempt shown for their patients. I would never ever be treated at this hospital again - I am trying to get pregnant again and will be avoiding St. Marys at all costs. This was an extremely distressing time for me and my husband and I was not consulted on my choice of treatment, treated with respect or consoled in any way.