"Always treated with compassion and care,..."

What I liked

After a routine 28 week scan we were taken to SM as no heartbeat could be found. Throughout not only the whole week we were in and out of SM but for the weeks and months afterwards we were always treated with compassion and respect. I could not fault the care we received throughout this process at all.

Everything was explained carefully and compassionately to us, we were introduced to the bereavement midwife who kept in close contact throughout and continued to phone in the weeks and months following the death of our son. Their support has been immense and faultless. They continue to stay in touch now.

The chaplaincy department were also fantastic. The consultant was sincere, factual and compassionate.

We really could not have asked for more.

What could be improved

A more recent appointment (28/06/11) to see a registrar linked with our consultant for our second pregnancy was very distressing. Having kept us waiting for over an hour (for which I have no complaint at all) it was obvious the registrar had not taken the time to read our notes. The whole point of us being there was this was our second pregnancy having lost our first child to a stillbirth, the first question was is this your first pregnancy, the second how did it go with your first baby?

I had no confidence in the registrar at all, they were very vague and non-committal.

A shame as the midwives at SM have always been excellent and continue to be so. Other registrars / consultants we have seen before and since have been equally as good - hopefully a one off.