"UCH needs to improve maternity care"

UCH maternity services have overall been very disappointing.

I have had a mix of good midwife interactions, but also quite a few negative experiences.

I understand the NHS is under strain but the below issues have to do with (1) treating expectant mothers, in what can be a stressful and confusing time, with respect, professionalism and kindness (2) being organized.

Neither of these should cost much and should be a basic standard that we should expect from the NHS, especially from a leading hospital such as UCH.

I wanted to share the below so that UCH could improve:

- Every time I call, it takes at least 40 min to have someone pick up.

On one call, I was sent to 3 different people, all of whom curtly replied that they could not help me, despite it being a simple reschedule/question and no offer to tell me who could help me.

Several times I abandoned my call after waiting for 40 min.

- On average, my appointments have been delayed for 15-40 min.

- I was booked into a 20 week scan but was not given a confirmation letter because the printer was not working.

A few weeks later, I was told I did not have a scan booked under my name and "It is impossible" (said in an accusing and rude tone) that I had made the appointment.

I had no letter to prove this (because: printer malfunctioning).

I asked politely for another appointment and was told that this would be impossible within the timeframe. Finally, my midwife helped me schedule an emergency appointment.

- At my ultrasound (delayed by 40 min), my sonographer did not introduce herself to me and did not say anything to me nor my husband during the scan.

I finally had to ask her if everything was ok with the scan. Our scan was interrupted with the computer system crashing.

While we waited, her colleague came in and complained loudly with her in the room (us waiting outside) about how many patients they had to see.

I was not given a report because the system was down.

I am told that I would be sent this later.

- I was sent a confirmation letter telling me to attend my third trimester scan, despite only being in my second trimester.

When I asked about this, I was told that they printed the letter on the wrong template.

- My blood samples were lost/mislabelled and I had to retake my blood test.

This was initially not admitted to and there was never an apology. I was told I would be emailed the results after the 2nd blood test. This did not happen.

I chased and was again told I would be emailed the results.

Again, this did not happen.

Finally I got the results by post a week later.

- I was asked twice to reschedule my appointment.

Once due to my midwife being unable to find a replacement for her during her holiday.

However, when I could not attend my scheduled 1st scan date due to being out of town, I was told there is no availability for any alternative slots for me and that "it was my decision to forgo the scan".

- On my last visit, the toilet was dirty - trash on the floor