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"Job not done"

About: Northwick Park Hospital / Accident and emergency

I was referred to Accident and Emergency from a clinic with the impression i was having an ectopic pregnancy. I arrived to A&E with a letter of referral which i handed into the front desk. Because i had the letter and the situation was treated as an emergency. I was seen fairly quickly. i was seen by the doctor then went to have my bloods taken, I then was seen for an internal scan. I was told that as there was nothing coming up on the scan that i had either had a miscarriage, i was at a very early stage of pregnancy or there was a chance i was having an ectopic pregnancy. The doctor sent me home but told me to come back in 48 hours to have my bloods taken again so they can see if my hormone levels had dropped or risen.

Having not even heard of an ectopic pregnancy before, i was scared and worried as i had left with no answers as to what was actually going on with myself.

I had a phone call the next day requesting for me to come in the following day for the bloods.

I came back to the Early Pregnancy unit to have my bloods taken, Once my bloods had been taken i had a consultation with an extremely nice nurse who told me that she wanted me to have a scan, she said something doesn't feel right and she would be happier if i at least had a scan on the system as there was not one already.

I was more than happy to do this, i waited..... Had my scan and during the scan was told that i was having a live ectopic pregnancy. Scared for my life, everything after that point happened so quickly. I spoke with doctors and nurses and eventually had to go to the theatre for surgery. The lovely nurse who requested i go for a scan told me if i had been sent home again she would have been worried about me all weekend as nobody knew how far gone i was exactly and if the pregnancy was ectopic it could easily be in a life threatening situation.

My point is, i was sent home on day 1 with no indication of what was happening with me. I feel as though if the doctor that gave me the scan in A&E had taken more time or even if there was a trained nurse who could have taken the scan, i would have known what the issue was much quicker and action could have been taken from there. instead i went home doing my own research, worrying myself with 100 questions. Thinking theres a chance i could die. Thankfully I'm here after surgery and just want to stress my feelings towards the process i had been through.

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Responses

Response from Sue Fenwick Elliott, Head of Patient Experience, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust 5 years ago
Sue Fenwick Elliott
Head of Patient Experience,
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
Submitted on 18/07/2018 at 19:22
Published on Care Opinion on 19/07/2018 at 08:01


Thank you for telling us this story. I was very sad to read about your experience and that you had had an ectopic pregnancy. It does sound very scary, worrying and distressing.

I am so glad that the 'lovely nurse' in the Early Pregnancy Unit made sure you were well looked after but disappointed that you feel your assessment in A&E was rushed and incomplete.

I will share this feedback with the team but it is difficult for us to investigate properly without knowing who you are. If you would like us to follow this up on your behalf, please contact the PALS team on 0208 869 5118 or LNWH-tr.PALS@nhs.net

I am sorry that you had a difficult time and that your pregnancy was ectopic. I hope you are beginning to recover.

Best wishes

Sue

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