"Disappointing and upsetting experience"

I was managed on the maternity ward at Northwick Park Hospital after delivering my child and was left truly upset and feeling quite demoralised by the time of my discharge.

During my stay, many midwives seemed to do as they pleased without having very much consideration for their patients. I witnessed other patients being spoken down to by members of staff and on one occasion a midwife removed my infant from their cot to cuddle inappropriately leaving me fearful that they may kiss my child due to their unprofessional conduct.

Most of the staff wore generic blue scrub uniforms, without any identifiable name tags which made it very difficult to identify staff by name.

Mothers were forced to breastfeed whilst on the ward and on a few occasions I heard staff demanding this from some patients.

Staff mainly congregated around the staff station and when you called for their assistance you were often met with a sour attitude.

Staff constantly complained of being understaffed as an explanation for their lack of efficiency and at times incompetence.

Staff seemed very judgemental towards their patients.

Overall a terrible experience. I would not recommend this maternity unit to anyone I cared about. There is a real risk of a mothers mental state being affected by such unprofessionalism at such a vulnerable time.