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Care Opinion

Food arrangements

Posted By jjf77

"Food arrangements"

About: Crosshouse Hospital / Maternity care

(as a carer),

I was staying with my partner after an emergency section and our daughter being put into intensive care.

My partner wanted me there as she was on crutches and sometimes in a wheelchair finding it difficult to get around and especially downstairs to feed the baby in intensive care.

I was glad at the opportunity to stay which was great however on the second day and not having eaten at all for a day and a half I went with my partner to where she got her food. A few things were available and she got her food.

I was then told I wasn't allowed any food to my slight surprise having never been in a position like this as I worked full time my whole life and provided for myself and my family.

I felt very uncomfortable and unwelcome despite actually staying full time in hospital to support my partner and with a new born in intensive care.

The only option for food then was a small coffee shop offering sandwiches and scones.

I am gluten free so found myself on two whole days without any food at all.

With my daughter in intensive care and my partner struggling this was really upsetting experience for me and again as I said made me feel like a beggar as well as very unwelcome.

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Responses

Response from Attica Wheeler, Head of Midwifery (Associate Nurse Director Women and Childrens Services), Ayrshire Maternity Unit, NHS Ayrshire and Arran 5 years ago
Attica Wheeler
Head of Midwifery (Associate Nurse Director Women and Childrens Services), Ayrshire Maternity Unit,
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

Manages the midwifery service and women and children's service

Submitted on 19/09/2018 at 09:58
Published on Care Opinion at 10:20

Dear jjf77

you raise a very good point of gluten free provision in our maternity café. I assure you we will address this today to ensure we have a range of items available for sale for partners and families remaining in the hospital with dietary needs.

I will also raise this with the staff that you should have been directed to our main restaurant in the linked crosshouse hospital that is used by staff and public alike. Here they have a wide range of food available all day.

I apologise that you were not made aware of this and this impacted as a negative experience for you whilst your partner was under our care. We do encourage partners to stay if they wish to for the holistic care and emotional well being of our women.

thanks for taking the time to share this with us

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Response from Eunice Goodwin, Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team, NHS Ayrshire and Arran 5 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Eunice Goodwin
Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team,
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

I respond initially to most of the posts and ensure they are passed to the appropriate team whether they are compliments, observations or grumbles. It is important to make sure all issues are addressed and I try to encourage that to happen for all the posts as required.

Submitted on 19/09/2018 at 12:00
Published on Care Opinion at 12:01

picture of Eunice Goodwin

Dear jjf77,

I am sorry you had such a difficult time and that gluten free food was not available in the café. Your post has certainly got things moving on this front. Today, there will be a discussion with the coffee place in AMU to ensure they have gluten free food and vegetarian food for partners. There will also be a leaflet for partners staying overnight, stating clearly where to obtain food and refreshments.

Well that is a great example of how the use of feedback, in this case Care Opinion, can initiate change so thank you for your post.

I hope all is well with you all,

Best wishes,

Eunice

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