"Postnatal experience"

As a patient on the postnatal ward in Heartlands Hospital over a year ago now I still look back and think of how much I hated every second of it. There were a few gems that worked there particularly the infant feeding nurses. On the whole though, the staff including the cleaners and maternity assistants lacked any kind of bedside manner. Walking in and out of the bay without even any pre warning or warmth. I had cleaning staff walk in and clean around me without saying a single word to me, or even give me any eye contact.

When I came onto the ward the staff just stared at me, no hello, again no warmth. Even my labour midwife felt quite uncomfortable (they were fab by the way). The food for breakfast was poor. Cereal and burger buns? Not even any toast. I had to ask my husband to bring me something in. 

The staff lacked consideration for patients who may be resting by leaving music on loud at the nurses station at night. I had to ask them to turn it down.

Switching lights on at 6am when the bay of 4 ladies whose babies had finally got some sleep (therefore so did mum's) without warning or consideration. While I appreciate they had a drug round to do, did they really need to wake everyone to do it? 

My midwife forgot to include important follow up information in my discharge paperwork. I don't really blame them for that, I blame an over worked system.

I left there exhausted and even to this day feeling like I never want to enter a postnatal ward again. That was only after one night! I sat on this for a year as I didn't want to feel like I was moaning. However my issues could very easily be fixed. 

Kindess, consideration and communication! (And toast!)