"Lack of communication between ward staff at Rotherham"

I am a 31 year old woman. In March this year, I was 8 weeks pregnant and started bleeding at home. Along with my husband, we went to the A&E department at R.D.G.H. I was called in quickly, but was left about an hour before being seen to.

The doctors took some blood to test my hormone levels and I then had to wait for the results. About 2 hours later, the result came back that my hormone level was borderline and was sent home to await a call for a scan on the Monday, as it was Friday night when I went in.

On the Monday, I got a call from a midwife from Greenoaks, to go to ward B11 because my Hb was low, with no mention of a scan. I arrived at the ward and had to wait an hour before being called in. I explained I was still bleeding and was examined by a doctor who took my blood again to check my hormone level. I was then left in a room for another hour, when I decided to go look for someone who could tell me what was happening. I spoke to a sister who said the doctor was letting me go home with a prescription for iron tablets. I wasn’t happy, as I was still bleeding heavily, so I asked about my hormone level. She then got it up on the computer and said it had dropped. She said it looks like I have had a miscarriage. I became very upset because if I hadn’t asked, I would have been on my way home thinking I was still pregnant.

I was told this in the nurses office, no privacy was given. I then asked to see the doctor, who decided to keep me in and request a scan for the next day. At the same time, I gave the doctor my antenatal notes back, because if I had a miscarriage I no longer needed them. The next morning, the ward sister gave me my antenatal notes back again and said I needed to keep them with me and she said lots of people bleed throughout the whole pregnancy. I had already been told the day before that I had miscarried, so I feel there was a lack of communication between doctors and other staff on the ward.

Later that day, I went for my scan which was done by a pregnant lady and, while I don’t begrudge anyone who is pregnant, I feel at that time it was very insensitive. I then stayed in hospital another night and was discharged the next day. I was very distressed about the way I was treated, but happy to say I am 12 weeks pregnant again and everything is going fine.