"This is relating to maternity ..."

What I liked

This is relating to maternity services.

The majority of midwives and all the staff in the neonatal unit were excellent.

What could be improved

Cleanliness and night shift staff (I presume are from agencies)

I gave birth to my son in June 2006 at East Surrey Hospital after a long and traumatic labour. My son was delivered in the evening and when I was taken back to the ward, the night staff were on their shift.

My husband was told to go and I was told to go to sleep despite still being in my gown from the theatre (I had a ventouse delivery but was prepared for emergency section) and covered in blood. I buzzed the nurse on duty 3 times throughout the night asking if she could help wash me and get dressed (I had a catheter and couldn't move) and each time she just told me to go to sleep. I was expected to sleep in all that blood - no wonder superbugs are a problem. Eventually a different nurse finally helped me at 3am - I was wheeled to the ward at 9pm.