"Pregnancy and long waiting and shortages of staff"

We came to King Edward Memorial Hospital for the birth of our first child, and my wife was started on an induction of labour. A balloon catheter was inserted to help open the cervix.

My wife then developed extremely strong contractions and was in severe pain. I repeatedly requested stronger pain relief for her. However, there were significant delays before the medication was administered. During this time, my wife was crying uncontrollably and her body started shaking because of the intensity of the pain. Eventually, morphine was administered, and thankfully she gradually recovered and was able to sleep.

Around 12 hours later, the balloon fell out, indicating that the next stage of the induction process could proceed. We were told that her cervix would be checked in the morning and that the labour process would then continue.

However, the morning came and no one attended to her. When we asked staff about what was happening, we did not receive a clear answer. We were eventually told that there was no midwife available.

At this time we have now been waiting for more than 24 hours for the next stage of the process. We have repeatedly explained that this is a high-risk pregnancy, yet we continue to hear that there is no midwife available.

As a husband, it is extremely frustrating and emotionally distressing to watch my wife remain in hospital, exhausted and uncertain about when she will receive the care she needs. We understand that healthcare workers are under enormous pressure, and we appreciate the work they do. Our concern is not directed at individual staff members, but at a system that appears to be struggling with staffing and capacity.

It is extremely disappointing to experience such prolonged delays in a public hospital, particularly during childbirth and in a high-risk pregnancy. Waiting more than 24 hours without a clear plan or adequate communication is emotionally exhausting for both the patient and her family.

I constantly hear from government announcements and media campaigns that the healthcare system is improving and that things are being made easier for patients. Experiences like this make that difficult to understand.

I think that the government needs to focus on addressing the underlying problems in the public hospital system, including staffing shortages, patient capacity, communication and timely access to care. Healthcare workers need sufficient resources and support so that patients can receive appropriate attention when they need it.

I believe that people should not have to spend more than 24 hours waiting for essential care during childbirth simply because there is no midwife available.

This experience has been extremely stressful, disappointing and emotionally exhausting for our family. We sincerely hope that our experience is taken seriously and that meaningful action is taken to improve the system for other families.