"Severe lack of adequate maternity care"

I was sent to FSH as my local hospital for my third baby. After placenta previa on my last pregnancy and natural delivery with my first pregnancy, I initially wanted a VBAC delivery if possible. 

At 24 weeks it was discovered that I have a cerebral lesion on my brain of which the extent cannot be confirmed due to not being able to have an MRI with contrast while I am pregnant.  

At my first appointment after being diagnosed, I had an appt with what I felt was a very rude and abrupt midwife. I was upset as soon as I got into the appointment which was 1.5hrs late as I was awaiting the discussion with the midwife of the lesion as the neurologist had said they sent the hospital a letter or report. 

I felt they were so rude and said they weren’t an obstetrician, had no idea about any letter or report and had already seen 14 people that morning and how could I expect them to know everything about every patient. 

I was so shocked and upset they went to speak to the head midwife who said they would schedule me for an appointment with the same obstetrician I had previously seen for the following week.  

The next date available with that same obstetrician was 4 weeks later and when I got to the appointment it was not the same obstetrician. It seemed the new obstetrician didn’t know anything about my diagnosis or had read the report or letter from the neurologist and, as I believe they had no neurological knowledge, they could not comment or discuss my birth options and referred me to see an anaesthetist.  

At the appointment with an anaesthetist, they suggested they would talk to the neurologist.  

In their discussion, they decided whilst I may be able to push for a very short period of time, it could likely end up with an emergency Caesarean as they didn’t know how much pressure it would put on the cerebral lesion or how much pressure the lesion could take and after a phone discussion with me it was decided that a caesarean is the safest option.  

I was scheduled for an appointment with another obstetrician, but the clinic scheduled it in MAFU instead of clinic 5 because there was no availability in clinic 5 for the following week.  

I went to the afternoon appointment at MAFU. 

Two hours later, a midwife came to check my blood pressure and urine and then after another half an hour, the obstetrician finally appeared and asked me what I was doing there if I was not bleeding or experiencing RFM. 

I explained I had an appointment booked 2.5 hrs ago, so they left to find my book. 30 minutes later they returned and asked why I wanted to see them. I said I assumed we would be discussing and scheduling my Caesarean. They said they didn’t know when it would be and left again to return a while after with another appointment letter for the following week and said my caesarean will be scheduled after 39 weeks. 

I explained that I am very anxious about the birth and having a cerebral lesion in the first place and I really did not want to risk going into labour and risk an emergency Caesarean which is far more likely if they waited until 39 weeks, considering they insisted I had a caesarean at 37 weeks with my previous high-risk pregnancy. The doctor said they did not consider my situation high risk and other high-risk patients would be scheduled before me. 

I pointed out that after over 4.5 hrs waiting for the appointment I was leaving without a discussion about a caesarean or having a date and it seemed they shrugged and said that is the system and deal with it! 

Next appointment and different obstetrician and another opinion, and I felt they completely dismissed my concerns whilst I tried to express my upset, anxiety and mental health state after my last appointment. I believe they commented that they have nothing to do with what other doctors or obstetricians do or say. Often speaking over me and not letting me finish what I was saying, they assured me that they understood my concern waiting until after 39 weeks for my Caesarean and would suggest in their report having it at 38 weeks as I requested.  

Had another appointment with a midwife recently at 37 weeks+ who expressed their deep regret for the way I have been treated and said they would speak to the coordinator about seeing if they had a date for the caesarean. They came back and said it has been scheduled for 39+3 weeks and not only does it appear my request for 38 weeks had not been considered, but the previous obstetrician had actually written 39+ weeks on my file and not 38 weeks as they had assured me!

Not only am I having to come to terms with having a lesion in my brain, the anxiety of what may happen with it, the anxiety of another high-risk pregnancy and having to have a medically necessary caesarean, but it seems I also have to be treated like I don’t matter and my opinion, wants or medical needs don’t matter in the most upsetting and stressful way.

Based on this experience, I would not want to return to FSH maternity under any circumstances. I do not trust the staff, there seems to be no communication between the obstetricians and midwives or even between obstetricians themselves. I feel they do not listen to patient concerns or do what is best for the patient and in my opinion, treat you like you are a nuisance and disrupting their schedule. 

I believe there has been no consideration given to my mental wellbeing or what would be best for me. 

The lack of communication and preparation for each appointment really is shocking, in my opinion. Even the appointment letter they sent me for my surgery had another person's appointment letter for their surgery in my letter I received in the post. When I called them to tell them I had received someone else’s confidential appointment letter they did not seem too concerned and just asked me for the person's details and said they would send a new one to the correct person.

Also, in my appointment letter, they referred to the information I received in my pre-admission appointment, which I never received either as they are classing my pre-admission appointment as the appointment I had with the anaesthetist where we discussed them speaking to the neurologist. We had not even decided to proceed with a caesarean at that point and did not discuss the process or anything about the admission for a caesarean.

I have come away from each appointment feeling more worried, anxious, frustrated, angry, helpless and disappointed which I believe is not good for my baby or my mental, emotional or physical wellbeing.

I hope I would have nothing else to add after my surgery and/or my care until I am discharged. A midwife I spoke to also advised me to email my concerns to the hospital as they expressed their concern at the treatment also and was pretty appalled by the accidental receipt of someone else’s appointment letter.