"No follow-up about Gestational Diabetes"

My whole experience of being diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes as St John of God Midland Public has, I feel, been horrible and unorganised since my test earlier this year. I was never called to say I had GD, I found out at my regular Midwife appointment, my midwife was very concerned that I had not had a call about the positive result and ensured I was referred to the diabetic team straight away. Received an email that afternoon saying I would receive more information about what happens next but did not hear anything from anyone. A week later, I decided to call to see what was going on as I had GD in a previous pregnancy and should have been given a Glucose Level Monitoring device by now, I felt no one seemed to know what was going on as procedures had changed due to Covid, which I completely understand. I finally get an email with some YouTube videos to watch. I called up again to see what was happening with picking up my information pack and Glucose Level Monitoring device and was told as I recall, that the email with the YouTube videos to watch should have said when I was to go to the hospital to pick up the pack, which it didn't but the staff member at the Antenatal Reception told me the day and time to come.

I tested for a week or so then had an already scheduled OB appointment, I mentioned to the OB that my fasting levels were a bit high and what should I do, I felt they had no idea what the procedure was as they had someone from another hospital, they took photocopies of my readings and did the usual check ups. I get a call a few hours later saying I have to urgently come in for a Diabetic Clinic in 2 days time with no other information other than what to bring with me. Luckily, I have a great family network because I had to get my almost 2 year old baby sat at short notice.

I get told on the phone to go to Level 1 Outpatients, which I did but the reception seemed confused as to why I was there and called Antenatal Reception to see where the right place to go is. I recalled the person said on the phone 'we have someone here looking for the Insulin Clinic' which took me by surprise because I never mentioned Insulin, I just said Diabetic Clinic, which is what I was told it was. I brushed it off and headed to Level 2 Antenatal, got checked in and walked into the meeting room in which I am greeted with demonstrations of insulin injections, needles, sharps containers and insulin information sheets. No one ever told me I was going to be put on insulin for my GD! This was extremely traumatising and I had to fight back my emotions and tears. The only other person in the room at the time was another patient and I quizzed them on what was going on and they seemed to be in a similar situation as me but they did get told they were on insulin. When the person running the clinic came in, I asked them what exactly was going on and was I being put on insulin and they seemed shocked and apologetic to find out that no one explained it to me and I felt they made up excuses about procedures changing due to Covid, but was sorry I was not told prior.

I feel this story is more than likely going to fall on deaf ears because everyone is just pushing the blame on everyone else but I am left feeling nervous, anxious and extremely unsupported with the whole process and pregnancy. Thank goodness this isn't my first child and I know this isn't how a hospital should run, I had a much better experience at another hospital but understand that I had most of my appointments before Covid hit and by the time procedures changed in hospitals due to covid, I was already a month away from giving birth and I felt there were not many changes. But this is ridiculous treatment I have been given at SJOG Midland and I dread the fact that I have to give birth there and I feel like there is no one I can talk to there about it because the blame just keeps getting passed on and everyone is just under the pump.