MSE Parents Club Part 11

tarajayne

I'm gonna come back to catch up in a bit, Maddy has an appointment at 11.30 so after that but just thought I'd post the email I have written... (if that's ok?)





I have heard nothing which is unacceptable. Sacha has thankfully left so I will now raise with you all the issues she raised on the ward.

When we arrived we were told by another Mum there had been four cases of Mrsa. Sacha asked the nurse caring for Poppie expecting some reassurance, instead she lied and said there had been none. Her story then changed to one case, then two but some time ago. Extremely unproffesional!

When Sacha arrived on the Friday Poppie was one day old. By Saturday Sacha wasn't feeling well so we asked the nurse 'Lovely' if there was someone for her to see. She said that as Sacha wasn't a patient she wouldn't be seen by anyone. It's appalling that Mums that have just given birth and are also quite in shock at the situation don't even get offered basic medical care when they arrive.

There is no food for the Mums. Breast feeding Mums who are trying to maintain a good supply need to eat regularily. You offer no option for them to pay for your food. There is no onsite restaurant for them to go to. They have to express every two hours so a trip out is difficult and walking into town is not an option for a Mum who has just given birth. Your parent kitchen is very grotty and only has a microwave and kettle so you can't cook there.

Sacha arrived on the Friday, she was told where to express but no help was given. How was she supposed to know what to do? The support worker wasn't in until Sunday by which time she was very sore. She was told there was no cream for her soreness as she should have had it ready. She had Poppie nine weeks early so she wasn't ready! I see from your own statistics that only 42% of Mums felt they had support with feeding at St.Micheals so the other 58% must have felt very let down.

Breast Pumps attatchments are given to expressing Mums to use for themselves. They are told how to clean and dry them. They are told sterilising is not neccessary and to dry them with a paper towel. Even the manufacturers website states that they should be sterilised, and then to air dry them to avoid contamination. Exeter provide sterile tissues for drying after sterilisation and clean all their pumps weekly by dismantling them completely. They also have all the loaned ones called in every week for cleaning. You don't even loan hand pumps so therefore there is no option in St.Micheals for a Mum to express in private which for some must be awful. In Sachas last week a new Mum arrived and she had with her a rubber attatchment that fitted against her skin for the breast pump, she had been given it by the hospital she came from. This was to protect her and stop soreness and should have come with the pump. Sacha asked for one of these as her and some of the othere Mums were very sore from the hard plastic and the support lady said they no longer had any!

Opposite the parents rooms there is the ladies toilets for the Mums, is was horrible at the best of times but in all the time Sacha was there the sanitary bin wasn't emptied once. When the cleaner was asked she said she didn't do it. By the Sunday before Sacha left when I visited sanitary towels were now onto the floor as no more could fit. Considering the fact that all the ladies must have needed this facility surely more regular emptying is neccessary.

Poppie was transferred back to Exeter on the 24th and arrived at 4pm. At 10am that morning she was due some antibiotics for her chest infection. Bristol had put nothing in her notes so either she didn't have it or they gave it and didn't write it down. Either way Exeter couldn't just give it. Really appalling nursing care!

Then last night I visited Exeter to hear that Bristol have let Poppie down again. There is no record in her notes of her ever having a blood transfusion, how can that possibly of happened??? I was there, as were Sacha and Paul, and his parents. We all saw it on the afternoon of Saturday the 6th. Even the nurse 'Lovely' commented on how well she was pinking up. It was one of three infusions being given that day. You have even sent Sacha a list of treatment given which clearly states no transfusion. What on earth has happened that there is no record of this and Exeter will be chasing this today as a matter of urgency and I would ask you to do the same!

I expect a reply today on these matters.

aless02

Krystaltips wrote: »

That's pretty much how both my babies delivered, 3 pushes for Aimee

I'm in that club. Poor SS, *hugs for you too - I'll bet the next one just falls out *

tarajayne

And as I've been running around like a headless chicken these last few days I haven't caught up from last week which is really awful of me. Please, please could anyone tell me what's been happening? I really want to know how Weezl is, and Beenie? :A

feelinggood_2

Krystaltips wrote: »

Not a LLL workshop but quite a few others, I imagine they're similar... What did you want to know?

Just what to expect really. I'm going on the 13th to my first one, nervous! There is a section on the basics of counselling, biological nursing and a general discussion. I've been reassured that Toby is okay to come with me, is that right? My Mum was a LLL Leader but was a long time ago. I'm there to make first contact, and looking to become a LLL Leader. I'm memorising my books at the moment!

emlou2009

BrunoM wrote: »

Em! Long time no post! We miss you, is the whirlwind world of work sucking you in? How's things?

Aww thank you! Yep, I now work 4 days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) so I now spend all my time running round like a headless chicken! And its only week one as well

SugarSpun wrote: »

Watching OBEM - I hope that Thai lady has her baby this episode, I just want to give her cuddles. And why won't that other one turn over? Her baby's never going to turn a right angle and burrow through the bed.

Edit: DID SHE REALLY GET THAT BABY OUT IN ONE PUSH?!?!?!!?!?!?!!?!?!!?!?!!?!?!!?

:rotfl::rotfl:
It was her fifth

When that thai lady was on a week or so ago I didnt like her cos she was moaning about not having any food, when she had a bag full of it, but I thought they were quite comical on this weeks one! OH likes the programme more than I do, and always gets broody after. I have to fend him off with vigour after its finished, cos once after we watched it he "forgot about the condom" and hoped I would too

Its been a busy week for Seth - he now says Mummy, stands on his own, and climbs the stairs in seconds (if allowed with me inches away ready to catch if he stumbles!) I cant believe he is a whole year old in less than two weeks :eek:

jillie1974

morning!!

tara- i like your email. to the point and very easy to read. i hope you get the reply to day.cant believe they never wrote in poppies notes that she had a blood transfusion thats shocking!! has your DD made an official complaint herself or are you doing it on her behalf?

jillie1974

gordon bennett!!!!!! still no bids on the bumbo but 14 watchers!!!
someone bid!!!!!!

SugarSpun

That's unbelievable Tara. MP, papers, PALS and anyone else you can think of. I've just told OH and he's fuming. In fact, he's been ranting about the "beyond incompetent, beyond ignorant and beyond negligent... an active act... that scares the p!ss out of me!"

Well done Seth!!!

feelinggood_2

Tara - I'd remove the exlamation points and the ??? bit, might be worth keeping it as unemotional as possible?

My_Fathers_Daughter

Tara - good email. If you haven't sent it yet just run a quick spell check on it though. I am appalled by the whole affair.


Yay - go Seth!!


Am a little fuzzy headed this morning. Too much red wine :cool: