Midwife Trouble!

bumpybecky

if you don't get on with your assigned MW write to the supervisor of midwives at the hosptial and ask for someone else simple you don't need to give a reason, just ask that someone else be assigned to your care.

Hope the next one is someone more sympathetic

t_obermory

Hi,

I went to see my midwife this week for my first check-up, she's the same one that I had with my last baby and luckily she's lovely, however she did say to me if I wanted another midwife all I had to do is ask.

So I guess you could go along and she how she is now, 10 years is a long time and she may have changed, or just request a new one straight away. If you're not happy with her you're under no obligation for her to be your midwife.

HTH, good luck.

Gale_10

I totally agree with BumpyBecky, just ask for another midwife. You may be able to see one at the hospital, or your doctor may be able to do your checks.

Do not take any rubbish from the woman anyway. You can write to the Royal College of Midwifery if you have any problems with them, I think its them that deal with midwife complaints.

Stand up for yourself with the help of your mum and don't let them talk down to you. You don't live in Paisley do you? I had my DS2 in Paisley and it was one of the worst experiences of my life.

Gale

LondonDiva

GPs have nothing to do with the management / swapping of midwives, they come via the hospital, even whyen they are based in the community the hospitals just rent space to save on travel.

You can ask the team for a swap, but need to remember that when you do come to deliver, she may be the one on duty / available

heather38

LondonDiva wrote: »

You can ask the team for a swap, but need to remember that when you do come to deliver, she may be the one on duty / available

really? my midwife who did my pre natal and post natal care only dealt with home births and didn't work at the hospital at all.

Strapped

And where I lived, on the border of two trusts, the GPs had M/Ws from one trust, but most people opted to deliver at the other trust hospital. So you were guaranteed to deliver with a stranger unless you hired your own independent M/W or were willing to fight the uphill battle for an NHS home-birth.

squibbs25

I didn't like my midwife when i was having my second child, clash of personality to put it politely. My mum rang the midwife dept at the hospital where i was due to give birth, explained the situation and i was then put under their care. They were very understanding, i was told that many women change midwife and i wasn't the only one. Good luck.

Squibbs

LondonDiva

heather38 wrote: »

really? my midwife who did my pre natal and post natal care only dealt with home births and didn't work at the hospital at all.

They are still employed by the hospital.

clairec79

contact a local supervisor of midwives (easiest way is going to be via the hospital) or the head of midwifery and ask for another midwife. This may well mean you not going to that practice for check ups (either going to the hospital/different GP/having them come to the house)

If you wish to report the midwife and aren't happy about the way you were treated then either complain in writing to the NHS trust and if you don't feel she acted as you would expect a midwife to you can report directly to the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council).

Even if you did end up with her coming to you when you were in labour, you still have the right to ask for another midwife

LondonDiva

clairec79 wrote: »

contact a local supervisor of midwives (easiest way is going to be via the hospital) or the head of midwifery and ask for another midwife. This may well mean you not going to that practice for check ups (either going to the hospital/different GP/having them come to the house)

If you change midwives, you will not have to change GPs. The GP has nothing to do with the midwives and are two seperate organisations. Ring the number you have to make an appt and ask to switch midwives, if that doesn't work, they should be able to put you in touch with the team leader who will arrange the swap.

clairec79 wrote: »

If you wish to report the midwife and aren't happy about the way you were treated then either complain in writing to the NHS trust

The NHS complaints regulations is specific in that you can usually only complain with 6 months of the event or 6 months of realising there is a problem, unless there's a good reason for the delay.

clairec79 wrote: »

if you don't feel she acted as you would expect a midwife to you can report directly to the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council).

The NMC will only look at her fitness to practice and if it has been impaired. They are not there to resolve an individual complaint as this is the remit of the organisation which employs her.

One of the first things they will look at is what the organisation discovered during the investigation into the complaint and will also take into consideration any additional info the organisation would have to add (if they have any causes for concern or do not believe the complaint is justified). If a complaint has not been made to the organisation / the midwife has not had a chance to respond, they will pass the issue to them to deal with in the first instance and ask that the organisation let them know if they need to get involved.