Conquest Hospital

My son had a fall and suffered a head injury. The Paediatric Doctor was rude and refused to explain why my son needed certain tests and what would happen afterwards. She told me I would be told after the tests had been done. However, I demanded to know everything before my son was having any tests. I was not told about two tests, even though doctors informed me I should have been told about all tests and had them explained properly to me, I was treated as if I was a criminal before the results had even returned. Rude short attitude from the doctor and staff, confined to staying inside even though it was the hottest day of the year. Given no room or place to take my son, no food for me to eat either, even though I could not leave him as he was too young. Given a highchair which was broken and dangerous. My son was 8 months old and they had no food or formula suitable to weaning children even though it’s a children’s ward. I was offered roast dinners etc. for him, even though I explained he needs puree or easy to swallow foods. Worst 4 days of my life.”

I was sent to the conquest after seeing my midwife because I had protein in my urine and swelling in my legs, hands and my face. My blood pressure was high and after a couple of days of tests they told me i had pre eclampsia but I was fine to go home. The next day I didn't feel my baby move, so late afternoon I went back up to the conquest, where they done more tests and I stayed over night. Early hours of that morning around 4am I woke up in severe pain and made several complaints but just got given paracetamol and gaviscon which didn't work in the slightest, after sitting up for hours crying and making more complaints my mother came up to the hospital.
Around 7/8am a midwife had come on shift and me and my mum spoke to her and she was very concerned about me and as soon as she could she got me to the labour ward! I wish I could thank her because she was the only one that listened that morning and she was very caring. The service was very good in the labour ward and they noticed my symptoms and I soon found out I had HELLP syndrome and was going to have an emergency c section straight away as my sons heart beat began to go flat and my body was starting to shut down. He was born at 32+5 weighing 3lb 15 oz and went straight to SCBU and I was sent to HDU as I needed one on one care and my platelets dropped to 24 and I had heavy bleeding. The care was amazing there. The next day when my blood results were better I got taken down to see my son properly for the first time. I was then on frank shaw ward without my son whist everyone was with their new borns which I found very difficult but I understand that's the only room for me they had. Soon after a doctor came and told me my son was going to be sent to Brighton hospital as he wasnt digesting his milk so an ambulance came and got him and I went over the following day as there was no ambulance free to transfer me over there. After a week in Brighton we got sent back to the conquest. I feel that the conquest rushed him to quickly and started him on to much milk, where as Brighton started him off on 1ml of my expressed milk. He was making good progress and they was happy with him. One of the most helpful ones as she and another lady who's name I have forgotten. Although one of the nurses was very rude to myself and my fiancé. She didn't fill my sons notes in for over 8 hours and when we asked her why it hadn't been filled in she said she could remember everything and wrote them in which we didn't feel confident how she could remember so much information from hours ago. Other than that one lady the other staff were lovely and we soon was allowed to bring him home with us. I didn't receive good aftercare and it took phone calls and 2 letters from my health visitor to get a debrief about what happened which they told me I'd get before leaving the hospital. I know that no one knows what causes HELLP but it has majorly affected me and I've not felt myself since health wise. I have also been left with post traumatic depression. Me and my son have not really had the after care that I was told I'd get. His appointments on Kipling ward keep getting rearranged which I understand how busy they are but I thought he would maybe have received better aftercare. Although he is healthy in my eyes, I would like reassurance for my own peace of mind. Over all I am fairly happy and we are both here today because of certain staff which I couldn't thank enough to.

All the midwives were polite and very helpful, one even went and found me a fan as I was hot. They were there to help with anything I needed and never made me feel like I was a burden.

I ended up having a emergency c section due to a traumatic labour. I was treated well but a couple of the scbu staff were horrible and put my baby and me through 2 weeks of stress which was totally unacceptable.

Was well cared for after staying for a few nights. Nurses were very good and always available to help and answer questions etc. Overall great maternity team.

The staff are all brilliant, the only thing which did cause some inconvenience, was that I had a baby scan and consultant scan on the day, one at 9.40am and the other at 12.30.

Would've made it easier having them closer together, all I did was sit at the hospital waiting for my car parking to increase.

In A&E then I was admitted to a temporary holding area overnight till they had a room ready. I was having an allergic reaction.

I was ignroed by agency nurses all night. Unable to sleep, crawled out in to hall - still ignored. Day shift nurses came on, ran to get adrenalin and saved my life. A near miss!

I was hospitalised for a week following this.

Saw Doctor in Outpatients - surgeon was ill so saw Registrar who was much more informative. Lots of worries that noone answered in hospital but Registrar answered today. Took 6 weeks to get appointment when mind could've been settled 6 weeks ago.

Poor communication, the whole referral to hospital and beyond.

I had a foot operation. All the staff were excellent and nothing was too much trouble.

Went with Grandad for appointment at plastics department. Consultant and registrar were in a meeting which over ran by an hour. Wanted to make complaint via PALS but the person at PALS had a disgusting attitude.