Ipswich Hospital (Part of the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust)

Start of covid in March 2020. Professional. Excellent
Care. Completed trusted my midwives.

The first part of my Labour was stressful and isolating. I was kept in because of leaking waters and monitoring, however because of COVID couldn’t have my partner with me. I was moved to a room by myself and given pethadine which completely knocked me out. When I came to I awoke to being covered in my waters and had to wander around the midwife to help me. This happened again after a second shot of pethadine. Luckily I soon reached the point of Labour where my partner could join me so my experience improved after that.
I also had an issue after Labour with my bladder not working and it took about 5 chats with midwives to get them to take it seriously.

It was my first baby... i felt totally unsupported. No one reviewed by birth plan, I was 42 weeks. I was induced and the epidural wasnt in properly... i felt so much pain... i had an episiotomy...that i didnt consent 100%. And it was clear in my birth plan my reasons around that. I had in total 56hrs of labour...i cannot remember the birth of my baby... i now know from my therapist that is called trauma/shock were your brain just blanks out trauma. Short of staff, staff attitude, bad managing, kept wanting to discharge me without proper teaching of breastfeeding techniques... i ended up readmitted because my baby wasnt latching... overall very bad and left me with ptsd. Im currently having therapy sessions..and I once wanted a big family...now I was left scared of ever getting pregnant again...

My experience was good during my labour, the midwives were amazing an excellent team but there was a delay in the decision for a c section as there was a debate whether baby was back to back with me, he was. His heart rate started to plument and the decision was made but he had already started into the birthing canal where his shoulder got stuck. It was a forceps and episiotomy. My baby stopped breathing and was taken to the NIC unit for five days. I lost a lot of blood and wanted to breast feed so had to stay in hospital. The ward I was kept on was horrendous, a nightmare to be honest. The covid restrictions at the time was no one was allowed to visit and my husband wasn’t allowed to see me and the baby at the same time. I was left alone in a side room because I didn’t have a baby!! After a traumatic birth and worrying for my baby I’m extremely lucky or strong lady not to have gotten post natal depression. The staff were not sympathetic at all on the ward I was staying and the food well how do you expect woman who have gone through childbirth to get their strength back eating sandwiches and jacket potatoes it’s ridiculous I didn’t start to feel better until my sister was allowed to drop off some stuff at the door which contained a bloody hot meal. My sons care was of the highest the NIC staff and midwives need medals for all their hard work. I’m traumised of my experience and was given a number to call for aftercare a load of good that was it was a meme her of staff working in Ipswich hospital not very Impartial to be honest kept telling me no one had done anything wrong, it was like a meeting after I’d complained when all I wanted was some support and reassurance.

Most of the staff were amazing but after I hadn't seen my baby since she was born a d taken to neonatal and hadn't eaten since the day before it was late evening and I called and said I hadn't seen my baby or eaten and I was sharply told they were doing handover and I had to wait! I was getting a migraine from no food for over 24 hours and I wanted to see my baby! Also it was in my care plan to have gas and air whilst I had the spinal, the anesthetist wouldn't let me have it to start with and made me feel like a wimp for needing it

I attended A&E recently and the staff were great, I didn't have to wait long to be seen and they treated me and then sent me home quickly, very pleased.

I got the email and letter days ago. I called my specialist and was told to get a referral frome from the GP or by calling 111. The GP had no idea what referral was required or who to address it to. I explained that my consultant say they need it to give me the treatment. I was at the worst of my covid symptoms at this stage and from what I had read I should get the treatment within 10 days of my first symptoms. The GP reluctantly promised to get his Secretary to write to my consultant at Ipswich hospital. He repeated this a few times so I knew it was up in the air whether the said Secretary would actually do anything.

At 4.45 this evening the Gp called me to say my consultant has now said I am not eligible for the treatment as it should have been administered within 5 days of my first symptoms.....why then did they not do anything when I first reported to them on the 13th, that was 9 days ago that I was positive?

Also my little girl was in hospital all of the 12th Dec having tested positive with high temperatures. No one offered any treatment or even told us of any.

The phone consultations have worked ok but they are sometimes late. I've been transferred to the the Nuffield for treatment which is good. Care has been good here.

I've had no feedback from the hospital following tests, overall the communication has been poor.

My delivery was an incredible experience with my midwife even though they appeared to be slightly over stretched staffing wise they managed it amazingly. Unfortunately my care on the post natal ward wasn’t as good. The night nurse tried her hardest to support me with my breastfeeding as never done it before but couldn’t come to grasps with it so asked for extra help once the day staff came on. No one assisted in this despite multiple times asking for help. I was never introduced to any of the team and they hardly gave me the time of day. I know they were busy but would’ve made the experience of being alone in a hospital during a pandemic a bit more comfortable for me. They were still nice and approachable but couldn’t give me any help because of staff shortage issues.