how do i make a formal complaint about my midwife?

gemsio · Mar 16th, 2010, 12:41 PM

okay bit of a long story but not sure what to do, how to go about it, or whether i should actually make a formal complaint or not. Basically to cut a long story short i was misdiagnosed with g diabetes, and i went for two months without it being treated when she finally read my test results correctly and realised i should have been receiving treatment, i was very sick had developed pre eclampsia and ended up having a emergency c section at 37 weeks. Now it all turned out ok, but it could have been a very different story i was so close to having a stroke or worse losing my life. Do i complain? I dont want it to happen to someone else, just for the sake of a midwife not reading test results properly.my consultant at the hospital has already written to the surgery to tell them their negligence nearly caused my death but thats all that has happend so far.do i take it further? I dont want anyone to go through this again.

Mrs Muffin · Mar 16th, 2010, 12:47 PM

I think it's very important you complain. Complaining about NMC services http://www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspx?ArticleID=3675

how to complain about midwife - google document

ChuggaBump · Mar 16th, 2010, 12:56 PM

poor you, that's awful.

i think it's important to raise the matter so it doesn't happen to someone else, HOWEVER, knowing how short-staffed the NHS is, especially for midwives, I would stress that it wasn't simply a case of the midwife's fault. Yes she should have read the results better, but we all know what it's like when we're run off our feet at work and we do something in a rush and make a mistake. The unfortunate thing for midwives is that they're dealing with people's lives rather than whether a customer gets their order in time or something much less serious.

I don't think that midwife should be punished, because it's not her fault that there aren't enough midwives to go around!!

I do really feel for you though.

Hollys_Twinny · Mar 16th, 2010, 12:58 PM

I'd definatlty complain, she obviously needs a refresher course on this kinda thing, glad you & LO are ok x

suzib76 · Mar 16th, 2010, 14:41 PM

im not sure but i would imagine you would have to prove the link between not being treated for GD and developing pre eclampsia? this could be a real stumbling block tbh

i had GD and never required treatment other than a small change in diet

it does seem slightly unbelieveable that results could be read incorrectly, not sure how she could of managed it, and then why did she go back 8 weeks later and double check the results?

its a dodgy one if you ask me but obviously you have to do what you feel necessary so i would guess calling the local health board would be your first port of call

however you also say the consultant has put it in writing that they surgery were negligent, if they have written to them stating that then they must have made this official already

gemsio · Mar 17th, 2010, 05:41 AM

thanks for everyones advice, it may sound unbelieveable but it did happen, the midwife looked at my notes told me everything was fine then eight weeks later looked at the samd notes and said i should ve refered, after tests it needed to be insulin controlled, but i only managed a week before i got very sick and had to be admitted, the consultant said there was no doubt that my untreatede diabetes was the cause of the onset of the pre eclampsia. I will check out that website, so thankyou. X x

Mar 16th, 2010, 12:41 PM	#1
gemsio Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 97	how do i make a formal complaint about my midwife? okay bit of a long story but not sure what to do, how to go about it, or whether i should actually make a formal complaint or not. Basically to cut a long story short i was misdiagnosed with g diabetes, and i went for two months without it being treated when she finally read my test results correctly and realised i should have been receiving treatment, i was very sick had developed pre eclampsia and ended up having a emergency c section at 37 weeks. Now it all turned out ok, but it could have been a very different story i was so close to having a stroke or worse losing my life. Do i complain? I dont want it to happen to someone else, just for the sake of a midwife not reading test results properly.my consultant at the hospital has already written to the surgery to tell them their negligence nearly caused my death but thats all that has happend so far.do i take it further? I dont want anyone to go through this again.

Status: Offline

Mar 16th, 2010, 12:47 PM	#2
Mrs Muffin Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chester Posts: 1,680	I think it's very important you complain. Complaining about NMC services http://www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspx?ArticleID=3675 how to complain about midwife - google document

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Mar 16th, 2010, 12:56 PM	#3
ChuggaBump Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 622	poor you, that's awful. i think it's important to raise the matter so it doesn't happen to someone else, HOWEVER, knowing how short-staffed the NHS is, especially for midwives, I would stress that it wasn't simply a case of the midwife's fault. Yes she should have read the results better, but we all know what it's like when we're run off our feet at work and we do something in a rush and make a mistake. The unfortunate thing for midwives is that they're dealing with people's lives rather than whether a customer gets their order in time or something much less serious. I don't think that midwife should be punished, because it's not her fault that there aren't enough midwives to go around!! I do really feel for you though.

Status: Offline

Mar 16th, 2010, 12:58 PM	#4
Hollys_Twinny Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Uk Posts: 4,231	I'd definatlty complain, she obviously needs a refresher course on this kinda thing, glad you & LO are ok x

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Mar 16th, 2010, 14:41 PM	#5
suzib76 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4,693	im not sure but i would imagine you would have to prove the link between not being treated for GD and developing pre eclampsia? this could be a real stumbling block tbh i had GD and never required treatment other than a small change in diet it does seem slightly unbelieveable that results could be read incorrectly, not sure how she could of managed it, and then why did she go back 8 weeks later and double check the results? its a dodgy one if you ask me but obviously you have to do what you feel necessary so i would guess calling the local health board would be your first port of call however you also say the consultant has put it in writing that they surgery were negligent, if they have written to them stating that then they must have made this official already

Status: Offline

Mar 17th, 2010, 05:41 AM	#6
gemsio Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 97	thanks for everyones advice, it may sound unbelieveable but it did happen, the midwife looked at my notes told me everything was fine then eight weeks later looked at the samd notes and said i should ve refered, after tests it needed to be insulin controlled, but i only managed a week before i got very sick and had to be admitted, the consultant said there was no doubt that my untreatede diabetes was the cause of the onset of the pre eclampsia. I will check out that website, so thankyou. X x

Status: Offline

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