couldnt make ANOTHER appointment cos of this snow *update - MIDWIFE GONE HOME! WTF! *

[MrsQ]

Labour isnt classed as an emergency (i work for London ambulance service in the 999 call out dept) and we got by red amber and green. Red is life threatening and amber is like a 20 min response and so on and so forth.
Depends on the RTC (called RTC now as accident was too broad???) but the only way you would get a red call out if its whats known as a BBA (born before arrival) are high risk but even then you are only high risk if you have placenta previa or whatnot.
which is why i have always refused to call an ambulance out as i know you would prob get there quicker than if you call an ambulance.
x

It must be different for different areas - obstetrics isn't my area (I'm a pathologist), but I've always been told labouring women are considered top priority over everything else (which I can't say I automatically agree with). Oh, and the RTC thing came into effect because apparently there's "no such thing as an accident" *roll eyes*. I still call it RTA....I can't shake that habit.

You know more about the ambulance service than me, but I do wonder if your procedures are just a London thing?

I dunno but i know London are apparently one of the only places you get free labouring calls?
x

 

[chuck]

Thing that gets me is how would they actually charge you?

How common do you think it really is to be charged??

I'm sure its the kind of thing that if you were charged you could contest given the situation you are in due to weather conditions etc...but then they would just ask why you didnt get a taxi I suppose?

 

[MrsQ]

well saying that about taxis i called around and they said they wouldnt take me if i was haemorraging or waters pouring out which is fair enough, either that or you get charged like you would if you sick up on their seats i spose!

If weather better i may even try driving myself when in labour lol.
x

 

[chuck]

DONT drive yourself missy!!!

With the taxi just take a bin bag and a couple towels with you...like the driver would actaully refuse to take you unless they were a complete c**t.

 

[jmac]

I can't believe this paying for an ambulance thing!!! I'd honestly never considered it.

 

[Snoopy]

Labour isnt classed as an emergency (i work for London ambulance service in the 999 call out dept) and we got by red amber and green. Red is life threatening and amber is like a 20 min response and so on and so forth.
Depends on the RTC (called RTC now as accident was too broad???) but the only way you would get a red call out if its whats known as a BBA (born before arrival) are high risk but even then you are only high risk if you have placenta previa or whatnot.
which is why i have always refused to call an ambulance out as i know you would prob get there quicker than if you call an ambulance.
x

It must be different for different areas - obstetrics isn't my area (I'm a pathologist), but I've always been told labouring women are considered top priority over everything else (which I can't say I automatically agree with). Oh, and the RTC thing came into effect because apparently there's "no such thing as an accident" *roll eyes*. I still call it RTA....I can't shake that habit.

You know more about the ambulance service than me, but I do wonder if your procedures are just a London thing?

I dunno but i know London are apparently one of the only places you get free labouring calls?
x

See, this is what I don't get. The disparity across the country is huge.

I've no idea what they expect you to do. Labour isn't predictable, even first-time mums can have very rapid first stages. Many taxi drivers won't take you (so I've heard...)...so what's left? Taking the bus? It's bonkers!

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't call an ambulance myself for simply being in labour. But I would if it was clear I was having complications.

I find it laughable once you're in hospital you seem to be subjected to all sorts of restrictions, monitoring, interventions and so on, but if you can't get there you're apparently on your own.

Sorry I seem to have confused matters somewhat I had no idea the ambulance services were so different.

 

[MrsQ]

Labour isnt classed as an emergency (i work for London ambulance service in the 999 call out dept) and we got by red amber and green. Red is life threatening and amber is like a 20 min response and so on and so forth.
Depends on the RTC (called RTC now as accident was too broad???) but the only way you would get a red call out if its whats known as a BBA (born before arrival) are high risk but even then you are only high risk if you have placenta previa or whatnot.
which is why i have always refused to call an ambulance out as i know you would prob get there quicker than if you call an ambulance.
x

It must be different for different areas - obstetrics isn't my area (I'm a pathologist), but I've always been told labouring women are considered top priority over everything else (which I can't say I automatically agree with). Oh, and the RTC thing came into effect because apparently there's "no such thing as an accident" *roll eyes*. I still call it RTA....I can't shake that habit.

You know more about the ambulance service than me, but I do wonder if your procedures are just a London thing?

I dunno but i know London are apparently one of the only places you get free labouring calls?
x

See, this is what I don't get. The disparity across the country is huge.

I've no idea what they expect you to do. Labour isn't predictable, even first-time mums can have very rapid first stages. Many taxi drivers won't take you (so I've heard...)...so what's left? Taking the bus? It's bonkers!

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't call an ambulance myself for simply being in labour. But I would if it was clear I was having complications.

I find it laughable once you're in hospital you seem to be subjected to all sorts of restrictions, monitoring, interventions and so on, but if you can't get there you're apparently on your own.

Sorry I seem to have confused matters somewhat I had no idea the ambulance services were so different.

no need to worry hun i didnt know and i work for the bloody ambulance service lol.
But yes it is a joke that you cant get to hospital you are practically left on your own.

Not sure wat to do. asked for mw to call me back at 12 and its now 1.05 surely she could have phoned me when she had the time when i would have been in the appointment?
x

 

[Snoopy]

See, this is what I don't get. The disparity across the country is huge.

I've no idea what they expect you to do. Labour isn't predictable, even first-time mums can have very rapid first stages. Many taxi drivers won't take you (so I've heard...)...so what's left? Taking the bus? It's bonkers!

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't call an ambulance myself for simply being in labour. But I would if it was clear I was having complications.

I find it laughable once you're in hospital you seem to be subjected to all sorts of restrictions, monitoring, interventions and so on, but if you can't get there you're apparently on your own.

Sorry I seem to have confused matters somewhat I had no idea the ambulance services were so different.

no need to worry hun i didnt know and i work for the bloody ambulance service lol.
But yes it is a joke that you cant get to hospital you are practically left on your own.

Not sure wat to do. asked for mw to call me back at 12 and its now 1.05 surely she could have phoned me when she had the time when i would have been in the appointment?
x

Is it possible to transfer to a different hospital? I know it sounds extreme and isn't what you want to be considering at this late stage.....


(oh, and if you're interested, it's precisely because I've got medical degrees that I'm having a home birth )

 

[Emma1980]

my ambulance service is the same - was warned off the midwife at one of my first appointments that i would be charged if i called one when in labour - think she said around the £70 mark too...

Ive been having the same worries lately about labour, as we have over a foot of snow, i dont drive, no one close to me drives, taxis are mostly refusing to work because of the weather conditions, there isnt a bus service from here to the hospital... its a 30 minute walk - am i supposed to do that? fuckin nightmare.

Our midwifes dont do home visits either, so can understand how you are feeling, i ended up calling a taxi on monday to get there and back, since then we've had more snow and now that wouldnt be possible...

wish the council would get their arses in gear and grit the roads to at least give us a chance! we've been warned we have a severe snowstorm coming thru tonight, great!

 

[MrsQ]

the midwifes do tyhe three nearest hospitals to me which are epsom, guildford and east surrey so i have no idea where else i would go and also cos i am under a consultant am loath to change as he is a specialist in my brain problem.
x

 

[lynnikins]

im kinda in north west surrey and i know if i go into labour and cant get to the hospital myself ( not too bad its only a 10min walk ) that i can call the delivery suite and have them organize paitent transport to get me there rather than calling an ambulance. so you could always call the labour/delivery ward as your post 20wks then they will talk to you there and thats where the community MW's for your area should be based so you can request one to come out

 

[Snoopy]

the midwifes do tyhe three nearest hospitals to me which are epsom, guildford and east surrey so i have no idea where else i would go and also cos i am under a consultant am loath to change as he is a specialist in my brain problem.
x

Well, I know my situation's very different, but I can highly recommend Royal Surrey at Guildford. So far I can't fault them or the community midwives on my home birth team who're based there.

 

[Kota]

Really feel for you MrsQ, can't believe the situation you've been left in.

I find it absolutely shocking that given weather conditions of late people would still be charged for calling an ambulance if they found themselves in active labour with gridlocked roads, no buses, taxis not working or taking people and no friends/family available to drive them.
You can plan for labour all you want, but ultimately it will happen when it wants to, not when the weather conditions are suitable for you to get to hospital easily.

 

[MrsQ]

i am quite scared!
x

 

[Snoopy]

i am quite scared!
x

Jeez (sorry, I can't get over all this) - if you go into labour, I'LL come and help you!

Ok, that might not be so convenient for you.

I've just asked a colleague whether he knew about the ambulance charging nonsense - he's still hospital-based, whereas I'm not - and he was shocked and outraged too. He's been a doctor for about 20 years and hadn't heard of this.

 

[MrsQ]

well just called back as had been waiting an hour and a half for a call and shes gone home for the day!

Glad my misfortune had let her off early hey!!!!

What do i do now????

Starting to cry again!!!!!

 

[MrsQ]

i am quite scared!
x

Jeez (sorry, I can't get over all this) - if you go into labour, I'LL come and help you!

Ok, that might not be so convenient for you.

I've just asked a colleague whether he knew about the ambulance charging nonsense - he's still hospital-based, whereas I'm not - and he was shocked and outraged too. He's been a doctor for about 20 years and hadn't heard of this.

Hopefully this is nonesense. But have been told from someone who is huigh up in LAS so dont want to take it off the chin?

i know how deliver a baby but whether i can tell hubby what to do when i am in so much pain is another thing!!

....................wheres that youtube video that helped that couple...............

 

[Snoopy]

Don't cry hun - get on the phone to the unit and demand to be seen by someone. Explain everything, go nuts. Threaten to go to the press if you have to.

And contact this place https://www.aims.org.uk/

They've got a helpline for situations like this.

 

[MrsQ]

i cant help it i have had enough.
shit like this always happens to me.

thank you everyone for all your support you have all been great! especially you snoopy! x
x

 

[loopy_lou]

Call the maternity hospital explain you cant get hold of your MW and you needed to get the induction booked perhaps they can book your induction given the weather and bypass the MW?

Call the doctors surgery and demand a doctor come out and see you which means that you can get your BP and your Anti-biotics sorted. If you have not been able to get anywhere with the hospital tell the doctor when they pop around and they can get the midwife to sort it out. Might take more notice of the doc.

Hugs

Loopy