Chelsea and Westminster Hospital — Attraction in London

Compassionless and Negligent Baby Loss Care

I chose Chelsea and Westminster for my maternity care and initially had a positive midwifery experience. However, when my baby died, the care I received was terrible. If I had known how unsupported I would be in such a devastating situation, I would have chosen another hospital. I’m sharing my experience in the hope that no other woman will go through what I did.

At nearly 13 weeks pregnant, I attended the hospital for my scan. The sonographer called in a colleague, then told us the baby was measuring 10 weeks and 2 days. We initially thought she was saying the baby had been dated wrongly. Then she said there was no heartbeat. I asked if there was any chance of a mistake — I’d had two previous healthy scans — but was told no. I was given a leaflet and tissues, but no explanation or support. I only realised I’d had a missed miscarriage after overhearing the sonographer on the phone. We were sent home in shock, told another department would call.

The next day we went to the Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU). I sat in tears in the waiting room for over an hour, surrounded by other patients, including a woman with a young baby. My partner asked for help, but staff were indifferent. Eventually, we were taken to a private room. I was told I needed urgent surgery and asked about our preferences for our baby's remains. We were also offered cytogenetic testing, which we agreed to and paid for.

I later attended for surgery, having completed electronic consent forms and elected private cremation for our baby. When we arrived at the Day Centre, my partner was told he couldn't be with me (which I later found out was due to building work) — with no compassion or regard for our situation. I was left alone, visibly distressed. Another patient tried to comfort me, but staff showed little awareness or care.

I was placed in a curtained-off area with chairs, not a proper bay (dressings were stored there and a staff member’s belongings). I felt incredibly vulnerable without privacy. Staff seemed unaware of what surgery I was having or which medications I needed. I asked six different staff members about misoprostol and anti-D. No one seemed to know. I had to show them my patient leaflet. I was distressed and alone, without an advocate.

Only the anaesthetist showed any real kindness. When I finally saw the surgeon, he rushed through the consent process and only discussed our baby's remains. He filled out a new consent form — incorrectly. I was too upset to notice, and this error meant our wishes may not have been followed. We had to chase this through multiple calls and emails to both PALS and the EPU — none of which were answered.

Before surgery, I was told I would be placed on a maternity ward when I woke up — which, after losing a baby, was deeply upsetting. Thankfully, I wasn’t. I was discharged later that day, with no follow-up plan.

Within 24 hours I had severe pelvic pain and later heavy bleeding. I contacted the EPU and was told to wait and see. After further bleeding and calling again, they agreed to scan me. I was told I had retained products of conception. I was offered three options — more surgery , medication, or waiting ). All had further complications risks so I was told to wait three more weeks. I felt completely unsupported.

Due to the poor care I had received, I sought a private second opinion. I was told I needed urgent surgery and paid to have this done. The removed tissue was necrotic — I was told I was lucky not to have developed sepsis, which is life threatening.

At no point was I offered psychological support for my baby loss or the trauma that followed. We made repeated attempts to clarify the mishandled consent form. The only real compassion came from the hospital's chaplaincy team, for which we are deeply grateful.

Nine months on, I am still undergoing treatment and investigations. I wonder how much of this could have been avoided with better care from the outset.

I strongly advise other women to seek maternity care elsewhere. I will never return to...

Horrendous experience of malpractice with doctors Rhoads, Yorke and Green in the Children's A&E ward. These three paediatricians failed as medics to conduct a full basic examination of my feverish baby to diagnose the common condition of a red sore throat. Incidentally this is the first time my one year old daughter was feverish or ill in any respect. Instead this pack of three wolves unleashed a deluge of threats and bullying tactics over a fictitious leg bone infection, demanding blood tests for "septic arthritis and osteomyelitis", repeatedly threatening “my baby would never walk again if I refused blood samples” and that I “would be a negligent parent” to do so. No offer of a simple urine test was made as the professional paediatrician Dr.Priya requested the following day at Hammersmith, diagnosing a simple throat infection that cleared within a couple of days. Upon my decision to obtain a second opinion from another hospital, Rhoads summoned in the duty registrar Yorke, who threatened to "report you to the health visitor and social services", although I have neither of these. Their report is a classic malpractice document littered with undiluted lies about leg pain, including this brazen nonsense by Green: "At night she is pulling her clothes down to rub her left leg. Mum says she has never done this before", pulled from her bag of tricks. I mentioned her leg in passing because she lifts this off the floor whilst crawling and as a first time mother was unaware this a normal crawling stage prior to standing and walking. Not one of the three oafs asked to see her crawl although I suggested this. My baby was visibly distressed by these bullies, cramped in the small assessment room with Margaret Rhoads repeatedly snapping "She's clearly fussy and irritable". These three are a disgrace to the NHS in my judgement. Realising these three predatory bullies were trying to intimidate us into unnecessarily extracting blood from my one year old feverish baby we sought a second opinion the following morning at Hammersmith Hospital, assessed by Dr Priya who was a breathe of fresh air and extremely professional in stark contrast, conducting a thorough examination resulting in a correct diagnosis. A urine test was requested and happily provided. These three women will never be allowed near my daughter ever again. I cannot understand the leg drama when the unnecessary wasted X-rays proved normal and the examination of my baby by Green showed "no rashes, no erythema, no swelling and no warmth to any of the joints, kicking and moving both legs, on passive movement of the lower leg joints, normal ROM". Neither had my baby suffered an injury of any sort which can trigger a bone infection. It's amazing how Green uses the word 'discussions' to describe our interactions with Yorke, the registrar on duty, however it was undoubtedly a one-sided attack. Green inadvertently admitted "Mum was extremely upset about being threatened with social services" the operative word being "threatened" encapsulating the whole disgusting experience. They compiled this load of lying drivel, not mentioning Rhoads and Yorke's repeated threats "your baby will never walk again”, "she will be crippled", "this is life changing, we have to extract a pus sample in her knee with needles". These three oafs also had the audacity to contact my GP who confirmed there were no family concerns also threatening in their report to "put her notes in the HV box for discussion in the safeguarding meeting". What a waste of NHS time. It is blatantly apparent, babies need safeguarding from these incompetent paediatricians. I wonder how many other unsuspecting parents have been scare-mongered into unnecessary tests. Fortunately these wretched bullies did not intimidate us whatsoever, indeed they are disgrace to the medical profession. I will be taking this further through appropriate medical channels and if necessary following this through legally. These so-called children’s doctors clearly feel they are a law unto themselves, unquestionable, infallible and...

One of the most horrendous experiences I’ve ever had in my life. First of all I must to say I decided to tell about my experience and hopefully, whoever works in the HR can make something about it and the way they see patients/people in this hospital. Because clearly they NOT selecting valuable competent , neither professional staff to work in this hospital at all. I went to emergency about 11am on December 28th, after being advised to do this by 3 doctors (one was one of my students as I am a teacher), the lady on the 999 line, after found out my GP was closed for holidays, and after trying to contact for hours 111 line which never ever replied and put me on hold. I started having a terrible rash all over my body which started in the last 48h, but had spread fast and its super itchy and gave me cold/heat waves around my body, strong headache, night sweats, eyes pain, ears ache, impossible to sleep, and started feeling flu symptoms, I haven’t done anything out of my routine, neither use any product or anything which could possibly cause the rash All this was informed as soon as I arrived to the 3/4 doctors which saw me while they wasted my time in there. Totally unprofessionals since the very first moment you step into the hospital. The guy in the reception in a video call with his family while talking to the patient before me and while talking to me. Then I had to go A&E which was next door, as soon as I arrive the guy at this reception with tattoos in his right hand around his 30’s , with not intentions , manners or any idea of how to welcome someone who come to the hospital for an emergency reason/ ill. Extremely rude, homophobic and racist. I showed the email one of the doctors sent me earlier to show in the reception an ignored it told me to “sit there and wait mate” . After the wait they called my name, so I went into one of the cubicles, a kind young doctor very polite and friendly saw me quickly then asked me to move different cubicle where other “docs” will see me. First nurse/doc was asking questions “normally” till the point she asked who I live with so as soon as I mentioned my partner and that he was a “HE” everything changed. After this, another clearly homophobic, totally out of nowhere nurse/guy came and started to ask question about drugs and chems sex parties, as clearly he has this stereotype of gay in his mind. I mention I had a headache and he said" why because of the drugs?" - So I repeat I did not have drugs. At the beginning he told me I was gonna go home with medication or antibiotics, but after keep wasting time, hours for nothing and with a enormous migraine and heat all over my body/face due to the rash, they sent me home and asked me to “ comeback TOMORROW’ as they can’t solve my problem in there atm. They sent me home and told me to take a paracetamol for the headache and antiallergic pill for the rash, NOTHING ELSE! I also asked them to take blood samples to check out its not a bad advanced case of STI, also they refused and one of the “doctors/nurses” who made a flash appearance to “just take a look to the rashes” told me “STI tests are too expensive, we will test you for something else first”. I assume she basically means that she would rather me to die or suffer before paying for an -"expensive test" - as she mentioned. But STI test was never done either as they totally didn’t care at all. They took 3 or 4 blood samples “routine blood tests” ( same they would do if you limping, or vomiting , or have a cough, or got a headache, etc)Ignoring completely my actual physical /mental state. As expected after almost 3 hours results came negative. They refused to do ANYTHING else to solve my condition/ illness. Lack of empathy, humanity, totally ignoring what I was saying at all.And they sent me home. They clearly got no competitive managers to control what they do so they feel totally free to behave horrible as they do, and to abuse the power as doctors of sending you home without solution of anything.

This was my experience and I hope its helpful for more...