"They objected to helping me care for my baby even when I couldn't move"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2022 and 2024:

I have twice given birth at the JR, in 2022 and 2024. Both times I laboured and had an emergency c-section as my babies were not positioned correctly and after very long labours they were not progressing. Both times I would commend the theatre staff and the care in MAU was fine, however in recovery and then the post-labour ward it was a whole different story.

I'll focus on my second baby born August 2024 but I had a very similar experience the first time round. After the c-section I was given lots of pain relief to help as the epidural wore off. I knew I should then be due various pain medications at regular intervals based on my previous experience but these did not come.

After 7 hours without pain relief I started to press the call bell to ask for some as I was concerned about pain levels building up, I was told someone would be around shortly but no one came. I continued to call every hour or so and each time I was told "someone will come round soon" and no one did.

After 10 hours the anaesthetist came to check on me on her rounds, asked if I was keeping on top of my pain relief and was deeply unimpressed when I said I hadn't been given any even despite asking several times. When my midwife eventually got to me with drugs, she told me no one had told her I was calling, she gave me as much pain relief as possible and discharged me straight away at my request.

The cleanliness of the ward was poor, I had a fan that was caked in dust and the shower stool had black mould growing on it. The attitude of the staff was awful. During almost every interaction I was made to feel like I was getting in the way of staff members doing their jobs, instead of my care being their job. They objected to helping me care for my baby even when I couldn't move just after having been sliced through. I was left lying in bloodied sheets after being told "someone will be around to change them" - they never came.

None of the staff were wearing visible ID badges or name badges and as a member of Trust staff I know they should be! None of them introduced themselves or their role, explained what was happening or asked for my consent to do anything to me. The lack of care, empathy, basic humanity from the staff was the most concerning to me and that was consistent in my 2 experiences, 2 years apart and I've heard the same from countless other women.

Second time around I was somewhat braced for it and got out of there as soon as I could but I still feel afraid to ever give birth there again but also painfully aware that I don't really have any other options were I to have a third child.

It is vital that things change and that women and babies stop experiencing such substandard care.