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Share your experience
Have you been failed by OUH maternity services?
Families tell us all the time that they haven't been listened to by Oxford University Hospitals' maternity staff. But your experience is vital in shaping the change we're demanding - and you deserve to be heard.
Below you'll see experiences of families who have been failed. If you feel able to, please share yours.
Our voices are louder together.
You can share your experience anonymously - simply leave the contact boxes blank. If you're happy for us to get in touch, please provide your name and email address.
For safeguarding reasons, any names included in testimonials published on this site will be anonymised.
Testimonies
"16 years later I am still trying to get gynaecological repair"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2010: I had an extremely difficult pregnancy, including hyperemesis, cholestasis, kidney issues, arrhythmia - every check-up seemed to include something new. I was under the care of the Silver Star team who kept me sane but made it clear there was a possibility there would not be a happy outcome for either of us. We got to delivery and labour went wrong, only saved by the fact that I was kept on a mo
4 days ago
"Deplorable care"
A grandparent’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020 and 2021: My daughter had two babies at JR. The first wasn't feeding well, but discharged, with daughter being dismissed as inexperienced, worrying & 'you'll get the hang of it'. Baby had a severe tongue-tie. I paid for a private midwife to rectify the problem, (I'm a retired paramedic of many years experience). Second pregnancy, daughter presented in labour, and was told to go home (withou
4 days ago
"I had lost my daughter, endured multiple pregnancy losses, and had been physically and psychologically harmed by the care I received"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020/21: I am writing to step forward and join the families affected by maternity care at John Radcliffe. I am sharing my full account now because I have only just become aware of the scale of the current investigation, and because I finally feel able to speak after holding this for five years. Our daughter, [daughter’s name], was stillborn on [date] 2021 at 39 weeks. She weighed 9lb 5oz. Before th
Feb 11
"We are heartbroken parents, grieving the tragic loss of our firstborn son"
Parent’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: We are heartbroken parents, grieving the tragic loss of our firstborn son, [son’s name] . It was such a difficult pregnancy, with hyperemesis gravidarium tormenting our brave [mother’s name] morning, noon and night. Throughout pregnancy [mother’s name] also suffered with UTI’s and general bloated feeling from second trimester. One of her final UTI’s she suffered visual disturbances believing this
Feb 10
"I requested a Caesarean… I was denied and forced into an induction"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2024: When I went overdue, I requested a Caesarean instead of being forced into induction which I did not want, due to the statistical rate of extreme interventions that scared me. I was denied and forced into an induction. Left to hyper stimulate for 10 hours (1 minute on, 40 seconds off), and treatment to help stop it never came. Pain relief denied. Eventually when baby went in to distress we got m
Feb 6
"I had laboured, pushed, and undergone an emergency forceps and suction delivery with a cervical stitch still in place"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2019 and 2023: First pregnancy – 2019 In 2019, I presented to the hospital at 24 weeks pregnant with vaginal bleeding and significant pain. I was admitted but no scans were performed, no internal examinations were carried out, and no meaningful assessments were made beyond routine observations. Despite my symptoms, I was discharged and sent home. Six days later, as my condition worsened, I brought
Feb 6
"I was experiencing bleeding and the fetus had a weak heartbeat, I was given only two paracetamol tablets and asked to wait"
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: I had a traumatic childbirth. Although I was experiencing bleeding and the fetus had a weak heartbeat, I was given only two paracetamol tablets and asked to wait, being considered a non-urgent case. Later, I required emergency surgery.
Feb 5
"During the whole labour I felt like I was being experimented on"
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2001: I had a terrifying and excruciating experience at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford in 2001. Now, nearly a quarter of a century later, I still bear mental and physical scars. I realise that I am fortunate because my daughter survived the ordeal and has grown up healthy and well. When my waters broke late on a Wednesday night the baby dropped to the left and my bump was distinctly lopsided. On
Feb 1
"I nearly lost my life due to the midwife pulling the umbilical cord"
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020: I nearly lost my life due to the midwife pulling the umbilical cord with my retained placenta causing a major haemorrhage with baby number 1.
Feb 1
"When looking at my medical notes months later, they’d put me on a sepsis pathway and had never told me"
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: I had my 1st baby in early 2023 and I didn't know what to expect, but I did not prepare for what had happened. I had my usual 40week (I was 40+5) midwife appointment and my blood pressure was taken. It was a little high, but I thought it was nerves due to having a sweep during the appointment. The reading didn't go down, but no protein was in my urine but advised to go to the maternity assessment
Jan 28
"Where my horror story begins is with the care given in the maternity ward afterwards"
A partner’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: My partner had a difficult C-section. It was planned but the process didn't go as smoothly as it should have. They nicked a blood vessel during the procedure and she lost a lot of blood. Then they had difficulty getting baby out and he required resuscitation immediately after being delivered. Thankfully he responded quickly and is completely fine. However, despite this the surgical team were by
Jan 28
"My water broke at 32 weeks… At 34 weeks, I was finally induced as an emergency after my baby’s heart rate rose"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: I am a 26-year-old mother and was under the care of John Radcliffe maternity services during my pregnancy and birth. I am autistic and have ADHD, which significantly affects how I process information, sensory input, and stress. These needs were documented, and I had a neurodivergence passport in place. I was also experiencing significant mental health difficulties during pregnancy. What I experie
Jan 27
"I was told there was nothing wrong and was sent home, despite being in extreme pain... I felt completely dismissed, ignored"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: I joined this campaign to raise awareness and to warn others about serious failings in care at Oxford University Hospitals, specifically the John Radcliffe Hospital. During my late pregnancy in 2025, I experienced numerous and escalating health problems. While heavily pregnant, I attended the hospital on two separate occasions due to severe and persistent pain. On both occasions, I was told the
Jan 26
"I’m heartbroken that my beautiful daughter has been plagued for her entire life due to negligence"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: My daughter has Erb’s Palsy due to negligence and this would have been avoided if the right thing was done. The last scan I had for my baby was at 36weeks and she weighed 3.2kg and she was born at 3.9kg. No pelvic examination was done to be sure I was able to push a 3.9kg baby via vagina birth. I was induced for labour at 40weeks after I have been presented with 3+ of protein in my urine sinc
Jan 26
"I was taken back up to the delivery suite to try for a "natural birth”… I still really struggle to understand why this risk was taken"
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2018: This was a complaint email I had drafted but had never sent as I had exceeded the 3 years but it details my experience: I would like to raise a complaint about the care I receive in October 2018. Unfortunately, I suffered with post-natal Anxiety and PTSD for which I underwent counselling. I then fell pregnant with my second son and did not want to re-live the trauma whilst pregnant and suffer a
Jan 25
"The person who WAS SUPPOSED to deal with my complaint openly admitted that she went on holiday and forgot"
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020: I gave birth to my son in 2020 and had a really bad experience alongside my husband. After that we decided not to have any more children. I complained to the hospital. The person who WAS SUPPOSED to deal with my complaint openly admitted that she went on holiday and forgot about my complaint after falling to respond for weeks.
Jan 25
"You never in your wildest dreams think it will be something so severe that you end up losing your child"
A mother shared the link below to a Guardian article detailing her experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2012: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/26/couple-twin-died-mistakes-obstetrician-hospital-oxford
Jan 25
"I questioned the risk this would put my baby at to be told "well, if we prioritise you over someone else, then we put their baby at risk"
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2013: I went overdue with my second baby and, despite the increased stillborn risk, was told I couldn't be induced until day 16. I questioned the risk this would put my baby at to be told "well, if we prioritise you over someone else, then we put their baby at risk instead".
Jan 25
"no pain relief, no checks and no food"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: I got to the MAU at about 1am. I sat in the waiting room until after 3am. I was having frequent contractions and in a lot of pain. Finally, we were given a room and shut in there for a few hours. My partner had to leave the unit entirely to go to the toilet and then waited ages to get buzzed back in, leaving me alone in labour. Someone finally came in and left me on a baby monitoring machine
Jan 25
"she scoffed at me and said ‘well we won’t be looking after your baby for you’. I will never, ever forget how that made me feel."
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: OUH is my tertiary hospital and it was planned for me to give birth at OUH as my son was diagnosed with a genetic condition in utero and we needed a NICU space on standby. He was born well and came back to the ward with me. We were supposed to go to a side room as he was likely immuno-compromised but this was not arranged and we were told not possible. I felt the most vulnerable I have ever bee
Dec 22, 2025
"I was not properly anaesthetised for the c section and had to shout to the surgeon to stop throughout"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2003: My traumatic first birth at the JR in 2003 ending with an emergency c section was awful. I wrote a letter of complaint and was apologised to by the consultant anaesthetist (who heard my screams from the corridor and came into theatre to address my pain) as I was not properly anaesthetised for the c section and had to shout to the surgeon to stop throughout. I was looked after by junior anaestheti
Dec 16, 2025
"the trauma from both the births at hospital made me decide I was absolutely not having any further children."
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2007 and 2009: I had my son at JR hospital in 2007. On arrival at the hospital I was told it was very busy due to a full moon! My labour was quite slow to progress and I didn’t get a bed for a while. I had a really lovely midwife who looked after me very well, even though it was very busy. I eventually got a bed and by this point the midwife was going off duty and the replacement came on. The original
Dec 16, 2025
"What happened to me was not just neglectful — it was inhumane."
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2022: I gave birth to my daughter at John Radcliffe Hospital in September 2022. What should have been a precious and joyful time turned into one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I had a C-section, and my daughter was taken to the NICU for 24 hours. No one came to update me, and no one offered to take me to see her. I was left in my hospital bed, desperate for news, frightened, and alone.
Nov 18, 2025
"After 21 hours my son was born with shoulder dystocia via forceps and a mediolateral episiotomy weighing 5.1kg"
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2018: Our son was born in 2018 at the JR hospital after being induced 14 days overdue. Throughout the whole pregnancy our son was measuring 99th centile. We knew our dates as he was IVF so there was no confusion over conception times. At our 34 week growth scan the baby measured 7lbs 14 oz. At the following midwife appointment at 36 weeks the baby was measured at 43 weeks the practitioner taking the
Nov 11, 2025
"I wasn’t listened to despite several requests to deliver my baby. My baby died full term."
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2015: Failed by inexperienced staff. I wasn’t listened to despite several requests to deliver my baby. My baby died full term. My family will never recover, the ripple effects are endless and forever unfolding.
Nov 9, 2025
"I lost a litre of blood and had 11 blood transfusions."
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2022: Due to being diabetic, a caesarean section was deemed the safest way to deliver my (second) baby. This was not the case. The team that did my caesarean managed to 'nick' one of my arteries. Unaware of this, they stitched me up and transferred me across to a bed. I was bleeding profusely. I was then moved back to the theatre table. As my blood pressure dropped to 54/11, I could feel the epidur
Nov 9, 2025
"The care I received was reckless in places and certainly heartless...I had a lot of trouble getting hold of my notes afterwards"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2006-2007: This is a very brief high level account, my husband has a better recollection of all the details and my medical notes. I was sent to OHU at 20 weeks following a placenta abruption at 12 weeks as by now my waters had broken just after the 20 week scan. After being sent up for a scan at OHU with [female consultant's name], who didn't look up from the scanner before saying "this problem shou
Nov 9, 2025
"my waters were leaking from 17 weeks, but they would not believe me"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2008-2009: I was pregnant with identical twin boys so many hospital visits as my waters were leaking from 17 weeks, but they would not believe me. I was finally admitted to hospital at 27 weeks because waters were still leaking – now they believed me. One day I remember clearly a midwife called dr because one of baby’s heart rates did not look right, this was few days before I went into premature lab
Nov 9, 2025
"Why were we put through the waiting?"
A father’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2015: Me and My partner were asked to go to The John Radcliffe hospital for a scan on our baby, we waited hours in the women’s unit to be then ushered into a scanning room to be told that our child had something called Hypo plastic left heart syndrome and were given the option to end the pregnancy which was well passed the usual termination time scale. My partner then had to wait to have the terminat
Nov 9, 2025
"I am 100% sure if the maternity unit had not neglected me, and I was on a high risk pregnancy, my son would definitely be alive."
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2022-2023: My second son was stillborn after the Oxford services refused to put me on a high risk pregnancy after my first born was born at 33 weeks and spent 3 weeks in the neonatal unit in Bradford Hospital, due to suspected placental abruption, but I never received my placenta back. I was in oxford for my second son and due to my medical records not saying my son was born at 33 weeks, they insiste
Nov 7, 2025
"I was handed a form to sign with no explanation- it was to decide what I wanted done with my baby's remains...She wasn't even out of me"
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2022: I fell pregnant with [daughter’s name] in June 2022 at the age of nineteen. I had experienced previous miscarriages and had a family history of complex pregnancies, so I contacted my doctor's surgery – [surgery name] - straight away. I had my first midwife appointment on August 01st 2022, with a midwife called [full name] . I was declared a high-risk pregnancy and was under the Lotus team. I d
Nov 7, 2025
"it was hospital policy to not provide c-sections based on maternal wishes. She agreed to transfer me to another hospital"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2018 and 2021: First child born in 2018. Gestational diabetes but the hospital could not provide appropriate food. Failed attempt to break waters was not realised for a day. I had been induced on a Friday and was finally taken to theatre on early hours of Monday morning-after 3 epidurals and weakness from no food and a large light crashing down next to my bed from the ceiling. When taken into theat
Nov 6, 2025
"The level of neglect, dismissal and just rudeness that I encountered in that vulnerable state brings me to tears"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2003: I was booked in for IOL on Fri 16th May due to severe PGP, I'd been housebound for a couple of months and very depressed. They started me off with the gel, but the suite was too busy, so they let the contractions wear off. This happened again during the next day. I eventually went down and had my membranes ruptured and was hooked up to oxytocin. Midwife was sweet. I had been very strongly adv
Nov 6, 2025
"the midwives were nothing short of brutal. A complete lack of empathy that defies belief"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2007: I gave birth to my daughter in 2007. While the male midwife [name] who took over during the final stages was very kind, all of the female midwives during my long and extremely painful labour were unbelievably harsh and unkind, lacking any kind of empathy. But the worst part of all was during the hours after the birth: I was criticised by a nurse/matron who was supposed to check on breastfeed
Nov 6, 2025
"The foetal trace showed signs of distress. The female senior registrar sent me home advising that I ‘count kicks’. My baby died two days later"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 1992, 1993 and 1996: In my third trimester I felt more and more concerned about the lack of movement of my baby. Accompanied by my midwife, I went up to the JR for a scan. The foetal trace showed signs of distress. The female senior registrar sent me home advising that I ‘count kicks’. My baby died two days later, and I gave birth to a dead baby. My lovely midwives came to his funeral. My son, [n
Nov 6, 2025
"I was not given any support to wash for a week"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2015: I had a twin pregnancy under the "care" of OUH JR and local NHS services. I had a scan at 7 weeks confirming twins and all seemed ok at that time. I later had a Doppler check up at my then doctors who could not locate a heart beat of one baby but said they were not concerned, they sought advice from the JR who did not want to scan me. I was deeply distressed being sent home not knowing if one
Nov 6, 2025
"On my documents I was told it was a 3A tear but it was a 3B tear when I consulted a gynae months later"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: On 17th August 2023 – I managed to labour at home until 8cm dilated. I then drove in from Banbury to John Radcliffe with my husband and mother. I was told that the midwife unit was closed for the day - it was the afternoon. I was sent to the delivery suite I think it’s called. Walked in (in fairly a bit of pain and very strong contractions) I told the midwife at reception that I am very close
Nov 5, 2025
"When my son was finally born he was blue and floppy"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2007: My Son was born in 2007 at 41 weeks. Since 37 week my GP was sending me to JR daily with very high blood pressure & 3+++ of protein in my urine, severe headaches & swelling. Every time the JR sent me home. I was in slow labour for 4 days before the JR panicked and started me in an oxytocin drip. I was given a sweep, which was agony and my waters broke, prompting the doctor to accuse me of uri
Nov 5, 2025
"I still think about that experience and wonder if the colour of my skin influenced the care I received"
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in [year] *: *We have removed the year this experience happened to protect the midwife from being identified. Before I gave birth, a black midwife quietly warned me about what I might face on the maternity ward. She told me to speak up if I was in pain and to exaggerate what I was feeling and added that I might not be listened to because of the colour of my skin. At the time, I brushed off her concerns a
Nov 4, 2025
"they began a conspiracy of silence and gaslighting me, denying the true version of events"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020 and 2023: It has been so difficult to process what happened during my daughter’s birth, partly because of the largely wonderful care I received in my previous pregnancies. In 2020, I lost my precious son to still birth. He had Trisomy 18, not detected during the combined screening test. When I declined a termination and an invasive amniocentesis (only options offered to me) I was not offered a
Oct 30, 2025
"I laboured too long, with mistakes from midwives and got sepsis."
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2018: I gave birth and lost a great deal of blood in labour. I laboured too long, with mistakes from midwives and got sepsis. I was left after blood loss alone with my baby with no midwives for hours despite calling the bell. I couldn’t stand or walk or feed my baby. Due to my blood loss I had no milk. They got my notes mixed up with another mum’s and told me that the only way to feed my baby would
Oct 25, 2025
"In the middle of my labour all the staff disappeared so I was left on my own for a few hours"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: I was forced to go to the JR after my blood pressure increased in the last week of pregnancy with my son. I had previously raised concerns about birthing there because I'd had an ectopic pregnancy before my son and my diagnosis and emergency surgery was all in the same building as the maternity services and I felt traumatised from the experience of my ectopic pregnancy. Perinatal mental healt
Oct 25, 2025
"within my story there is evidence of a lack of training and discrepancies in care across the board"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2019 and 2024: My experiences are somewhat mild to those I have read on this website, however, I do believe that within my story there is evidence of a lack of training and discrepancies in care across the board. If I applied these to a more serious situation, they could be life threatening. My firstborn was born on spires - we had a couple of concerns during pregnancy but it was straightforward. T
Oct 25, 2025
"A male nurse said to nurse A that’s CO₂ she was replacing the oxygen canister with"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: The lack of care started from the beginning when my waters broke. I was told the usual, if nothing progresses in the next 24hrs then ring back and we will need to induce you for infection prevention. So 24hrs later I call and say I’m in extreme pain can I please come in as it’s been 24hrs, they tell me I have to wait for a phone call as they are really busy. What they said about the risk of i
Oct 25, 2025
"The entire experience left both myself and my husband with post-traumatic stress"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2001 and 2002: Our harrowing experiences encountered at the...
Oct 9, 2025
"I felt imprisoned, not cared for. Abused, not supported."
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2019: My experience of childbirth in 2019 was traumatic and...
Oct 6, 2025
"they put my baby to the side in a bloody blanket and forgot about him."
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2022 and 2023-25: I lost a baby in 2022 and had a horrible...
Oct 4, 2025
"they were the reason why I got sepsis in the first place."
A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2022: I got to JR maternity and I asked for a water birth, so...
Oct 3, 2025
"The midwife told me it was “all in my head” and left me for six hours in agony with a hugely full bladder."
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: In 2023 my bladder stopped working during the birth of...
Sep 26, 2025
"they went to certify him as having passed away to then look at me and apologise to say he was still alive"
A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2006: I lost 2 babies in the JR in 2006, both babies died...
Sep 26, 2025
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