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Your experiences

Have you been failed by OUH?

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 add yours.

Our voices are louder together.

You can share your experience anonymously – simply leave the contact boxes below 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.

"She forcibly gave me a strip wash without my consent"

A mother's experience using Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: When I was in recovery after my emergency c section...

Apr 18

"I lost both my tubes and babies due to the negligence of the OUH Trust"

A mother's experience of Oxford Maternity Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: I lost both my tubes and babies due to the negligence of...

Apr 16

"I said this feels so inhumane"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2022: I think it’s time to share my story. I know it’s not...

Apr 16

"No one believed me at all."

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2014: Despite having been seen by a public health consultant...

Apr 16

"I no longer wanted to give birth at the JR as I didn’t trust them, I wish I had followed my gut!"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: My little boy was born at the JR in December 2023. At...

Mar 6

"I'm on a theatre table, no pain relief, no explanation on what is happening"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020: I was under the care of consultants at the JR due to...

Mar 5

"My birth experience was so traumatic"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2021: I was coerced to have an induction by my community...

Mar 4

"I was discharged without pain relief, after a 20 hour labour, forceps and a c-section"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: I had my daughter at the JR December 2023. My waters...

Mar 1

"No privacy, no food, no care or support"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2019: My second child was born via planned caesarean section....

Feb 28

"Aftercare on the ward was non-existent"

A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2010: I was induced on the Friday morning with a pessary. I...

Feb 28

"The morning after, my cannula was falling out. No one came to check or remove it…I took it out myself."

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2024: My actual planned c section went very smoothly but the...

Feb 27

"My baby was born hypoxic, she was not breathing"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2016: My daughter was born in 2016 via emergency c-section. I...

Feb 26

"I was forced to go two weeks overdue. That was just the beginning of the nightmare."

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2019: There were warning signs throughout my pregnancy that...

Feb 26

"My Niece died before she was born due to failings at the John Radcliffe"

An auntie's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: My Niece died before she was born due to failings at...

Feb 25

"We were hounded by the feeding team and midwives constantly"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2024: I went into premature labour (35+4) in July 2024. My...

Feb 24

"I had 3 panic attacks on the ward and was not responded to"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: After my birth I was out in a side room on the post...

Feb 24

"I am now reluctant to consider having another child and feel a profound loss of trust in the NHS"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2024: On a Monday at approximately 2 a.m., my waters broke (I...

Feb 24

"I was treated as subhuman, an object taking up space"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020/21: My pregnancy was marked by various failings by OUH. I...

Feb 24

"The nurses knew the signs of an abruption but I was just shrugged off"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2017: My daughter was born 5 weeks early and I was suffering...

Feb 24

"I was left in my own blood"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2016 and 2021: I have had two birth experiences at the John...

Feb 24

"I am sure there was a cover up"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 1985: My baby girl was born in 1985 at term with HIE and...

Feb 24

"Nobody was listening to me"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: My daughter was born in 2023 at the John Radcliffe...

Feb 24

"We feel lied to and betrayed"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2017: Our daughter was born in November 2017 after a traumatic...

Feb 23

"I felt I was going to die"

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: My first days and weeks and months as a mother were...

Feb 23

Read other people's experiences

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