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"Birthing experience in Maternity Ward."

About: Bunbury Hospital / Maternity

(as the patient),

My birthing experience at Bunbury hospital is far from a good one. To say both me and my husband left feeling traumatised would be the understatement of the century. Not to mention the physical harm my child endured during the use of forceps done by a student dr, whilst the head dr observed instead of intervening after they attempted to lock the forceps onto my child’s head 4 times before success, causing them a permanent scar on their nose that they will have for life and bruising and cuts that were with them for their first weeks of life. After birth my baby struggled to open their eye.

It’s a dire shame on this hospital. Frankly I’d love to take further action but I am simply not equipped to give any of my time to this as it will bring up so much pain for our family and my child doesn’t deserve to have that mental capacity taken from his parents.

2 years on we are still saddened to think back on our treatment. The way we felt we were treated like cattle, dismissed, ignored, rushed, watched, and violated. 

I was a victim of the dreaded shift change birth. However, there is light in our story thanks to ONE nurse/midwife, and that is none other than Emma. She was our midwife during my induction and labour up until an hour before my baby's birth. She is our saving grace. She held me, physically and mentally during my labour. She was loving, kind, and supportive. She listened. And she made me feel heard. There is not one thing I’d change about those hours I’d spent with her during labour. In fact, I’d urge every other staff member that is a midwife or alike and even the Drs!, that works on this ward to take notes on her professionalism, and character, as frankly, she is the only thing good about Bunbury maternity ward in my opinion.

I was unlucky in that Emma’s shift has finished and she wasn’t there for when things got messy when my child’s birth was prominent. When she left (at no fault of her own) the whole trajectory of our experience took a sad turn. We went from feeling all things rainbows and sunshine in turns of treatment, from Emma, feeling like we were cattle in the slaughter house, being pressured, watched, poked and prodded and rushed. It was utterly inhumane how other staff treated us in those last hours of birth once Emma left in my opinion.

The treatment I received from Emma is what saved me mentally, whilst other members of staff made me feel violated, dismissed, and minimised in my experience to the greatest degree.

For that, I will never ever forgive Bunbury Hospital for their failure, however I will always be grateful to Emma, and hope with all my being that she is recognised for her work in holding up the fort, and setting a incredible example of how it should be done. I believe Bunbury hospital better count their darn blessings to have her as an employee. 

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Responses

Response from Katrina Jones, Clinical Midwifery Manager, Bunbury Hospital, WACHS South West 7 months ago
Katrina Jones
Clinical Midwifery Manager, Bunbury Hospital,
WACHS South West

(08) 9722 1348

Submitted on 21/08/2024 at 12:11 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 12:11 PM


picture of Katrina Jones

Dear mummar,

Thank you for sharing your birthing experience in our Maternity Unit at Bunbury Hospital two years ago.

The birth of a baby is such a momentous occasion and I am saddened and very sorry that your experience has had a long-term impact on your parenting journey. I want to assure you that we have taken your feedback very seriously and appreciate your strength and courage in sharing this with us.

From reading your story, I understand why you would be feeling concerned about reliving the pain and trauma and would like to assure you that it would never be our intention to re-traumatise you. If you do feel comfortable to reach out to us, it would support us in understanding more about what happened and help us to make any improvements to the care we provide. If you decide to contact us, please contact our customer liaison team at: SWfeedback@health.wa.gov.au Alternatively, you may like to contact me personally. My name is Katrina Jones and I am the Clinical Midwifery Manager of the Maternity Unit. Please feel free to call me at a time that is convenient to you on 0418 913 555.

If you decide not to reach out, I will still take the opportunity to share your experience directly with the Medical and Midwifery staff so that they can all reflect on and learn from your raw and honest feedback. I will also use your feedback to identify if we have any organisational gaps in services, such as clinical support provided to training Doctors.

I am very pleased to read that you received positive guidance and support from nurse/midwife Emma and will do my best to ascertain where to direct your kind words.

Again, I sincerely apologise for the impact that this experience has had on you and your partner over time. I would like to reassure you that we are working hard to ensure that the values and the culture of the Maternity Unit reflect those of kindness and compassion and align with contemporary person-centred care principles.

Warm regards

Katrina Jones

Nurse Unit Manager - Maternity

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Response from Sharlene Abbott, Service Co-Director Bunbury Hospital, Bunbury Hospital, WACHS-SW 6 months ago
Sharlene Abbott
Service Co-Director Bunbury Hospital, Bunbury Hospital,
WACHS-SW
Submitted on 18/09/2024 at 7:14 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 19/09/2024 at 9:08 AM


picture of Sharlene Abbott

Dear mummar,

I hope that both yourself and your baby are going well.

I am reaching out to let you know that we have shared the concerns you had raised with the teams. By receiving feedback, we can learn how to improve the consumer journey through better communication and compassion.

I understand that having a young baby can be busy, however if you have time and feel comfortable, please feel free to reach out and discuss the issues you raised with our Clinical Midwifery Manager, Katrina Jones on 0418 913 555.

I apologise that your experience had such a profound impact on you and your family, and truly appreciate the time taken to let us know, so we can improve.

Best wishes for you and your family,

Kind Regards,

Sharlene Abbott

Service Co-Director- Bunbury Hospital- Stream B

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