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"Rude Behavior of mid wife"

About: Rockingham General Hospital / Maternity, Labour Ward, Nursery and Level 2 Care Nursery

(as a parent/guardian),

On the night of our baby's, Mum had a well deserved sleep and woke around 8pm. After she woke up we headed to nursery as she needed to pump the milk and see our baby. We came back to room and she called mid wife because she needed more pads. The mid wife came in with a such a rude behavior and instead of listening to mum, they started asking me to leave. All we wanted is the new pad so that mum can clean up and we have a dinner. I explained to the midwife politely to attend mom then we can have dinner and I would leave. The midwife started saying that you are refusing to leave and I said Im not refusing to leave, I just want to help my wife with food and leave. Meanwhile, wife said that she is having pain in her abdomen and she wanted to go to washroom. Mid wife said let me have look, my wife said that I need to go to washroom first and then I will let you check, but mid wife asked her to lay down (again, I felt it was rude and forcing behavior), my wife laid on the bed and let the mid wife check. After that wife went to toilet and mid wife started to ask me to leave again, I told them politely that I not going, I will have food with my wife in family room and then leave from there, but I felt they kept being rude and won't let me wait my wife come out of toilet, then my wife came out and said that she needs help in toilet and I went to help her.

Then we came out and started walking towards kitchen/family room. While we walking, other mid-wife on duty said that you don't have to go there, we heat food for you, you can eat and then leave, but I refused the offer as I did not want to come across that rude mid wife. After we were finished with the food, I walked my wife to room and on the way we met Nursery mid-wife, who wanted my wife to come in and trying latching the baby as they were awake now. I was holding a food bag which I definitely cannot take to nursery, so mid wife asked me to keep it in the room and then come back to nursery. I went to room kept the food bag in there and head back to nursery, on the way back I stopped at mid wife office to ask if my wife wants help going to toilet, do you want me to come help my wife or you would do that. But I felt their way of looking at me was so rude and aggressive, as if how dare I ask question. I recall the midwife replied that they will tell my wife, Off you go, Off you go", in a seemingly rudest possible way. I could not stand their rude behavior and walked. 

I feel uncomfortable to leave my wife in care of such rude and unprofessional mid-wife. Asking  to leave is fine and within the policy and I never refused to leave, but being rude is personal choice and I feel that mid-wife is rude. After seeing all that happen, my wife was afraid to press the call  button because the same rude mid-wife is gonna show up and she is not comfortable in talking to them.

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Responses

Response from Kath Smith, Executive Director, Rockingham Peel Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 2 weeks ago
Kath Smith
Executive Director, Rockingham Peel Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service
Submitted on 14/03/2025 at 7:02 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 17/03/2025 at 10:29 AM


picture of Kath Smith

Dear woodpigeongy85,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and congratulations on the arrival of your new baby. I am sorry to hear that the midwife was so rude to you and your wife and sincerely apologise for the way this made you and your wife feel. The issues you have raised are of a concern as this does not align with our philosophy of women-centred care or the behaviour we expect from our staff.

I would like the opportunity to be able to investigate these issues fully as there are clearly areas where we can improve and perhaps identify learning opportunities. May I respectfully request that you contact our Consumer Liaison Team on 9599 4323 or rgh.feedback@health.wa.gov.au, so that we may work through the issues you have identified, not only for your benefit but also as an opportunity to improve for the benefit of future patients.

Kind Regards

Kath Smith

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