Maternity Unit - Manchester

Cristopher

The staff here are heroes, could not be more thankful to everyone who assisted my wife giving birth, in the antenatal, labour and the post-natal wards where she and the baby were taken care of. The staff are angels, especially Christina P (Chris) who was the midwife that helped us during the last stage of labour. Facilities were clean and as modern as we expected them to be. Just a note on some reviews, people expect maternity wards to be hotels and they are not. The staff there have to deal with hundreds of people daily, and in depth. Be as prepared as possible, get informed about what you need to bring and ask questions.

Karli J.

This is 2 years ago and only just feeling I can post, I had to go to this unit a few times with bad bleeding I got stuck in a waiting room for hours waiting to get examined. We went at one point they told us baby has low heartbeat so expect the worst gave us a ultrasound picture and aggressively said put that pic away when you leave the room. A few days later inwas bleeding heavy rang so many times nobody answered we got there explaining the situation had to wait got a internal no heartbeat basically got told to get dressed and go into a room ...the worst room I can ever imagine dirty wall paper pealing really grim then a student doctor came in reading off a card our opinions. Worst experience we can go though but to be in a place that you would think would give you a little more compassion. The day came I was going to have my dnc I told them I no I have passed the baby they kept me there hours until my mothering law demanded a scan when they did they said yeah it's passed you can go. The duty of care was shocking all this time has passed and still traumatised

Clare

The Care Quality Commission inspection report of 2023 asks the question 'Is the Maternity Unit safe?'. The report states 'Our rating of safe went down. We rated it as inadequate'.

It's taken me a year to write this review...
I had my first baby at Wythenshawe in 2023 and the whole experience was and is still to this day extremely upsetting.
I had to report inappropriate comments made during one of my scan appointments resulting in apologies being made by a senior doctor. During labour I progressed to an emergency situation calling for an emergency c-section. The midwife lost crucial equipment during those moments which resulted in a delay and significant panic during the emergency situation. This midwife was completely incompetent. My time in hospital post-section meant I hadn't slept for 2 full nights but you are just left with no help for you or your newborn baby. On discharge day when me and my husband asked if we could be prioritised to go home because I was in a really bad way - we were shouted at like school children by the midwife. The nurse who then did the baby checks so we could leave approached us like Miss Trunchbull with a threatening and confronting attitude. We left the hospital with our new baby in tears. The way we were treated, also considering what we had just been through, was just devastating. In general, the staff on the ward were dismissive, lacking in skill or rude, apart from one who was lovely and attentive during her time on shift. I hope the CQC report and the experiences of the families who have had such awful experiences are listened to and changes are made. The skill level and attitudes of staff on the ward is very concerning to me.

Ellie L.

Jasmine ward was calm and clean. Friendly hospital staff, Dr Barnes the registrar and the other doctor Josie were very friendly approachable and quick to help.

joanne B.

I am going back many years ago and hoping that it has improved. My first pregnancy which was over 30 years ago was the most stressful experience I have ever come across, I was 18 years old and rushed in to hospital to give birth. Staff treated me like a silly child, I was frightened and treated disgusting because of my age. I was in labour for many hours and I was getting tired and baby was getting stressed. I was petite and baby was big. There was talk about sending me down for c section but the midwife decided to proceed with natural birth. I ended up with an epidural which helped. After giving birth I suffered with increasing back pain where I was unable to move and even pick my baby up . I was basically told to stop being soft and they would not help me to even put baby in my arms so I could feed him. I had to stay in hospital for a week as I was only 18 . I was treated disgusting by staff and ignored. After getting out of hospital I went on to suffer pain in my back for over a year and then put on pain killers by my own GP. This experience put me off ever having another baby . 12 years later I was 30 and me and my husband found out I was pregnant again . The stresses of what had happened to me made my pregnancy un enjoyable as I didn’t want to experience what happened to me years ago. The midwives were horrible to me and made me feel worthless. Anyway I went for a birth natural gas and air no epidural and asked if I could have my baby and come straight home. I was now classed as a geriatric mother because I was 30 . During birth the gas had run out and midwives brought in a new bottle and mask. My husband had noticed while the midwife was bringing this into the room the mask was being dragged along the floor. And then the mask placed on my mouth. . I gave birth at 6 am and by 9 am was back home. Within a couple of hours my mouth tingling and the next day I came up with soars all around my mouth and inside my mouth . The first few days where I should have been enjoying my baby and taking him outside I spent in the house as my mouth was so soar and looked awful, it was like I had big blisters inside and around my mouth. We know this was due to in professional midwives not sticking to hygiene procedures and dragging a face mask along floors in order to get it into my room. My husband had also noticed the midwife had taken the gas bottle and mask out of the room next to me where a lady had just given birth so there was no way the mask was ever changed. This the mask was used on this lady then given to me causing me to have a reaction. No more children for me I was treated disgustingly on both occasions.

Beki M.

Had complications with my birth but the staff here did everything to make it a beautiful experience that I'll cherish.

My bonnie baby boy was born by forceps after induction and everyone was warm, calm and nurturing. Had lots of guidance on breastfeeding too and help with a severe tongue tie. I had wished to go to the birth centre but honestly you're in safe hands if you're sent to the delivery suite.

Thank you so much to everyone ❤️

Lily M.

I had a C section last week at Wythenshawe Hospital. I had a very lovely experience, given i was going to go through a major abdominal surgery, but the whole team made it so much less stressful and they were all amazing, making sure I will have the smoothest recovery. Very attentive, caring and professional. Special thank you to my surgeon on the day, Dr. Noor and lovely anaesthesiologist , they were . Also all the midwives on the ward and Gemma, who was super friendly and lovely to interact with.

Marthe D. F.

Had my daughter here three weeks ago and couldn’t have asked for better care, both in the complex weeks before she was born and after her birth. I was diagnosed with a condition that meant I needed to deliver at 36 weeks - a condition I was amazed to have been diagnosed with at all, as I felt so fine and well throughout my pregnancy! It was thanks to the doctors, nurses and midwives’ pro activity that anything was spotted. Their actions saved both our lives.

I had an elective c-section as I didn’t think an induction would work well at 36w and the entire team in the theatre were just extraordinary. Dr Claire Noor was amazing and so communicative and brilliant throughout, which made me feel at ease. The amazing anaesthetists kept me calm throughout and I’m so grateful to them for their care.

After delivery we both had a few complications, including being readmitted (which wasn’t ideal as I should never have been discharged!) - but the midwives and doctors we saw throughout were just extraordinary. Both of us had top tier treatment.

The only complaint was Dr Wissam Arab, a junior doctor who was really rude and unprofessional in his manner. But he’s on rotation, so not a fixed part of the maternity staff. Everyone else was beyond incredible, from paediatrics to consultants to midwives to RNs to healthcare assistants.

Particular shout out to the midwives Beth (who helped me so much with feeding) and Abbi for so much continued help. Also to the entire Mavis clinic (especially Dana) who just went above and beyond to care for me pre and post natally.

Grateful that my daughter and I have had such wonderful care and that we chose Wythenshawe in the first place.