Disgusting NHS Hospitals! No wonder people get MRSA!?

Question

Went to have a look at the maternity unit in the nearest major hospital to us today (keep being told its safer to have my 1st baby in a hospital than in the local MLU).

I was horrified at how dirty the place was! The ante natal ward toilets were so dirty and smelly just walking in made me gag. It absolutely stank of sh1t, urine and vomit. There I have been in pub toilets that were cleaner!! The whole place was overcrowded, queues for toilets etc. The staff were brusque and most seemed to treat you like an annoyance.

The rooms were sparse and shabby. Even the "most comfy" room comprised of a bed, a dirty plastic chair and a toilet which was a cupboard.

I was really put off. In contrast the local MLU is lovely, clean, bright, small, homely. There are no anesthetists or consultants tho so if there's a problem or you need an epidural you have to be transferred to the major hosp.

I was so put off by this grotty hospital I can't face going there in labour! Any ideas?

Sadly the private wing of the hospital is totally out of question for us - we are too poor to pay private fees!!! Bet it wouldn't have been anywhere near as nasty as the NHS bit though.

Yeah it does seem you're only entitled to a clean, pleasant hospital in this country if you've got the money to PAY for it. Disgusting.

I'm just worried about catching something! Or my baby catching something. My aunt caught MRSA at her last hospital trip. Very very unpleasant. Another friend caught gastroenteritis while in the maternity ward.

Oh did I also mention the dirty bedpans and piles of soiled sheets sitting on trolleys in the corridors? I held my breath when passing them, partly because of the smell and partly I was afraid of the germs!

I'm going to discuss the possiblity and safety of going to the MLU with my midwife!

Answer 1

regret is the last thing you are going to want on your day of delivery.
do what YOU think is best.
i have always been amazed at how DIRTY hospitals are, and how RUDE a lot of nurses are...hello, did you not know what you were going to school for?! ugh.

Answer 2

How far along in your pregnancy are you? If not too far then I would suggest you voice your concerns to your GP and/or your midwife and try to arrange and prepare for for a home birth.
It it definitely best to have your first baby in hospital in case there are any complications but in the case of your local hospital as you describe it, I would say definitely NOT! If you are about to 'pop' can you not arrange to move to somewhere closer to a more salubrious hospital and stay with a relative? You would clearly have to tell your doctor and midwife if you were making alternative arrangements.
I am so sorry for you that you are being presented with these worries at such a special time, but it is a sad fact that the NHS is really poor and has been going downhill for many years. My father died of cancer in an NHS hospital about 20 years ago and the last time I saw him he was freezing cold, the ward was dirty and there were even flies crawling on him.
Try to research some hospitals which are near to you on the Internet. They have a grading system now. You might be able to get into one of the better ones. The following link may be of some help:
https://www.nhs.uk/England/Choice/Default.aspx
Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 3

Go to the midwife led unit. Believe me, they'll only transfer you if absolutely necessary for your's or the baby's safety.
It's complete Crap that it's safer to deliver your first at a Consultant unit. Ask what the section rate is. Remember the doctors change over in August and February, therefore you get inexperienced doctors telling experienced midwives what to do. The risk of intervention will be far higher too and you'll end up in theatre quicker than you know it.
Or go for a home birth. Your choice and your right at the end of the day.
The midwives at the MLU or attending home births are usually far more experienced and confident and will act as your advocate. Stay away from the CU is my advice.

Answer 4

How about a home birth with a midwife, you can try the bath one, that is suppose to help with labor pains. Or look at another hospital. If it is that dirty do not have a baby there what would happen if something unexpected happen while giving birth you don't want all those germs to be around a new born. If I was in your position I would defiantly go for a home birth were i knew thing are clean and sanitized also if something was to go wrong you can always request that the baby go to another hospital. If you plan on have a natural birth home is best, but if you don't want to go through that then check around at other birthing places.

Answer 5

Can you get yourself and your notes transferred to another hospital? When I went in to have my first baby, I was appalled by the lack of hygiene and after care. I had a very long and traumatic labour, and while the care was on hand at the time, afterwards I felt totally alone. I could barely get myself into/out of the bed. I walked down the corridor to the toilet, (pushing my baby in her cot), dripping blood all the way there. No one came to help. I ended up cleaning it up myself, when I could scarcely move for the pain from my stitches. I ended up getting an infected episiotomy, which made my recovery from childbirth much longer and quite distressing. I complained to the hospital in writing later, but just got fobbed off.

I'm not wishing to scare you. I have two children, but the second time I was far more determined and forthright about what I wanted. I went away from my local hospital, just slightly further afield. Yes, it was a bit of hassle to transfer notes and change consultants etc., but it was worth it. My second experience couldn't have been more different from my first.

I wish you all the best, and congratulations in advance!

Answer 6

I know exactly what you mean. My local hospital has carpets down. Have you ever heard such a thing as carpets in a bloody hospital. It is disgusting, and I can imagine the smell in your hospital too.
I can't blame you for not wanting your first born in hospitals of this standard. I would try and stick with your MLU, and maybe even consider the posibilities of a home birth. I would personally voice your concerns with your midwife and she will be able to steer you in the right direction.
Good luck and alll the best :)

Answer 7

My friend is in hospital at the moment and when I visited I was pleasantly surprised by how clean it was. She said that the cleaners come round twice a day and disinfect EVERYTHING. So I guess it depends which hospital you're in.

Trying to be positive about your situation though I'd just like to say that having your first child is such an incredible, emotional and wonderful experience that you won't care what the hospital's like.

You could always put a pack of flash anti-bac wipes in your labour bag!!

Answer 8

Right, where do I start?

First off, both times when me and my sister had our babies (her first one) there were bloody swabs left in the room from some one else.

The en suite shower and toilets were filthy. Didn't inspect that closesly what the brown gunk splashed down the walls was.

And my sister asked for a bottle of cow & gate baby milk, only to find it curdled and months out of date.

I agree with you about the level of filth. It would put a third world, middle of the Congo, African mud hut hospital to less shame.

BUT, my brothers missus recently had a baby in the maternity wing of University Hospital of Wales, and praised the room she delivered in. It must have been newly constructed. Clean, modern and bright. So it wasn't all bad this time.

Answer 9

Just though i would put in a good word for my local hospital. they are chronically under staffed all the time but despite this i like to think that the hospital is clean. (it is leighton hospital in crewe by the way) although i do know that many hospitals are like the ones you describe.

Back to your question, why dont you try for a home birth? if you have a healthy preganancy there is no reason why not, whatever the doctors will try to tell you. And remember, it is YOUR body, YOUR birth and so you are entitled to have it in the way and at the place that you wish.

Answer 10

I couldn't agree with you more...You wonder where they are throwing all the so called Bi££ions of extra cash.. they certainly are not spending it on Medical Care - Must be to all the Spin Doctors and Managers who are not Medical Doctors.. The worst Hospital in the UK must be Glasgow Royal Infirmary.. its A&E Dept has Permanent Police Officers staioned there - its like a war zone The Wards are filthy & the staff are run ragged..and the New ! Maternity unit ..dont make me laugh . it would be safer giving birth in the Street.. I suggest a BUPA policy .

Answer 11

I know what you mean... At my local NHS hosp the cleaners have absolutely no 'get up & go', and are slapdash... my mum worked as a cleaner most of her working life, and she'd have got the sack if she'd been that crap!
I went into this particular hospital in May for day surgery, and the nurses were curt & didn't want to know. They stood round & talked most of the time. they certainly weren't busy. It's a difficult one. A home birth? But then there's the epidural issue...