The Tunbridge Wells Hospital 2020-06-13 Person 2 5 0

My daughter gave birth at 29 weeks gestation. I was there as her support partner. There was no bedding or appropriate bed for me to stay on. My daughter needed me to collect milk in syringes, no one else was available. I slept on a chair one night and then had to go home the next because I couldn’t sleep. You were shut in the room with little advice or help. I appreciate that it was Coronavirus time, but when My daughter needed help and advice regarding expressing and availability of pumping equipment she had to wait hours for someone to come, despite the fact that the neonatal unit wanted the milk. The nurses were often in the office and when you went there you were made to feel you were disturbing then if you repeatedly had to ask them to come. On one occasion they gave her a dose of medication far too early. My daughter had taken them before she realised. I received more advice as a mother 40 yrs ago than my daughter! It was such a different environment to the antenatal, labour and neonatal wards, where people bent over backwards to help. Z beds were supplied and beds made. I cannot praise these departments enough! Come on Postnatal staff you are letting the side down!