BBC Information, North East and Cumbria
A mum who says she has been left in persistent ache a 12 months after giving beginning has known as for an NHS belief to be put into particular measures.
Niki Cotson, 31, gave beginning in April 2024 on the North Tees Hospital in Stockton earlier than experiencing what she believes was poor care within the aftermath.
Miss Cotson, who has amassed greater than 700 signatures to her petition calling for particular measures to be imposed at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Basis Belief, mentioned: “My labour and postnatal care have been traumatic.”
The hospital mentioned it was all the time “devoted to making sure protected, high quality look after all of our sufferers” and it continued to attempt to tackle any issues raised.
Within the newest inspection by the Care High quality Fee (CQC) in 2022, each the maternity ward and the hospital got a “requires enchancment” ranking.
‘Power ache’
Miss Cotson mentioned that regardless of not being in established labour, her waters have been artificially ruptured for which she says she acquired no sufficient clarification.
She mentioned: “Following beginning, I used to be promised a spinal block to handle my ache, however this was withdrawn with out clarification.
“As an alternative, I used to be given dihydrocodeine whereas breastfeeding, with none warning of the dangers.
“My child turned excessively drowsy, fed poorly and subsequently developed problems.”
After they have been discharged, the 31-year-old mentioned she by no means acquired a postpartum verify.
Now, simply over a 12 months on, Miss Cotson mentioned she lived with persistent ache, prolapse, fibromyalgia and persistent fatigue.
She mentioned her son continued to wrestle with well being points, together with digestive issues.
Different girls have come ahead to assist her and shared their experiences on the Stockton maternity ward.
Nikki Stainsby, 35, from Hartlepool, mirrored on her “horrific” experiences when she gave beginning in October 2020.
She described being taken to a ward simply an hour after giving beginning and nonetheless bleeding, then being left in the identical bloodstained sheets for 12 hours.
“It was solely once I mentioned I might stand up and alter them that they have been lastly modified and there was no provide to assist with the ache,” she mentioned.
Miss Stainsby was given stitches instantly after beginning however weeks later she saved tearing them.
She added: “I went again to the docs, who despatched me to a gynaecologist who instructed me that they have been mistaken and I must have them lower open and re-done.
“It was horrific and my temper throughout that point was horrendous.”
A North Tees Hospital Belief spokesperson mentioned: “We proceed to supply open strains of communication to attempt to tackle issues raised.
“The belief works to assist any complainant that raises issues with our organisation.
“We’d encourage working with our affected person expertise staff to make sure particular person circumstances are handled appropriately.
“We’re all the time devoted to making sure protected, high quality look after all of our sufferers.
“We proceed to work carefully with the Care High quality Fee to make sure all actions recognized in our 2022 inspection have been enacted.”
NHS England has been approached for remark.