So healthcare staff will know that I have complained. The same staff who in 12 weeks will get decisions over my care & support in labour.
And no it’s not an unrealistic leap from forcefully shoving a drink in someone’s mouth to denying them pain relief. 11/
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Replies
I’m blind & pregnant.
Today during routine tests at the hospital I was spoken to like a disobedient child because I couldn’t read a tiny label.
The nurse huffed at me when I calmly explained that I’m blind & she had sent my partner out of the room who can read things for me 1/
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At the beginning of the appointment she also tried to make my partner take my guide dog with him. Again I calmly said no, she needed to stay with me.
Of course, as she’s a trained assistance dog
@GuideDogAva
lay at my feet & remained motionless during the whole procedure. 2/
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I also had to drink a medicated drink for the test.
I was struggling to get the last drops & the nurse gestured at me with a vague instruction “up”.
I didn’t understand as I couldn’t see the gestures so she grabbed the packet & shoved it in my mouth tipping in the liquid 3/
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The nurse gave me further information on the next steps of the test. I nodded, said “yes” & “I understand”.
As I exited the room & Other Half came forwards, the nurse repeated all the instructions to OH. Loudly telling him how to look after “his wife”.
We’re not married 4/
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What was so frustrating about the experience was that by making Other Half leave the nurse created access barriers.
He could have read for me & supported me with the drink.
OH is even down as my carer on the maternity forms 5/
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The sad thing is in all my maternity care so far this is the first time I’ve encouraged ableism.
The midwives are great, my blindness doesn’t phase them at all & we’re planning how to meet my sensory & access needs in labour.
Nurses clearly need disability awareness training 6/
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What I want non disabled people to understand is how utterly normal this experience felt.
As a blind person I’m usually manhandled, patronised & denied access support by medical professionals.
I probably will complain but honestly I expect the same experience next time. 7/
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So if you’re a healthcare professional reflect on your awareness around blindness & visual impairment.
If you lack knowledge or confidence to provide care & support then educate yourself.
There are so many excellent resources provided by organisations like
@RNIB
&
@guidedogs
8/
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And if you don’t have the time to follow blind advocates, watch a video or read a blog.
Just reflect on how it might feel to have a medicated drink shoved into your mouth. Or to be talked to like a child.
I’m blind & I am still a person. Treat me with dignity, care & respect 9/
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I want people to understand why “make a complaint” isn’t necessarily an accessible, safe or easy experience for a disabled person.
First, it won’t be anonymous, how many blind pregnant people with guide dogs in their third trimester are interacting with the department? 10/
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Also I don’t trust the complaint process to be accessible, even down to my assistive tech accessing the website or are there large print paper forms?
It will also require administrative & emotional labour I don’t know that I have the resilience or capacity for. /12
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Also as anyone who has interacted with the NHS recently regarding pregnancy care knows… this might not be the biggest battle.
What do I put my energy towards? What if this complaint process takes my time away from asserting my access needs in my birth plan? 13/
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So unless you’re prepared to support me, fill out inaccessible paperwork, come to meetings, gather the evidence to assert my rights, do the labour of educating healthcare professionals & protect me from further abuse or discrimination, don’t tell me “you should complain”. /14
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Also telling a disabled person who has experienced discrimination & traumatic assault that it’s their job to educate the person who victimised them is horrific.
You’ve read this thread, step up & do some educating about disability in your workplaces, families & communities. /15
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Thank you for all the kind replies 🥰
Normally I share my details as a disability advocate but I’ll be stopping work soon for Baby!
If anyone can send some support to me as a soon to be disabled parent I would be incredibly grateful. Thank you /16
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Alternatively you can donate to
@guidedogs
who have provided me with so much support including my beautiful Guide Dog Ava.
Ava has given me the independence & confidence to become a parent.
Sponsor a guide dog puppy here! 🦮⬇️
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If you want to learn how to assist a blind or visually impaired person then I highly recommend
@guidedogs
sighted guiding training course.
It’s free, online & open to anyone who wants to learn how to confidently & respectfully offer support.
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@BlondeHistorian
I strongly advise you to seek a new health care provider asap. This nurse has given you a huge red flag. Leave before it gets worse.
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@BlondeHistorian
This whole thread is infuriating. But one thing ppl don’t realize is the patient can have anyone they want in the room. They try and bully you, but it is your right. Insist on it and tell them he is staying.
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@BlondeHistorian
I was denied pain relief when I was in labor with my third child. The medical staff disapproved of the age difference between me and my husband and made their opinion perfectly clear.
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@BlondeHistorian
This doesn’t make sense to me. If you believe that the professionals overseeing your care would be that petty - change doctors. When my kids had bad experiences with pediatric care, the physicians were very keen to hear any feedback we had.
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@BlondeHistorian
If she is that insensitive and brutish, coworkers likely already know it and dislike working with her. Report her, for sure, and make it known that you expect zero repercussions. They do *not* want bad press. Please. Also,I'm so sorry.
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@BlondeHistorian
Contact the Consultant midwife at the unit where you are booked to have your baby. Talk to her about your concerns and what happened so she can put a plan together with you snd your partner xxx
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@BlondeHistorian
wow not just me just recently lost my vision and I work for an Nhs trust I was totally shocked at how I spoken 2and going for op after op the nurses refused my partner 2 cme & get instructions.I was thrown a piece of paper and said this is wht U need 2 do whn you gt hme I cnt see
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@BlondeHistorian
Advice I recieved from a Doula may help you. I presume you will have someone along for support explain to them clearly before the date what you would ideally want. Get them to take notes. Tell them your job will be giving birth, their job will be advocating for your wishes.
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@BlondeHistorian
You will get the best prenatal care with a midwife in a birth center instead of the hospital, if I may say so 🙏🏽🥰 Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, especially now.
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@BlondeHistorian
All so true. I once complained over care received to pals in a hospital I now don’t attend. They sent that nurse the email that gave her access to email me directly and accuse me of being a liar, plus many other aggressive claims to shut me up. No patients safety or anonymity
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