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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Replies
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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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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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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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
May I suggest you approach your hospital trust public Governor for your area or Lead Governor with your observations. Sorry for your experience. As a hospital Governor I know they will be grateful for your feedback and follow it up appropriately and sensitively.
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@BlondeHistorian
You won’t expend any energy beyond submitting the initial complaint because you’ll never hear from them again.
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@BlondeHistorian
I'm so sorry you've been going through this. NHS by its nature should totally inclusive & actively support access needs. 😔Re birth plans... from my experience of having 3 ch, it wasn't looked at/asked for by staff so be prepared to say everything & not rely on written plan ❤🤰
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@BlondeHistorian
Also worth saying that complaints procedures are really dysfunctional in the NHS. I complained about my hospital stay in Nov 2021, where nurses insisted on communicating with masks on, wouldn’t help me get my hearing aids, among so many other things - no food offered for 20 hrs..
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@BlondeHistorian
Your expeiences so remind me of my own experience over 30 years ago when, on seeing my MS diagnosis, the doctor said "Congratulations, you're pregnant. When would you like the abortion?"
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@BlondeHistorian
I’m so sorry, as an NHS member of staff the thought that you were treated like this makes me sad and furious. I hope you find the energy to contact PALS but I also completely understand why you might not. Thank you for the links about giving support, I’ll be doing the course.
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@BlondeHistorian
It is a letter to hospital administration, or a phone call. They WILL follow up.
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@BlondeHistorian
u have already done aLL that is neeDed my deaR. truSt & BeLieVe aLL tHat FeeLs incorrect iS SLOWLY going to be CorreCted.
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@BlondeHistorian
My partner and I were blindsided by heavy pressure to follow confusing and questionable guidance of NHs maternity staff. Thanks 2 support from a friend who recently had a similar experience we were able to navigate & advocate effectively. Feel free to dm me for same.
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@BlondeHistorian
I have experienced pregnancy care at different stages across 4 different NHS trusts over 2 pregnancies in the last 3.5 years. Boots do a good basic birth plan sheet you can fill out with your partner and hand to your midwife when you arrive for delivery. Highly recommend.
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@BlondeHistorian
I just made my first Sunday Ticket payment to Directv ! Now I’ll never see Carr win MVP! 😣🫣😇🤨
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@BlondeHistorian
I totally get what you’re saying. I hadn’t read everything yet and realized it was NHS. I had a nurse be completely hateful to me in recovery after my c-section. Without glasses or contacts (neither of which I had of course b/c surgery) I am legally blind. I can see shapes…
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@BlondeHistorian
This is a decision only you can make,but in my case I was made to feel as if I was the wicked witch, and all I wanted was an apology which I never got, but if there was other complaints, they would have to sit up and listen, so it's up to you. There must be charities who can help
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