Junior doctors/trainees and public hospitals

I have delivered all 3 of my children at QMH.
For my first a group of trainee Drs arrived as I was about 10cm dilated and asked if they could observe and "help with minor procedures" - I said yes and off they went to get prepped, but by the time they returned my daughter had arrived, so they missed all the action and looked very clueless and baffled.

With my second I had an epidural and it was actually administered by a junior obviously under the supervision of senior anesthetist. I could hear them talking and instructions being given (this did slightly stress me out but had other things on my mind to fully consider it) and it took much longer than when I had an epi with my first, and was nowhere near as effective. They follow up care from the anesthetist team was much better the second time around...... called into the ward and called me at home.

When my third was born in April this year we came across a very rude junior Dr, to whom my husband was very "assertive" after I asked her to leave me alone, she then refused to deal with us and instructed the head midwife to deal with us, which as far as I am concerned was perfect. Needless to say after this initial incident and with a very stright forward, drug free delivery, we saw no Dr, trainee or anyone else other than midwives.

from my first experience 5.5 year ago to my experience 4 months ago the midwives have come on a really long way. They are very helpful and supportive, fully encouraged me to remain mobile, demonstarted to my husband how he could massage my back and generally reassured me that I could deliver my baby however I wished. They are also very good and mediating between you and the Dr! I guess what I am saying is, its a teaching hospital, the dr do need to learn and practice and I am very supportive of that, but generally it is the midwives that deliver the baby (in uncomplicated situations) and they are fantastic!
 
I am sure I could have refused, they make you sign the consent form immediately prior to the procedure, however if I am very honest at that point I probably would have signed anything and happily consented to anybody giving me an epidural!

Luckily I didnt need stitches with any of my 3 so i cant comment on who would do them.

Your right, in the Uk, where I am from, most deliveries are also by midwives and definitely no choice of Dr. Unless of course you go private!
 
With me at QMH the actual delivery and stitching after was done by a midwife. She was amazing, I cannot speak more highly!! I didn't deal with any juniors, had an anaesthetist for the epidural and several OB's checking in every now and then. I was there over a few shift changes, very long labour!!
 
How many other mums were in the wards with you? Was it really full ? Also did they let your husband in as soon as you were actually in labour?
 
The wards were really full, this was end September last year so "peak baby season". In fact, just after I had my baby we had to wait a bit extra in the labour room for a bed in the ward to open up. Didn't mind this at all because hubby could be with me there!! They let my hubby come with me as soon as I was moved to the labour ward. In the ward before that they're only allowed in if its visiting hours, but you can walk around with them outside...
 
I had my first at the Prince of Wales by caesarean section and a trainee did that. For a scheduled c-section at the public hospitals, you meet the surgeon one week before. I was completely freaked out when I found out that she was a trainee, which I think annoyed her somewhat. I asked whether she would be supervised by a consultant or qualified doctor during the procedure and she said no, but that one would be around if she needed them. I was very worried that she was doing it on her own.

Anyway, on the day, the anaesthetist, who was a consultant, had a long chat with me, so clearly others were aware that I was upset about the fact she wasn't qualified. He said that all she did every day was c-sections (the trainee) - all day, every day - so her experience was actually better than a consultant who only does them occasionally. Didn't totally swallow that one, but it did make me feel better.

She was very good, and the whole thing was fine (in terms of medical care anyway, bedside manner left a lot to be desired). The anaesthetist who gave me the spinal block was a consultant, but I had other trainees putting the IV drips in, which was very painful as they couldn't get it right and kept jabbing me in the same spot all the time. In the end the consultant did that too because they weren't managing.

Ultimately, I don't think they put trainees in responsible positions if they can't handle it. But that's just my experience / opinion.
 
I was at UCH and had asked for no trainees but was told it would depend on who was available at the time. I needed an emergency c/s at 1am and it was done by apparently a 12 year old dr and anesthesatist. I was not happy but there was no one else available and the dr said he would be monitored by a senior dr.

To be fair they did a great job and the anesthesatist gave me a regional anesthetic- which is what I wanted- even though the senior drs I had spoken to previously had insisted I would have to have a general.
 
Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm booked in at QMH and the care so far has left a little to be desired. Great to hear that the midwives go above & beyond.
 
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