Decision Report 201801666

Summary

Miss C complained about the antenatal care she received from the community midwifery team when she was pregnant. Miss C was informed she was on the "red pathway care" for her pregnancy which meant her antenatal care would be led by a consultant obstetrician (a doctor who specialises in pregnancy and childbirth) and supported by the community midwifery team.

Miss C complained that she was told by her midwife at her first appointment that she would not need to have future appointments with her midwife and would only see her consultant. Miss C also complained that she missed out on vital check ups and she did not receive her relevant maternity forms on time. The board apologised that the consultant did not provide Miss C with the appropriate forms.

We took independent advice from a midwife. We found that when Miss C contacted the community midwifery team, the midwife acted appropriately and offered to meet with Miss C to provide her with the necessary forms and information, however, Miss C refused this offer and did not engage in the service. We found at this point, Miss C was still within the required timescale for submitting her forms, therefore, she did not suffer any significant injustice as a result. We did not find any evidence that Miss C was advised at her first appointment that she was not required to see her midwife again. We did not uphold Miss C's complaint.