Letter of apology from hospital

I haven't received one, I suffered a 4th degree tear and also was taken to theatre t for surgical repair.
Although your baby is 9 days older than mine. But I think it could be different procedures for the different hospitals 🤷🏼‍♀️

I have a follow up gynaecology appointment where we will discuss future births/pregnancy and see what they recommend. They will also be doing 2 ultrasound scans to ensure I'm healing as expected.
I hope this helps x

You will have received the letter as the team looking after you would have completed a incident form (datix). This is then routinely investigated to ensure everything was done to reduce the risk of this happening and any learning from the incident taken away. The trust have to follow duty of candour and inform you of any failings in care. It’s good that they have acknowledged this and offered follow up. I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about but something to discuss with them when you have your follow up.

do you know if every hospital have to do this?

I take it I will be having a follow up appointment letter in the post? I haven’t received this yet and baby is already 3 months…thank you both x

I presume so, mine was booked when I was in hospital.
You could call the hospital and query it?
My baby will be 14 weeks when I have my appointment

Have you seen a physio since birth?
I'm wondering weather it could be down to the different trusts and policies/procedures for the different hospitals 🤷🏼‍♀️

I was told I’d be offered physio but nothing was said after…

Does this mean you might get compensation for this as maybe if it wasn't for the lack of care they may of done a C section instead. As bubba was measuring bigger.

I would personally chase it up, physio has been especially helpful to me with my recovery x

that's a very good point

Wouldn’t 3 months pp be too late for physio? Having 2 kids at home on my own whilst husband works I haven’t really had time to think x

before I was induced my consultant said to me I have the option of being induced or have c section but advised against the latter, my worries were I had a baby big previously (for me anyway I’m quite small and first baby was 9lbs 5 and really struggled with labour) I would be out in the same position again as baby girl was measuring big…he told me if I done it before without a c section just forceps I could do it again so really pushed for me not to have the section x

I'm really not sure, they advised me on pelvic floors etc. I guess if you feel like you're healing well then there may be no need x

thank you, it says at the bottom of the letter I can call to arrange a meeting to discuss the findings of the report…I guess I’ll do that x

I didn’t get a letter but a few members of the hospital came and apologised to me the next day in the hospital ward

I would query at the meeting why you haven't been referred to physio, especially if they said they would and haven't.
Hope you get the answers you need x

was second baby bigger than first hun??
My hosp did same to me, really pushed me to go for vaginal birth even tho baby was measuring big ‘for me’
I got a good outcome did manage a vaginal however had shoulder dysplasia happen (luckily baby was ok) he was 8lb 1oz. But at end of day, he could of been 9-10lber n who knows what trauma could of happened 🤦‍♀️ it’s all guess work isn’t it but your first baby was so big I don’t think they should of even considered you trying vaginal again if she was measuring big anyway!

first baby was 9lbs 5 at 41+3, baby 2 was 7lbs 15 induced at 38+5, they didn’t want me to go full term as she was predicted at be 9lbs 9 by 40 weeks, I didn’t think they would either but his mentality was I’ve done a big baby once I can do it again 😣

I’ve just tried to call but the lady I have to speak to is off until Tuesday so I’ll find out more then, thank you xxx

not a problem. Hope you get it sorted x

oh no did something go wrong for you to get 3rd degree tears? Xx

Agree with - I work in Obs & Gynae and it sounds like someone raised a Datix and they are just following protocol by writing to let you know the outcome. I wouldn’t worry about it :) xx

Pahaha yeah right.

every hospital have to complete incidents if they have occurred and should be open and honest in informing you of this (which they have). How each hospital does this may vary and some may do it at the time verbally when appropriate.

So with any additional injury a datix (almost like safeguarding) will be raised by atte ding staf, this is just a formality. As we know, not all tears can be prevented. You can take it further if you want as they have accepted liability.

i haemorrhaged quite bad, all the blood drained from me, my baby was put on me for approximately 20 seconds before she got taken away and about 10 people rushed in the room talking at me telling me to sign consent forms…..at this point I had no idea where I was let alone my baby….wasn’t there for her weight or anything and I didn’t see her for an hour and half after surgery, her first photo was with my mom taken by my husband 😞

Thank you everyone, I’m going to see what was in the report out of curiosity but I’m not going to take it any further, things happen, just want to know what happened to me x

thank you x

You can make a birth injury claim maybe this is why they are sending out this letter ? 🤷‍♀️

I’d get compensation if I were you 😅🤷‍♀️

A datix is done for various reasons. Could be someone involved in your care thought that it shouldn't have occurred. It could be a ward thing that all 3rd degrees have to be Datixed to ensure correct procedures followed or other reasons. In this case, they reviewed it, and have not stated that it was an actual issue, wasn't as a result of human error and haven't mentioned that your outcome should have been different. It states safe and appropriate management was taken. Therefore no mistakes and no further action and case is closed.
Give them a call if you don't hear about the follow up appointment.

Is our locality datixes can also be done following any level of traumatic birth regardless of if someone feels there was a mistake. Its just another way of documenting and making sure everyone is treated well.

A 3rd degree tear would be considered an out of the norm traumatic birth hence the follow up just to check in with you really and debrief the whole situation.

Hope that explains some of it x

Also, physios are generally done through the GP. So give them a call and self refer. X

You could try and contact your hospitals MVP (maternity voice partnership) they could shed more light on the reason for the letter.

thanks for sharing this info-really useful to know

@Sarah no worries. Just as an example I've completed datixes for allsorts. Reversed into a post in my ambulance, a patient was absuive, and I got bit by a patients dog to name a few. Its just the nationwide recording tool for the NHS lol xx

my physio referral was done whilst I was in hospital, not through the GP
The hospital said it was their standard practice to do the referral but I imagine it would be different for the different hospitals?

@Kacey Yeah different localities do it differently. I know where I am we don't even get referred it's all self referral now. Unless pregnant then it was arranged by antenatal x

okay that makes sense.
It's so confusing that everywhere do it all differently 😂

In regards do the datixes, do you know if it is mandatory across all hospitals to use this if someone gets a tear? I had a 4th degree tear and haven't been told about this before?

@Kacey it'll be completely different hospital to hospital. It might simply be someone doing research project and saying oh everytime you get a tear above a certain grade please datix. Could be an increase in tears at that particular place so they are monitoring. Could have been someone who thought it shouldn't have happened or even a student that may not have understood a process. Honestly, so many reasons as to why it was done. The most important bit is what they find. The datix when submitted goes usually to the ward manager and someone outside of that area. Then it's looked into, files and notes checked and further if necessary. The fact it's opened and closed already suggests that it's something very simple and they just agreed that procedure followed, no mistakes made and nothing else to rectify. The problem with the NHS trusts is that no matter what, a letter of apology will be sent always making it look like someone's fault x

@Kacey someone could literally complain to pals that the have copd, on oxygen, and the nurse refused to take them for a cigarette as they were too busy and it's not a priority during a med round and they would still be sent a letter saying we are sorry. It's madness x

oh right, so it would depend on the individual as to whether ones completed? As I've not been told one will be done for me, so I'm presuming it hasn't been 🤷🏼‍♀️

Sorry, I'm just trying to understand the process

@Kacey yeah it won't be a national process. Without knowing the individual reason for it being completed there's no way to know why. It just wouldn't be routine across the board usually x

thank you so much for your help x