To follow on from my previous question could anyone advise please...

There is no specific duty upon a hospital to provide care beyond their general duty of care. Your difficulty is that the only action that can be taken is where damage has been caused, and you want action before damage has occurred.

Even then you would only be successful if you can show the hospital was negligent. But the standard of care is not the usual one of liability where damage is reasonably foreseeable because there is a good defence to show that a reputable body of medical opinion would have acted in the same way as is complained about.

Unless you can bring some other leverage to bear, or your GP could refer you to another hospital, or you could pay privately I do not think there is much that can be done. Other leverage ideas would be
to talk to the PALS [Patient Advice and Liaison Service] at the hospital as I've found them helpful in bringing other resources to bear. A useful weblink is http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managin gyourorganisation/Legalandcontr actual/Complaintsp... copy
and there may be something on
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthc are/Primarycare/Urgentcare/inde x.htm copy.
Have you spoken to your MP?
Does your local radio station have a consumer rights programme as they can be helpful means of 'pressure' by asking the right questions 'in search of a possible story'.

Sorry can't be of more help.

if your gp think's their is harm to either you or you baby [s] they can demand that you have your scan sooner rather than later' if the hospital fail to do this then they are failing in there 'duty of care guidelines' i know hospitals are very short staffed these days' however if there is a risk then you can force the issue and get your doctor to contact them to explain to them how serious the situation is' good luck' thoughts and prayers are with you' let us know how you go'

Helen, I know nothing about how to cope with England's socialized medicine scheme, nor what are the legal liabilities and responsibilities.

My first reaction is unhappiness at the news that you are having some troubles. I know that the physical problems are compounded by anxieties, and unfortunately to are being exaggerated by an incompetent and unfeeling bureaucracy.

In the US, should such a situation occur (and our medical practice differs from yours), a woman in your condition would get her doctor to declare her in an emergency condition, facing the threat of, I don't know, toxcemia or spontaneous abortion or eclampsia or something else requiring immediate attention in the hospital. then the woman would be admitted, and given whatever tests the doctor would order.

It may be that your doctor could light a fire under those people with some kind of emergency declaration. if you get the scans, and whatever treatment you need, and if it later turns out not to have been such a critical situation -- what can they do? And you will have gotten treatment, if you need it, and certainly you would gain peace of mind -- important for you and your incipient baby/ies.

Sorry for not much help, but I do want to express sympathy, concern, and hope for your situation.