My wife got today a really disappointing "help" at Lausanne hospital (CHUV).
She is in 8th week of pregnancy. She vomist and has nausea. Not a typical one. She vomits all the day and lost 6kg during last couple of weeks. She was at the gyn. a week ago, but this week she felt reallyy terrible and we decided to go to a hospital for help and for maybe some IV. We get through the admission, a round of questions by one nurse, blood taken for tests, and then another lady, a young nurse or doctor, let's call her X because I don't remember her name (and I'm not sure if she introduced herself) got my wife through pretty many detailed questions. That all seemed reasonable. Also in the meantime te IV started to get my wife hydrated. After Ms. X got through her questions she examined my wife - the abdominal part 'cause she has a bad stomach ache related probably to the nausea.
Then she wrote a prescription for anti-vomiting and anti-nausea suppositories and for burning stomach, and called her boss to get the prescription approved. That all seemed more-or-less OK.
Noe my wife asked if the baby's heartbeet could be checked. That is because of bad experiences with some pregancies. The lady X said OK, and tried to do abdominal ultrasound. She was not really good it. Then she talked to someone, and explained to us that due to problems with the insurance wanting justification for each ultrasound she caanot do it, but will try with a Doppler tool to hea the baby's heartbeet. Well, we heard that it is not possible at this stage but if she says so... Then she tried hard, with a help of the old nurse, and when the wife's hearthbeet was heard she was looking at old nurse. Well, they gave up, took my wife back, than she called in another nurse and they performed a vaginal ultrasound in a very unskilled way. That was done "unofficially" to avoid problems with the insurance. The baby's Heath was beating, and my wife was fist to point it out. Then Ms X said that my wife is not dehydrated, ordered end of the IV (maybe 1/5 had dripped in). She squized my wife's hand and said she can see that my wife is not dehydrated. After all the show of "professionalism" I had no trust. The old nurse took out the needle out of the vein, no gloves, no fluid to desinfect, blood spilling, she gave my wife with bare hands something to tame it. My wife got furious. If not that my wife could barely stand on her feet I would try to talk to a supervisior.
What should I do now? Where to go in the future if an urgent case arises?
Is that normal that a pregnant woman I'd not seen by a doctor?
She was seen by a doctor. I don't believe nurses or midwives are permitted to prescribe medicine in CH, only doctors are.
Nevertheless it is very common in CH to have a midwife see a woman through childbirth.
Next time (hopefully you won't need to go back to hospital), perhaps you can over to cover the cost of the extra ultrasound and ask for the "chef de clinique" to visit your wife ? they won't refuse. You might have to wait a while, but you should get to see him/her.
1) the CHUV has one of the best maternité. If you're not comfortable in French just speak in English, all of the doctors speak English. But rest assured that your wife will be in good hands when the time comes
2) find an English speaking oby/gyn in Lausanne. She might not be able to give birth with her doctor around due to the insurance question, but she'll be well followed during her pregnancy.
3) if it is necessary to go back to the hospital due to her intense vomiting etc. It's easier if her doctor sends her and calls the hospital etc.
I'm sorry your wife had such a bad experience there.
Does your wife have her own gynecologist? If not, she should find one who will monitor her pregnancy, and perform the necessary blood tests and scans at the different trimesters. I'm not sure that it's standard practice to go to the CHUV maternity, unless your gynecologist is not available (e.g. on holidays, or out of hours). The CHUV does not have your wife's records etc, so they cannot give the same care that your own gynecologist would. It's also probably much more expensive for you to go to the CHUV than your own gynecologist. As Sky said, if her gynecologist refers her to the CHUV it is probably much better as they will have all her records etc. and will know what they have to do.
Having lived in Vaud for many years, and been to hospital quite a few times, I am not a fan of their service so not really much of a surprise. For serious medical services I would always prefer to go to private clinics.
I have had far better service in both Geneva and in Zurich in the General hospitals.
I had a bad experience at the chuv and now I go to the hopital st loup in pompaples much more friendly and she would I am sure been admitted if only overnight for observation. I can highly recommend this hospital.