One of our group wrote to the Department of Health to see what they know of the situation.

3 July 2000

Mr Alan Millburn
Minister of Health
Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
LONDON
SW1A 2NS

Dear Mr Millburn

Statistics and Hysterectomies

I am one of the many women to be taken out of general anaesthetic to be told, your life has been destroyed.

I had my first child in February, the first of several. I was taken back into theatre following a caesarean for an exploratory operation, to stop bleeding. I was given a hysterectomy.

The doctors have since informed me that this devastation happens to several women per hospital per year. I had personally never heard of such a thing happen to a woman after the birth of a child before. The fact that she may die - yes, the fact that pieces of her body could be removed in such a way – no.

As you may or may not appreciate, to assist me with coming to terms with such a tragedy I am trying to learn more about the situation. To help with this could you please either let me have all the statistics/information you have on this type of situation or let me have the details of how to obtain the information. I do presume that you have this information as you have information on the number of caesareans performed etc.

If this information is not available/collected could you explain why? This is one of the worst things that can happen to a woman and I do sincerely hope that it is already being looked into.

I noted recently after re-reading my pregnancy book given out by the ‘Health Education Authority’ that according to them ‘caesareans are safe’. After reading this I am concerned that your department may not be making necessary enquiries. Did the Department of Health allow such statements to be used? If so how can that statement be justified? Causing a hysterectomy can never be considered safe. I hope that as someone who can never experience such a tragedy you can comprehend that. I note that stillbirths are mentioned in the book but not the possibilities of a hysterectomy. Terrible though a miscarriage/stillbirth is, those people can go on to possible have many children, at the minimum they have hope, I do not. You may have seen the story line on Coronation Street recently. It made me cry. The character of Kevin a loving husband say to his wife amongst other things ‘we can try again … when you are ready.’ That character was able to say many things that my husband could never say to me.

I also wish to ask if there is any information as to what I may now suffer due to having this unwanted operation. I have spoken to a few women that had had hysterectomies in the past few years. I now know some of the operations and problems I may have to face. I would like, this time , to have the opportunity to prepare myself for worst that may happen.

Thank you in advance for your time taken in this matter.

Yours sincerely

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