"One of the doctors had described me as 'uncultured' in my medical notes. This made me feel worthless and put me off accessing healthcare completely."


I think this was caused by the way the hospital treated me after delivery. I was made to use a different toilet to everyone else. One of the doctors had described me as ‘uncultured’ in my medical notes. This made me feel worthless and put me off accessing healthcare completely. A charity helped me complain about the way I was treated but I wasn't happy with the response from the hospital.

I was put on anti-depressants but I found it increasingly difficult to cope, particularly as I didn't get any help from my former partner. I felt like running away. I went back to Africa with my baby for a month to attend my brother's funeral but I was accused of abandoning my other children, although I felt my ex was looking after them. Social services gave me more support, but it was difficult seeing my ex in the house when he came to help because he would become very aggressive and pester me for sex. He had been violent in the past. I got help from a psychiatrist and social worker.

A charity helped me get a court order so my ex didn't see the children at my home anymore. This made me feel much safer. I was also able to get their passports back from him which he'd been refusing to return. I started getting regular benefit payments again and for the first time, after financial help from a charity, my family went on holiday. We all had a fantastic time and it was great opportunity for us to bond as a family.

Mary

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