Choosing a hospital (London)

[Stokey]

Hello - am at very early stages of pregnancy and am just thinking about hospitals.

I went to see my GP last week and he confirmed it & referred me to my nearest hsopital which is Homerton in East London... but its not that near... a few miles away and no good public transport routes from my home.

A couple of other friends in London who have had babies recently recommend University College Hospital in Euston, which is pretty easy for me to get to. But i've looked on the NHS website and it's not listed as having a maternity unit. Does anyone know about this?

I'm booked in for a scan at Honerton on 24 April, and my DR told me to go in the next couple of weeks for blood tests. If I start the process at one hospital, can I change later? Or is it better to change at the start if I'm going to change? Thanks for advice

[Thandeka]

UCH is supposed to one of the Best.

I am north london and refusing to go to North Mid or chase farm so am going to try for UCH, Whittington or Barnet.

It is a nightmare isnt it.

A friend strongly recomends Homerton for Birth but have heard some horror stories too. I went there for scans (not pregnancy) and they completely fucked it up and forgot about me for 2 hours which I wasn't impressed with!

[MrsMattie]

Have a think about the sort of birth you're aiming for and do a bit of research. All the big London hospitals have got good and 'bad' things about them and you will get a variety of conflicting opinions that may confuse you further on MN!

For what it's worth -

I had my second baby at UCH in November and had a fantastic experience. The building is new so the equipment and the labour rooms are very high tech and clean. If you have a high risk pregnancy, need a c-section or your baby needs special care it is probably the best hospital in the country to give birth in, in terms of the expertise of the staff and the equipment etc.

It does have a birth centre - the Bloomsbury birth centre - for 'low risk' women wishing to have no/low intervention births, water births etc, but I don't know what that's like?

I have heard mixed things about Homerton. I think like lots of London hospitals it is pot luck to a certain extent and your experience will depend on lots of things - like how busy/short staffed they are, how many agency staff are on, what time of day you give birth etc (sorry, don't mean to be doom and gloom!).

What sort of birth are you hoping for, by the way? Are you thinking 'give me drugs!' or 'water birth and whale music?'

Oh, and you can book into a different hospital pretty much right up to the wire if you really dig your heels in, although the sooner you do it the better for you, really, as you might have some hope of continuity of care.

[susiey]

I had both my babies at UCH and it was great I can't reccomend them enough- that was in the old hospital.

be prepared for long waiting times and after care like most places has not been great but i would choose there again to have another baby.

i had high risk pregnancy both times and they were great

[becksydee]

hi stokey, there's some information about maternity services at UCLH here: www.uclh.nhs.uk/Patients/Inpatients+guide/Maternity+Services+for+patients/Maternity+services. htm

i'm booked into there (due end of august) and am very impressed with the care i've received so far

[deleting]

Had two in Homerton, they seem to be very overworked, but had no real problems. Of course, if it's uneventful it doesn't really matter where you are, but who's to know. I'm going back to Homerton for next one because it's the closest and mine come out fast. First one was probably a better experience, had a water birth and then got a roast dinner, second one stayed in overnight and had to drag myself over to get my own tea and toast in the morning. Like most hospitals though you hear lots of mixed stories. Unless it's a particularly bad hospital (and I've heard that of Whittington), then I would just choose the closest and most convenient.

[MrsMattie]

Funny - we all hear such different things!

I have heard that the Whit is good, quite progressive etc, but that Barnet is dreadful. I had my first in the Royal Free and have absolutely nothing good to say about it.

Told you it could get confusing

[Thandeka]

Oh no! I went to visit a friend who was in the EPU at Barnet and it seemed fine- alot nicer than Homerton (I think I get biased by newer buildings!).

I also like the idea of the Whit since they will let DH/DP stay overnight.

Hang on will try and find the link I had to compare which I thought was great!

[Thandeka]

www.birthchoiceuk.com/

This isnt the weblink I used- am still trying to find that one...

[MrsMattie]

Hmmm. Barnet had a very bad report for maternity services (I think in 2006/7?). I think they are making a real effort to improve, though...

They were good at the EPU when I had a m/c 2 years ago, however I had extremely shoddy treatment there on the matnrnity day unit (14 hour wait to see a doctor) and the postnatal ward last year (suffered some postnatal complications and went there, as it is close to me. Wish to God I had gone back to UCH!).

[Thandeka]

Right Whittington it is for me then! Howabout you Stokey!?

If only I had a spare 7k for a private birth!

Still trying to find that link.....

[Thandeka]

www.babyfy.com/index.php/hospital-review/2663/London/The-Whittington-Hospital/

For the whittington- I like it because it had user reviews- trouble is obviously people are more likely to write a negative than a positive...

[Rosebud05]

I think people are right when they say there's a large element of luck and chance in the whole thing.

I've had 2 at the Homerton and found the antenatal and delivery care to be great, though post-natal pretty grim (fortunately, I could go home the same day, and don't think I'd recommend it for a longer stay).

Have got friends who had good experiences at both UCH and Whittington.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[Stokey]

Thanks for all the info, ladies! G

od it is confusing... Think new shiney UCH quite appeals but no idea what my birth or pregnancy for that matter is gonna be like. Am only 6 weeks gone with no1 so no past experience to go on.

Mrs Mattie - think i'm probably going to be a "give me drugs" rather than water & whales kinda person, but may change my mind once bump grows.

[Koumak]

i was just about to ask this question; Whittington versus UCH when i noticed this thread. so which one is better?

[Miarey]

Hello
I think a big plus for UCH is if you have your midwife care in the community you get to see the same one all the way through...
I understand that's quite unusual for London hospitals.

[becktay]

I had great care at whit and am going again this time round. my last birth was by no means straight forward either. however a friend had her baby at uch birthing centre the other day and that was fab too! i think either are good so go and have a look and go with your gut instincts

[June2009]

Thandeka have you looked at the midwife-led birth centres in Chase farm? I booked in the Ridgeway there which seems very nice.

I have been to the UCH for a 20w scan and they've been great, there was waiting but not more than chase farm and it looked friendly, clean and modern. The people were nice and very open and spoke clearly, made sure we understood everything. I felt treated like pregnant human with feelings rather than a number in the queue like I have at chase farm sometimes.

Barnet was on watchdog a couple of years ago with some appalling horror stories (long waits, no room or midwife available, overbooked basically).
Having said that I go there for physio and it looks modern and clean, I think I read their maternity improved since then. It's £4 to park though.

If I can't go to Ridgeway midwife centre because of my glucose levels being too high (test next week) I will consider UCH over Chase Farm hospital even though it's further because I don't feel particularly confident with the staff at chase farm. although most of the women in my dh's family have given birth there in the recent years and have been absolutely fine.
There's another centre there: "Edgeware" which I've heard good things about too.

I wouldn't consider whittington because our gran died there and it brings painful memories. The ward where she was was not clean (big fluff underneath the bed, that type of thing) and most nurses were just not nice, there were two nice ones and the rest were very dismissive of everyone, patients and visitors alike. (some old patients were calling for help with their dinner and they were blatantly ignoring them). That was probably 3 years ago and might have changed since then.

[maisiestar]

I'm booked into UCH and due any day now - the care has been great - I'm high risk, but they have been really open to discussing everything and done loads of extra tests, etc and I have felt very reassured and well cared for throughout.
They have a natural birth unit (Bloomsbury Birthing centre) as well as a more traditional labour ward. Neo natal care is extremely good, as is ante natal testing.
As Miarey said, you get an allocated midwife to see you through the whole process adn she will accompany you wherever you end up giving birth.
I have been very impressed so far with the care i have received.
Only downside is that wait times can be long, so take a good book, but other than that, I have had a very good, reassuring experience so far - This may change once I actually give birth! But now i'm at the final hurdle, I think so far they've been great and I'm feeling quite calm about the whole experience.

[Thandeka]

Well in the next two weeks I am hopefully going to get an early scan from the Whittington as I am flying to Thailand when I am between 7-10 weeks so we need to check all is okay with Bean else we may have to stay here so I will post back my experiences.

[sunshine72]

Hi Stokey,

I was wondering if you'd made a decision between Homerton and UCH. I was in the same position as you, I leave in Stokey and am nearer to Homerton, I like the sound of being able to have my ante natal appointments with a midwife at my local GPs. But I like the sound of UCH as it's a brand new maternity wing, I also work in town and so it would be helpful on that front with appointments.

i can't make my mind up!I'm about 6 weeks at the moment and so should do soon.

[sockmonster]

Only comment- Barnet is horrendous. It wasn't my own bad experience but I have known some people with serious horror stories.

I chose to have no.1 at St Thomas's- and I have nothing bad to say about it, they were fantastic. I was high risk but didn't have any drugs (ouch) but if you are low risk they have a 'home from home' birthing centre which is apparently very nice.

As for UCH I have never heard anything but positive things- I'd say go with them rather than Homerton

Just wondering, does anyone know /has anyone heard anything about King's? I have moved so King's is much closer than St Thomas' but not sure....

[HackneyBaby]

Hi Stokey & Sunshine72,

I live in E5 and Homerton is my local hospital (walking distance). I was having my midwife care there up until we had had a chance to do some research in order to decide where we wanted to have our baby (it's our first and I am currently at 28 weeks). We chose to transfer to University College Hospital because a friend recently had her baby there and raved about it. That, combined with comments on mumsnet, solidified our decision. We called into the hospital a couple of months ago on a Sunday after calling ahead first in order to have a look around the birthing centre (they don't do organised tours anymore but if you ring and it's a quiet time, they are ok with you popping in for a quick nose around). The main reason we chose UCH is because of the new Bloomsbury Birthing Centre which is bright, clean, very new and full of natural light and is right inside the hospital so if there are any complications, you just get wheeled across the corridor to the labour ward.
UCH don't offer 'case loading' any more (one midwife the whole way through your pregnancy). It was only available to women in the hospital's residential catchment area anyway. They stopped it because they didn't have enough staff to run the program despite patients and midwives alike really enjoying it. Regardless, the midwives I've met with so far have all been great.

I self transferred my care to UCH about a month ago (when I was 24 weeks) and am very happy I did. The care there is far more professional, detailed and reassuring. I found Homerton to be quite blasé about everything and they never once listened to the baby's heart beat even after my 20 week appointment which I thought very odd. Also the non-medical staff at Homerton are generally quite rude too.

Stokey you posted your comment a while ago I know but if you haven't already and you want to transfer your care to UCH, you need to speak to Leila or Yvonne on 08451555000 then one of the following exts. 76104/76101/76103. It's very easy to do and your GP doesn't need to be involved at all.

Hope this has helped!

[herbaceous]

Hello

I live in Walthamstow, and was dithering between Whipps Cross and Homerton (and having my ante-natal care at Homerton) - something of a hobsons choice, admittedly - but after spending 24 hours in Homerton at 31 weeks being monitored after some bleeding, I'm totally comfortable having the baby there. All the staff were great, the ward was spotless, and there was a lovely consultant who took care of me.

HackneyBaby - how weird. I'd found the midwives etc to be pretty thorough, though admittedly this is my first, so I haven't much to compare it with.

I wouldn't fancy UCH as it's too far to travel when in labour!