Recent experiences of Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit

[Falcon1]

I'm due to have my first baby in September at Kingston and was wondering what people's experiences of the maternity unit are? I've looked at a couple of threads on this topic but they're pretty dated now. I've read that staffing has previously been a problem and that some women have not been able to get rooms, and therefore no pain relief! Also that after care isn't great. Is this still the case? I rather know the real situation so I can prepare myself. Any posts would be really appreciated!

[Belchica]

Falcon I am having my baby at Kingston in Sept and have a few friends who gave birth there recently and they all have nothing but great things to say about the midwives and care. All had positive experiences and would go back. After care in all London hospitals is hit and miss and I don't think Kingston is an exception, but by no means the worst, by all accounts.

[FlirtyThirty]

See you at Kingston in September! :) I'll be having my second there then.
It is a busy hospital for sure, but I would highly recommend it.
With my first I was 42 weeks, laboured primarily in Malden suite with lovely midwife, transferred to consultant unit fr delivery due to meconium. Staff were all excellent, inc when I required post partum surgery in theatre.
Rude reception staff were only ssue with concerned visitors in my case...but baby and I were generally treated extremely well.

This time I have had a complicated pregnancy and they have been super! Referrals to all necessary consultants without hesitation.

I aim to return to the Malden suite all being well, and would happily recommend the entire unit.

I also had a friend with a premature baby who was in the NICU - she has nothing but the highest praise for it! Worth knowing...

Good luck!

[first1]

It was shit. Never ever going back. Ever. Dd and I were chucked out at 1am to cater for the poor labouring woman left on a trolley for hours due to no beds/ short staff. I was stitched so unsucfixiebtly that I ended up forking out best part of £4000 to be restitched privately and properly. Not a rushed botched job due to staff shift change overs. And I'm not the only one. THREE of my close friends have made formal complaints about Kingston maternity. One was left bleeding turned out to be a massive pph because nobody answered the bell.

[KatieMiddleton]

I am under Kingston but had my last baby at home and plan to again. Care at birth was great last time but antenatal care not do good because MW went AWAL and I got really bad anaemia because she wasn't checking my bloods. This time round the care seems much better.

Several people I know have had babies at Kingston. In September there's a peak in birth rate and it will be busy so you may not get one-to-one MW care although they try to offer that apparently.

What are your other options? West Mid? Queen Charlottes? St George's?

[first1]

St George's or Epsom in a heartbeat. Absolutely fantastic.

[MiaR]

Hello,

So, if all goes well I'm having my first baby in January (yay!). It's only sinking in and I have to quickly decide between Kingston and Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals. I read a lot of positive feedback on Kingston, which is making me think it's a good choice. Anyone want to share their thoughts on Chelsea and Westminster Hospital?

Thanks for your feedback in advance.

[Falcon1]

Thank you all for the replies. I'm feeling a bit more reassured!

[weddingseason]

I have had 3 at Kingston - one in the Malden Suite. With each baby I can't fault them while I was actually in labour, lovely midwives each time but, as with most places, the after care left a lot to be desired and I discharged myself as soon as possible. For me though the actual birth and getting my babies delivered safely was the most important thing and on that I can't fault them. You will be fine I'm sure.

[Ecgwynn]

sorry about lack of caps, baby on boob.

i had my son 2 1/2 weeks ago in the malden suite at kingston. the care there and on the post natal ward was excellent. i thoroughly recommend kingston.

[StarshitTerrorise]

I'm trying to get a homebirth with them. Any advice?

[KatieMiddleton]

I had my first DC under them at home and planning to do the same with next dc due in the Autumn. You're welcome to PM me Star.

[StarshitTerrorise]

Thank you Katie, I will do.

[KatieMiddleton]

I'll have a look later as I'm just off out :)

[Dottymcdot]

West middlesex all the way great care during labour and lovely post natal care, they seemed human, whereas at Kingston they did not. The difference between the two was so great that I wrote to the hospital's director to thank them for their wonderful care.

[WhenDoISleep]

I had DS2 at Kingston 13 days ago.

Antenatal care was through the Fountain Community Midwives - this was good and by dint of having apps on the same day every time I actually saw the same MW at all apps except once when she was on leave.

Scans and first booking and GTT were at the hospital - generally okay but lots of waiting.

In the last week of pg I had to go into maternity triage once which was fine care was good but again I had to wait a long time.

Day before birth I saw a consultant re going post-42 weeks - consultant/MW fine but again long waits as there is a first come first seen system in operation.

I gave birth on the Malden Suite, but only just -DS2 was born 5 mins after we arrived so I can't say much about the care in labour but the delivery was great, everybody was very calm despite the dramatic entrance we made. Post natally we spent 5 or so hours on Malden Suite and the care from the MW's and the Midwife Support Assts was really good.

DS2 was found to have an infection, so he was taken to the Neonatal unit briefly. The medical care for him from the peadiatric doctors was fantastic. Due to the infection, we ended up staying on the Transitional Care postnatal ward for 5 nights/ 6 days. The medical care for DS2 was fantastic over that time (he was with me on the ward, not on Neonatal, but he did make some trips back there when there were concerns).

Post natal was about as bad as I thought it might be - we tried to get an amenity room but there were non available - these are not separate dedicated rooms, they are just the single rooms on post natal which might be needed for other patients, so i ended up on a 4 bed ward. There were a couple of fantastic MWs and MSAs and a couple of bad ones as well.

BF advice is appalling - very keen on giving formula top ups, inconsistent advice, incorrect advice etc. There seems to be a new point at which there is concern over weight loss in a newborn -7% as opposed to the more usual 10%, which seems to have become the Kingston standard in the last few months - but I am going to have a rant elsewhere about that. Food wise, having had 6 days experience, breakfast is dire, lunch and supper are generally ok. Bathrooms are revolting.

Parking charges are a nightmare, you can get a parking pass for 24 hrs for £6, but you can only get one of those (I.e. for the day you go in in labour).

Discharge can take forever - one lady was told she would be discharged at 1 but the paperwork didn't get done until the night shift came on, so she didn't leave until after 9 at night. I was told I would be discharged by 3pm, ended up not leaving until 8pm, as the afternoon MW raised a concern about me so ended up having blood tests / the OB doctor look at me (nothing more than stress after 6 days in hospital away from an ill DS1 and a developing cold).

Post natally I was seen by West Middlesex / St Helier MWs - fine but perfunctory care.

I was originally due to have a home birth with the community MWs, which was all signed off fine, but I changed my mind on where I wanted to deliver in the end.

Feel free to PM me if you want any further info.

[Archip17]

I had a waterbirth in the Malden Suite 13 weeks ago. It was utterly brilliant - I found the midwives there to be fantastic (much better than the antenatal care - which I found to be rushed and I never saw the same midwife twice - but it's a busy hospital so this is no surprise).

My labour was pretty quick so I had the same midwife throughout who popped in and out and advised me when she'd be back etc, for the last two hours she was there constantly monitoring baby's heartbeat every fifteen mins.

The room I was in with the pool was huge and after I'd given birth and been stitched up I thought they'd kick me out ASAP so someone else could have the pool but I was helped to have a wash in the ensuite bathroom there and given breakfast. The facilities were clean and modern. I was lucky enough to get a room on my own afterwards which although I didn't stay overnight (because I just wanted to be at home) made a difference as I was just able to lie there quietly with my son. I agree the food is pretty dire though!

I also went in a few days before my son was born because I had a panic I couldn't feel him moving - the triage there were brilliant and so kind and reassuring.

I know I had a very good experience and not everyone is so lucky, but I think overall they do an excellent job there considering how overstretched they are. I would definitely go to Kingston again and recommend it. From what I have heard it is far superior to other nearby hospitals like West Mid.

Good luck!

[Emmajanebraybrook]

I have had my 3 boys at Kingston last was in march and all of the staff were fantastic, my midwife Anna was amazing my partner took her a box of chocolates the next day for being so great and making his birth a lovely experience! Hope this helps and good luck x

[leannac]

I had an awful experience there 15 months ago. Bad enough care that even though I had a really bad haemmorage & came close to dying, I've decided to have 2nd baby home birth with emergency transfer to st helier if needed. I know two mums currently taking up cases for medical negligence there. I was offered the chance to do the same but didn't want to make money out of the hospital as that's not the point so I opted for a formal complaint & had apologies & reassurances that more training will happen this year for staff.

I only know 1 out of 17 mums who had non eventful 'natural' labour there as intended. However there seem to be bad reviews & bad experiences at all hospitals local to the area (a few wks from my experience a woman with similar bleeding actually died at at George's) which is why I'm biting the bullet & going for home birth. Ironically it seems to be safest choice for me!

[TJ34]

i am considering going to Kingston hospital again for my 2nd baby. Going private again. has anyone had Mr Nick Anim deliver their baby? i believe his the only private obg at kingston now.

[ExPatMum2]

I'm curious about Dr. nick Anim as well. scheduled to meet with him tuesday.

[Goodwordguide]

I had DD at St Georges and DS at Kingston - much much preferred Kingston, the MWs were fantastic, competent and pleasant, and the hospital felt much cleaner and calmer.

[BardOfBarking]

I had Andrew Pooley as my consultant, privately, at Kingston. He was AMAZING!!!! Ensured that I had skin to skin in theatre (C-section) whilst he was stitching, ensured that all but the operating lights were turned off and it was an utterly joyous event.

(5 years ago)

[TJ34]

i would be interested to hear what you think about Nick Anim. please let me know.
miss meena shankar delivered my 3yr in 2010 but she no longer doing private. she was fantastic.
another thought of mine was going to Chelsea Westminster hospital.

[Smiley2014]

I am expecting my 1st in January 2014.

I have the same decision to make, Kingston or chelsea .... Private or not.

I am finding it really difficult and it's such an important decision as I don't want to be put off having any more

[MrsSpagBol]

Anyone going to Kingston in July? Mixed bag of reviews here ....looking for (more) reassurance!