Royal Sussex Hospital or ???

[Becs77]

Hi everyone,

I'm 10 weeks pg and next week have to decide where to have my bub. The thing is i'm new to the area (lived here about 6 months) so not really sure how the local hospitals rate. I've looked at government reports etc on web but never quite sure how reliable they are and would prefer to hear real life advice! I am also considering the birthing centre in Crowborough...not sure if it's too far from where I live in Hove (Would be a good 40 minutes away..)

Would really appreciate some advice from any mothers who've had good/bad experiences at either....

Thank you!! x

[PinkGlitterFairy]

Hi.

I dont't have experience of hospitals in your area, but if you go to ITV.com and put in the search box "Maternity Services criticised by watchdog" you should find the article published in the News last friday. At the bottom of the article all the hospital trusts are listed, and rated.

Good luck !

[PestoMonster]

I had both my dds at the Royal Sussex, and they were very good. However, this was 10 and a half and 8 and a half years ago. So can't really comment about how they are nowadays, but at least this will bump for you.

[policywonk]

I was supposed to have DS1 at RSCH (five years ago), but was turned away in labour as they were full and ended up having him (and his brother, two years later) at the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath.

RSCH had a good reputation, but I've heard the postnatal wards are crowded (they certainly seemed it when I had a look round), and a shortage of midwives. I would thoroughly recommend Haywards Heath, but someone said recently that that unit was being closed down, so you'd have to check that.

Have heard good things about Worthing as well, although that's a different trust.

[nezelette]

I had DD in RSCH and it was amazing! Their antenatal classes really gave me the confidence to give birth naturally with only Gas and Air and TENS (and it was my first baby) (mind you, I was a lucky cow with a 3h45min labour). Their midwives were amazing. I had the nicest ever midwife stay with throughout the whole birth and she didn't even leave the room once, she was great. The breastfeeding specialist was also briliant, and the aftercare was fine. At least it was clean and so on, although it's never super comfortable to be in hospital after the birth and you just want to go home!
That was 3 years ago and there have been further refurbishments since. I really loved it there.
Have friends who had a great experience at the birth centre, but then again others who had to be rushed to a random hospital away from home for a C section because of course the birth centre can't do that. So for a first baby I would strongly recommend the hospital, especially as it is very midwife-led and actually feels like a birth centre, with very low rates of intervention and C-sections compared with other hospitals nationally.
I lived in Hove too! It took only 10 mn to drive there.

[fingerwoman]

hi becs
i know a few people who have been to crowborough and really, really highly recommended it. I was thinking about it, but went for a homebirth instead.
Haywards Heath is under threat of closure, but isn't closed yet. However have recently heard a couple of bad things about it- still, I guess you're bound to hear a few bad things about anywhere.
Worthing is apparently really nice- recommended to a friend of mine by her midwife even though we're not particularly close to it lol

or you could have a homebirth

[bundle]

I would not want to be 40 mins away from any help i might need. why not try for a homebirth with the royal sussex as a backup?

[MissMalaprop]

The PRH in Haywards Heath hasn't closed yet, and may yet be saved [utterly sceptical emoticon]

I had ds there in jan 07 and the birth was fine, had a student midwife with me most of the day (as far as I can remember) and a qualified midwife popping in frequently. Post-natally, not so good, they were clearly ridiculously busy, I didn't move from the delivery room to the ward for about four hours, although I'm not sure what's normal. I also didn't speak to any midwife for more than a couple of minutes for the two nights I stayed in, as far as I could tell because they were absolutely rushed off their feet.

I have a friend who gave birth in the Brighton hospital, and although I don't know the ins and outs of her experience there, it was overall quite a positive one from what she's said.

[brightonlass]

can also vouch for RSCH. Just had my DD there 3 weeks ago. Lovely midwives and staff on the whole. I was there for 10 days, so got a real feel for the place. I had heard horror stories and had planned a home birth. Baby came early so was admitted to Rsch. I needn't have worried. I had a good experience. Make sure you take ear plugs for post natal ward, it is noisy with all the babies crying!

[furrycat]

Had both mine there, one and three years ago. The labour ward is very VERY good, though not especially clean. With ds2 I was in an out of ante-natel. it was chronically shortstaffed (this was about 18 months ago) but the staff were wonderful.

Friend has had 2 at Crowborough and said it was fantastic. But do you really fancy a 40 minute drive when you're in labout?

[policywonk]

Sounds as though PRH has gone downhill since I had mine there... shame, it was great.

[Kif]

I've had 2 babies in the last 4 years at RSCH. I think it is a good choice. No major probs for me.

I once got chatting to a midwife at a party (not connected to RSCH), and she told me RSCH was a very coveted placement for midwives. Apparently, it is a centre of excellence in the region partic. for premature babies, so the ambitious midwives want to get a chance to work on the trickier cases.

[mcnoodle]

Two friends have had fairly negative experiences at RSCH. It is a busy unit and quite old (sort of creaky and could do with bringing into the 21st Century a bit). However, other friends have had a good experience. Go and visit. See what you think.

Sussex generally very supportive of homebirth (I had one with my first). Or you could see if you can get into Worthing - only 15 mins and more modern both in building and approach.

[sphil]

I agree about RSCH - had both my DSes there (mind you it was 6 and 5 years ago).

[Becs77]

Thanks for all your helpful advice... may go for a homebirth but RSCH actually sounds okay from your comments so we'll see... Thanks again

[tubbycustard]

Had my ds there last October. Second baby, induced, took two days and was looked after by four different midwives. All of them were wonderful and even though the birth wasn't how I'd have liked it to be, I honestly couldn't fault the care. Ended up with an epidural but wanted to stay mobile and get on all fours to help the birth progress and lovely midwife did everything she could (moving wires and machinery and drips) to help me. Had a dreadful time giving birth to my first baby in St Mary's in London. Rude, incompetent midwives, filthy conditions and awful post-natal care that forced me to discharge myself even though I was in bad shape after a blood transfusion. Was really nervous about second baby and some things I'd heard about Royal Sussex but they were amazing. Post-natal ward not exactly the Four Seasons, but luxury compared to the last one I was on. From what I've read there have been problems with turning people away when the labour ward is full, and dreadful to have it happen, but it does seem to be rare.