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Pregnancy

UCH or Whittington hospital?

18 replies

Lyndsay77 · 17/11/2010 16:30

I'm due to give birth next year but I'm totally torn as to which hospital to go to, I've heard terrible reports from the Whittington, but it's much closer to where I live than UCH. The fact that UCH offers 3D scans at 12 weeks is also very appealing to me - but I want to make the right choice with the birth. The new birthing centre at the Whittington looks amazing, can anyone help? I'm only 8+ weeks pg but need to make this decision before my 12 week scan (currently booked at the Whittington)
Thanks!

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ricketyrock · 17/11/2010 16:34

You will hear good and bad things about both hospitals. It can be overwhelming. I chose the Whit because it was closer and has a brand new ML unit which looks like a hotel (as you know). In the end I was straight to labour ward and didn't get to use the MLU but I can tell you that without exception the staff at the Whittington were amazing. I have heard that UCH is also very good but that the Obstetrics dept at Whittington is the best.

I say go for the one that is the easiest for you to get too!

Lyndsay77 · 17/11/2010 17:19

Thanks for your reply, I am swinging towards the Whittington, it's 5 mins from me and UCH is half hour - I would really like my scan to be at UCH though (3D scan on NHS at UCH). Do you think I could get referred for my scan at UCH then change back to the Whittington for the 20 wk scan and birth? I've also heard the Whittington has a policy of not telling you the gender and I do really want to find out.

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JRuBastard · 17/11/2010 17:24

You definitely will get a real range of answers.

I had my second baby at UCH last year and cannot fault them. Post-natal care is limited (you won't find a NHS hospital in London where it is any different), but the new labour ward was lovely, the staff on the labour ward were fantastic, and their SCBU is one of the very best in the country, which was a great comfort to me.

crochetcircle · 17/11/2010 18:38

I'm in the same position as you - live much closer to the Whit, but UCH is much handier from work and definitely do-able.

I've chosen UCH for now. This is my second pregnancy (first ended in mc) and I can't speak highly enough of the EPU at UCH. I hope you won't need to use it, but be reassured that they will look after you very well if you do.

As far as I know its possible to change at any point, and when I am passed my 12 week scan I intend to do some proper research and go visit both etc as clearly it makes more sense to be at a hospital nearer home when it gets closer to the birth.

Good luck!

cake4breakfast · 17/11/2010 18:39

Where can I go to get independent reviews about Maternity Units in Hospitals? Homerton University Hospital is my nearest...

ricketyrock · 17/11/2010 18:41

Lyndsay I'm not sure about the scan stuff and also I didn't want to find out the gender so I can't comment on that. But you can refer yourself to the Whit so I presume you could be at UCH to start and then self refer to the Whit.

ricketyrock · 17/11/2010 18:47

Also, and this is just a thought -you can get really bogged down with negative comments about ALL hospitals. Everyone has a different opinion and experience. Ultimately I think you just have to go with which one you feel is the most convenient ( parking, getting there in labour, antenatal apps when you are properly waddling). Just before I gave birth I was almost housebound and I would have been fucked if I had had to travel further than the ten mins it took me to get to the hospital!

ricketyrock · 17/11/2010 18:48

I was housebound with SPD I should clarify, and I suppose what I am trying to say is that there are a lot of horror stories out there...

EssieW · 17/11/2010 18:51

Whittington would tell you the gender - I was asked both times if I wanted to know.

Gave birth to DS at Whittington. I was a transfer from a home birth so probably didn't see it in it's best light.
Staff were all great in delivery. Postnatally, I wasn't quite so happy - the postnatal ward is not the best place to spend time. Have several friends who have given birth at Whittington - they all got on fine with no complaints.

Lyndsay77 · 17/11/2010 19:34

thanks everyone for your replies - I think I may ask to be referred to UCH for the 12 week scan and then possibly come back to the Whit for the rest of my pg - I want to get a feel of both hospitals. The Whit is only 5 mins drive from my house and I think it will be a nightmare travelling back and forth to UCH which is half hour..

Crochetcircle - I also had MC in Jan and was at UCH EPU, had my d&c after the MC too there and they really looked after me, but at the time we didn't have a car and it cost us small fortune in cabs.

I've also heard that UCH don't do hospital tours, does anyone know if this is true? The birthing centre is really appealing at the Whittington, is it for natural births only or can you have an epidural there - or do you have to be transferred to labour ward?

Thanks in advance x

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MumNWLondon · 17/11/2010 21:43

I had DS2 in April at the whittington in the birth centre, it was fantastic, can't praise them enough, didn't see or hear another patient, got stay in labour room until discharge (14 hours, although probably could have pushed to get out earlier). Me and DH enjoying the lovely room, flatscreen TV so no rush to go home .

The birth centre is natural birth, no epidurals have to go to the labour ward for that.

I actually transferred to the whittington at 32 weeks as was going to go RFH but changed mind. I self referred by email, didn't even need to tell GP.

Havingkittens · 17/11/2010 22:02

UCH have a birth centre too and the maternity ward is pretty much brand new.

Unfortunately I've never made it much past the 12 weeks stage but have been taken care of extremely well with a lot of sensitivity and care by the EPU, Fetal Medicine Unit and Recurrent Miscarriage clinics there through 5 different very upsetting failed pregnancies.

This is just the start of my 6th pregnancy and I am going for an early scan next week and they have already bent more than helpful in moving appointments so that my other half can be with me. So, I am cheering their corner!

Terrible parking though!

DrMouse · 18/11/2010 09:20

I also had this dilemma a few weeks back and decided to go with the Whittington just because it is closer.

They did tell me the gender of the baby at the 20 week scan :)

Last week I had to spend a night on the antenatal ward as I developed a blood clot in my leg. The surroundings are not much to look at (and the food was terrible) but the staff were brilliant - and I think that is probably the most important thing!

I was also glad that it was close to home - made it easy for DP to go and get my things.

Hope that helps!

cordiality · 18/11/2010 09:55

Just FYI, I definitely wasn't offered 3D at my 12 week scan at UCH... I'm feeling like I really missed out now! Did everyone else get one?!

caramellokoalalover · 18/11/2010 13:55

I wasn't offered 3D at my 12 week scan at UCH either, 4 weeks ago. Didn't know I could ask for it, damn, also feel ripped off now cordiality They were VERY thorough though and two sonographers took over 45 mins to complete the scan!

And overall I've been really impressed with UCH. I had one admission to the women's ward at Whittington just over 2 years ago for HG and was so disgusted by the state of the place and the service I discharged myself - not something I've ever done or considered but I was so upset. Unfortunately that has tainted my view of the Whittington although I'm sure there are many people happy with having been there.

Havingkittens · 18/11/2010 14:45

UCH is pretty scrupulously clean. I've been in overnight a couple of times and cleaners have been round regularly.

Lyndsay77 · 18/11/2010 19:27

My best friend got offered a 3d scan at UCH when she was 13 weeks and they even told her the gender! Maybe you have to request it.. I'm not sure. I did google it and found a few other women who had 3D scans on the NHS at UCH.. I was going to pay for a private one!
Thanks for all your replies, very helpful.

And havingkittens I really hope this pregnancy is a good healthy one for you:-) Having been through MC I can't imagine going through five.

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sunflower · 19/11/2010 13:53

I don't normally post much on MN but felt I had to reply. I've just spent some time on the antenatal ward at the Whittington (including an overnight on the labour ward post-op - though operation not pregnancy-related!) and I wanted to say how amazing all the staff were. Truly fantastic - couldn't fault them at all. Wards etc. clean too. Was a bit worried as my older child there some years ago and although the labour ward/delivery experience was good, postnatal ward was not so nice then. But I was really impressed this time and now very happy about going back for birth next year.

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