For health reasons, I had all 4DC in hospital. Things changed so much in the 11 years between DC1 and DC4. My worst experience was after DC2. Born at 12.02 am, and having had an epidural, I had to stay until the morning. Firstly, I sent my husband home to bed about 1am and had baby in bassinette, drip in one arm and sick bowl in other hand, so couldn't move. Then, the healthcare assistant came to give me a wash - when I told her I was waiting to be stitched, she insisted I had already been stitched - after about 10 minutes of arguing, she went to get the midwive, who rushed in, apologising for the fact that I hadn't been stitched and the epidural wouldn't now be as effective.
Unfortunately, everywhere was full and so I ended up in the early delivery room (meant to be set up like a lounge area), along with two other ladies and their newborns. There was not a curtain or a bell between the three of us and one of the ladies was a teenager, it was her first and she was in shock and wouldn't stop crying. As it was part of the labour ward, there were no midwives free to come and see any of us. The following morning, I couldn't shower until my husband was around to look after baby and, due to paperwork and medication for the baby, we didn't get to leave until 2pm. Worst experience ever.
The same hospital now has single rooms throughout the hospital, including post natal. Whilst I would have definitely preferred this, there are now no communal areas in post-natal, so those that are there for several days don't get to mix with other new mums and, if they don't have many visitors, are totally alone with their baby for hours on end.