To not know how to safely get to hospital

[FidgetyTwitch]

London ladies, please help this scared soon-to-be mom.. 31 week antenatal appointment this week, followed by a mix of telephone and face to face appointments, and then travelling back into the hospital for C section week 39. This is in a very busy hospital in central London which I have to go to due to specialist care. We live south London about 6 miles from the hospital (usually an easy commute).

I need to get to the hospital in the safest way but I don't drive, and neither does my DP. We are in isolation due to pregnancy and DP underlying health condition.

Which of these options is safest / most sensible? Or any other ideas?

• Black cab
• Uber
• Addision Lee?
• Tube
• Overground part of the way then walk 3 miles
• walk 6 miles there and back again (obviously not after the baby arrives).
• can't cycle (clearly)!

Also, someone on a local group has offered to drive but they don't have a car so we would need to book a hourly streetcar which might be worse / more contagious. Also this person may be carrying the virus.

Any tips about safe travel to and from hospital, for appointments and for and after the birth? Also any tips about staying safe in the hospital other than the obvious?

Thank you

I can't see that you have any choice other than to take a taxi. Check with the cab firms re. what sanitising they are doing between fares - probably best to pay over the odds for a firm that can demonstrate that they are taking cleanliness seriously.

Wear gloves and a mask and remove the gloves and wash your hands (and keep washing them) as soon as you get to hospital.

I am sure the covid patients are kept well away from maternity patients in all hospitals so please try not to worry about that too much.

Thanks. It's hard to know what black cabs or ubers are doing. I suspect not much?

i would choose a black cab over an uber as they have the privacy glass behind the driver. that would help a bit.

An Addison Lee or a black cab. Definitely not an Uber.

Overground trains are very, very quiet. You could easily be the only person in a whole carriage. That might not be a bad option for your appointment if you’re ok with the walk.

Hard to know how things will be in another 8 weeks time. Can a friend drive you? They will have been in contact with much fewer people than a cab driver.

@Lenny1980 we don't know anyone with a car in London.

Yes, hard to know and will keep monitoring things

I'd go for a black cab too. Wash your hands as often as possible. I'm sure it'll be fine OP.

I'd definitely go for a black cab. Book it in advance and ask about their hygiene steps - I'd expect wiping over between customers. Touch as little as possible, wash your hands a lot. And my local hospital has a special drive through entrance for maternity (and I think they've moved maternity into a hut out of the main hospital).
Good luck!

My mum had to go into a central London hospital (cancer related) and settled on a black cab because of the screen. The absolute saint of a driver waited for her and the hospital, drove her back and charged about half what he should have.

Addison Lee, they are working and cleaning cars between trips. I’ve always had a lot of respect for them.

Int NHS in one area in South London (can’t remember where sorry) is using black cabs as patient transport because of the privacy screen, cabs are sanitised between each passenger, the drivers are delighted to help and pleased to get some business. Even if this isn’t available where you are I would have thought a black cab would be the best option

I’m in the same situation as you, I’m part walking part taxi the journeys, wearing a mask and washing hands as soon as I’m at the hospital. Might be worth calling the cab company before just to specify that you’re in the vulnerable group, so would need to make sure everything is wiped down properly. Good luck with your pregnancy

As others have said - black cab or addison lee. The privacy screen in a black cab is a great thing. You could book in advance and ask how they clean the cab - or even take wipes with you and wipe down seat/handles/seat belt as you go

Thanks @Pinkpepper what app are you using to book your black cabs please?

Ok thanks all. So the black cab / wiping down option sounds best.

I would say a cab with a screen. (I dont know what addison lee is but if they have screen then that or black cab)

Say on booking you are pregnant and dh is vulnerable.

you could possibly have something to sit on??
We had a click & collect last week (lucky us!) but dh car wouldn't start (yes he should have thought of this but he didn't, flat battery last minute - he nearly landed up under the patio) I don't drive (there are reasons why) he is ultra vulnerable so muggins had to order taxi (thank you nice driver) to take me across to collect (over 10miles to nearest c & c) shopping & come back (bless him he helped me pack car) he said very few people are using them - he opened & shut door for me.

Whatever car you choose keep the windows down for airflow

@FidgetyTwitch First choice should be a black cab - you can download the Gett app from the App Store

Thanks @Hadjab I've got Gett but was wondering if there's another app where I can ask directly about their hygiene procedures...?

@ittakes2 very good idea!