To not want to give birth in East Kent following maternity review

[Melectrolux]

Hi All,
I’ve changed my name for this because it IDs where I live - East Kent.

I’m pregnant with 1st baby. When I booked in, I was given the choice of two hospitals:

1. William Harvey Hospital (WHH) Ashford
2. QEQM, Margate. I’m due to give birth in WHH.

Today, an independent review has found many cases of clinical maternity negligence, which resulted in 45 newborn babies passing away v unnecessarily. Some just needed an antibiotic. Other babies had outcomes of brain damage, which was avoidable. Just so sorry for these parents. Some were told it was their fault for introducing risk to their labour.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-62899900
they also mention toxic work culture between staff teams, where a team of midwives challenges other teams to not have interventions in high risk pregnancies. I find it not only heart breaking but pretty frightening. I can’t sleep thinking of it.
In all likelihood- the hospital trust could react by making vast improvements - but these findings do knock my confidence in them, especially since it went on for years unaddressed, unrecognised and unimproved. I feel afraid to use either of these hospitals. AIBU to worry / want to go somewhere else?
Would a request to another trust or London be an option?
Thanks x

Understand completely , I would feel the same way. I’d probably be wrong though because with the spotlight of publicity firmly on the Trust there is probably no safer place to have your baby at the moment.
congratulations and all the very best x

I gave birth to both my DD's at QEQM. I feel lucky to have walked away with both of my children. I didn't have a good experience with either and if I fell pregnant again, wouldn't hesitate to pay money out for a private midwife. Absolutely awful hospital.

Everywhere is shit OP sadly.

People have known for decades that maternity care at QEQM is poor.

However OP you can be very firm. You can ask for an appointment with a senior midwife. You can be very clear that you expect expert care in labour. You can be very clear that you expect your wishes and your baby's life to be prioritised.

To be fair, they are probably being ultra cautious at present.

How many local GPs, gynaecologists, etc, have known the status quo for years and done diddly squat? That's what makes me so very angry.

For what its worth, my sister had her first in the WHH just under a year ago, and says she had good care. I feel your pain though OP, I was due to visit family in Kent just before my due date last year and in the end I didn't go for fear of early labour and the QEQM being the closest hospital, and in doing so missed a close relative's wedding.

This scandal hit the press back in 2020 when I had my first at WHH and I am now due my second at QEQM any day. It's horrible, but as others have said there's a lot of scrutiny on the Trust right now and lots of the recommendations have already been implemented. With both of mine my aim has been to be in and out as soon as possible - my second is throwing up complications that might make this impossible, and I'm very scared of having interventions and a longer stay. So just wanted to say you're not alone in feeling this way

Hi Op, I live in the area too and have registered with a London hospital (not private). Wasn't a problem from the admin side of things, however, there are obviously quite a few things to consider and many people would advise against it. In case of any emergencies for example I'd still go to WHH rather than take a longish trip but fingers crossed all goes smoothly.

18yrs ago when I was excepting my 1st child my local hospitals maternity unit had been in the news for starving a baby of oxygen at birth. Thankfully my mother drove 45miles to pick me up at first signs of labor and drove me to her local hospital to give birth.

I had a dreadful time giving birth in NHS hospitals - some staff were lovely but others were absolutely awful. And that was in a hospital that was rated ok. I would avoid both of these hospitals at all costs OP if you can. Good luck.

I am in a similar situation, due early next year. I have acquintances that have mixed revies abotu WH maternity - some said it was amazing, some said they didn't feel they got the best treatment. I am definately avoiding Margate.
I have decided today, to sign up for Royal Tunbridge Wells (Pembury maternity). It is just over an hour drive from where I am and I need to figure out how to get there. There's also the assumption they could decline my request.
The last reviews 2017-2018 show a better ranking than East Kent hospitals and that is giving me hope (www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ccg-maternity-assessment-2017-18.pdf)
If I end up in WH, I will bring a friend along, to make sure she can request / fight for me to get the best care. My partner might be caught up in the process and I wanted someone not emotionally involved to be able to advocate for me. I am discussing the process with her, so she is aware and I will have to follow my gut in case something doesn't feel right - this is my first.
Good luck and as others have said, there's also a chance things won't be half bad because of the spotlight

Pembury is a really nice hospital, according to family who live in TW. One of my friends had her baby there and was very impressed, and I know someone who's a nurse there, and she thinks it's excellent.

I had to go to A&E there when I was staying with my SIL following knee surgery, and my knee got very swollen and inflamed. The staff were excellent and it seemed very modern and clean and well maintained. It was the complete opposite of my local A&E, which is shabby, cramped, grubby and insanely busy.

I gave birth in Medway in July. They were excellent. A friend of mine in East Kent also requested and got a transfer of care to Medway in 2017 and 2020 because she didn’t like or trust the community midwives. Worth a punt. Big hugs. Disasters happen everywhere, and even in the worst unit most people are still all right, but those findings are sad and scary and I don’t blame you for feeling anxious.