Due 1 Oct 08 but the labour ward will be closed! HELP!

[hes222]

Hello

I received a letter from my hospital (the Whittington in north London) this morning telling me (with only 2 days notice!) that they are closing the labour ward for refurbishment. I'm 37 weeks and so I'm due to give birth during that time.

PANIC!

It sounds like there will now be no dedicated, fully equipped delivery rooms available - the labour ward sounds like it will be a make-shift affair on what are usually the pre-natal wards (just a series of tiny little curtained cubicles, so I'm not sure how that will work!). Not sure what they will do about theatre for c-sections either as that is on the labour ward too. I know that they have to refurbish in hospitals from time to time, of course, but surely they could give more notice so that mums-to-be could have the option of switching hospitals etc?

Sorry to moan but I'm feeling anxious about it all now. I may be admitted to the pre-labour ward this week (transverse baby) and am now dreading it even more as I assume that it will be packed to the rafters and even more chaotic than usual. We went on a labour ward tour so that we would know what the set up is and it would all feel a bit more familiar, but that has gone out of the window now.

Has anyone who is due during that time managed to get through to the Whitt to get more info? The number I have is just ringing out all the time?

Thanks!

I too received this letter this morning (I'm only 35 weeks though).
Had my first daughter at the Whittington (in Labour ward) but due to complications spent a week before and a week after in Cearns Link. There are private (if small) rooms in Cearns Link - not just the curtained off areas so I'm assuming these would be assigned to ladies in labour first (normally postnatal rooms).
Even though the hospital surroundings may look a bit tired, the care I received during my first and now second pregnancies has been excellent and I'm sure the midwives will do all they can to make it a positive experience for you.
Hope it reassures.

Hi

Just in case anyone searches, finds this thread and worries, I thought that I would update it to say that the labour ward has now reopened.

Much to everyone's surprise, the builders appear to have stuck to the date of 6 October for re-opening (the midwives all seemed to think it would be the end of Octber at one point).

So the delivery suite is available again. As far as I know, the whole suite has re-opened, or it certainly looks that way at least. Things are still settling down after te recent ward moves / closures, but normal service is essentially resumed.

A relief for those of us who are due any time now!