John Radcliffe Oxford

[Luce77]

I'm having to have an a c-section in January and wondered if anyone can tell me whether the John Radcliffe is any good if you've given birth there recently?

I had decided on the John Radcliffe but then heard that a few people had had some bad experiences about 3 or 4 years ago due to lack of staff. I thought things should have improved by now, however I went for a 12-week scan there last week and wasn't at all impressed!

Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks.

Hi Luce77.
I had a C-section 3 years ago when there were staffing problems. I have to say whilst the after care was dodgey the surgical team were fantastic. I was sooooo nervous and they were all really great. However I would google the JR because they have been in the local news a lot recently as they are trying to close the specialist maternity ward (level 5). Good luck and for what it is worth I found a planned c-section is very different to an emergency one (much calmer!)

I had a section at the JR in 2006 and a VBAC last year.

Specialist mat ward is actually level 6. I was there for my section as I had severe pre-eclampsia and really couldn't fault any of the care, the surgical team was great, mws were lovely, drugs turned up when they should etc. Even showers were clean.

I had to stay in for 4 days after VBAC, spent first night on level 6 but was moved down to level 5 as they were shutting level 6 for the summer . They were obviously understaffed on the ward and the mws were rushing around all over the place but were still great, trying really hard to get to everyone, again no problem with pain relief after tear. Everything clean. However it was my second baby so I knew what to do with her - don't know how much help there would have been with bfing etc.

Have nothing to compare it to but were I to have a third (which I won't!!!) I would go there again. Good luck!

had two fab births, 2007 & 2010 but neither were sections

the food is awful though so take supplies.

Thank you so much for your help so far - any other recent experiences much appreciated. I'm being referred to a consultant called Rebecca Black. Anyone heard of her?

oh yes, she was mine this time

never met her thjough but her team were good

Rebecca delivered DD by csection - she's fab, she gave me a really good stitch job and tightened my muscles so I had a flat stomach afterwards.

Aftercare is absolutely dire, take food and take squash as well because they forget to bring drinks round and the food was always cold by the time it got to us. There is a pizza place down the road which delivers btw!

It's very noisy as well, noise cancelling headphones or stump up for an amenity room.

Thanks - we were thinking about paying for a private room but my sister had one at another hospital and she said it made the after-care even worse because they completely forgot about her.

Sounds like everyone is positive about having the birth at JR but negative about the aftercare! I wonder if anywhere else is any better though?!

I think you just need to get home asap afterwards...

Was there in June, had induced vaginal delivery. Delivery suite was great but I second the poor aftercare esp for bf as midwives always too busy to help. Plus their help tended to be putting baby on boob for me, but not helping me do it myself. Wish I had transferred to local mlu for aftercare, but didn't think about it til afterwards. Had much better bf assistance by community midwives luckily.

Can you transfer to a local place (think Wallingford is my nearest) if you've had a c-section? And how do they transfer you or does your husband just drive you there?

Think so, you have to make your own way though so you might not feel like it. Wallingford is local to me, spent a lot of time there after I was discharged getting help with bf.