Recommended Mathernity Wards in SW London

[markotsg]

Hello I leave close to Wimbledon and would like to see other recommendations on maternity wards.

I have th efollowing options

1. St Thomas 15km from my place , apearently 25 minutes drive

2. St Georges

3. Kinsgston hosptital

Could someone recommend from these hospitals?

Anyone traveled from SW London to St Thomas?

How long did it take you??

Many thanks

Jelena

Go to Kingston lovely....best one, or Tooting Birth Centre is great too - I believe they've got a special on at the moment there or something (my friend has just had their little one there)

I'm in Wandsworth and I went to Chelsea & Westminster with DD. Had a great experience and a friend who went there last month on my recommendation also had a good experience. I know this is not everyone's experience though.

I do know someone from Wandsworth who is using St Thomas's as she went to them for her first baby. I had DS there but lived in a different area at the time (still outside of catchment so Dr had to write to get me in). It was OK but is incredibly busy and I had to spend a lot of time in the DAU which wasn't that great.

I've heard good things about Kingston and mixed reviews about St George's. St George's is my closest but, as someone who's used it for other things, I really didn't want to go there.

Why don't you get yourself on some tours around the options and see how you feel?

If you can get to St Thomas's from Wimbledon in 25 minutes you must have a blue light on the top of your car! I went to St Thomas's from SW12. DD then had to attend regularly. The drive can take anything from 30-55min. The hospital was great when my labour (induced) started to go wrong. Very professional and everyone from Consultant obstetrician to anaesthetist to theatre nurse to midwife all knew they key things from my birth plan. Post natal ward was far too busy with disinterested unhelpful midwives though.

Kingston is supposed to be lovely as it's not as manic and every woman gets their own room (I'd have loved to not have to try to breastfeed with the extended family of the woman opposite gawping at me - we'd already been told off for pulling curtains which blocked out the light )

I think if you've ever had to go to St Georges for anything it'd put you off having a baby there! That said, The girls from my NCT group who had theirs there had a reasonable experience (I think they'd have other babies there).

Had first baby at St Georges and it was fine. Planning to have second there too. 25 mins minimum is a long time when in full blown labour. All big London hospitals have good and bad points so I would recommend the closest too you.

I live in Wimbledon. We were planning our birth for St.Heliers in Carshalton - have just switched to hopefully having a homebirth, with St.Heliers as my backup. I didn't consider St.Thomas's as I felt it was a bit too far. Very happy with the care I've received so far under St.Heliers.

Can't speak highly enough of Kingston. Great birthing suite, lovely midwives and your own room at the end of it all - couldn't ask for much more! All my NCT group had good experiences there (early his year)