East sussex hospitals.... please help!

[argylesocks]

I'm 22 weeks and I will be moving down from London at 28 weeks. I'm not sure exactly where we're moving but somewhere between Brighton and Hastings (probably Eastbourne) I'd really like to know something about the hospitals down there before we choose where to move to. We're not really restricted by location since I won't be working and DP works from home.

I've called all the hospitals in the area and NONE of them will let me come in for a tour. I don't want to move somewhere just to find out it's horrible.

Does anyone have any thoughts on Conquest, East Sussex/ Eastbourne (are they even the same hospital?? Its not very clear) or Crowborough Birthing Centre?

Ideally, I want a water birth option but in a hospital or easy access to consultants or neotatal in case of problems. (first baby, I'm a worrier...)

Has anyone been to any of these? Thanks so much for your help!!

I went to the Royal Sussex County hospital in Brighton and had a very positive experience there (although I know people who didn't). They have a birthing pool there. Also, early this year they are opening a birthing centre right next to the hospital which is supposed to have excellent facilities. I know nothing about the other hospitals you have mentoned though..

I gave birth at Crowborough last June. Staff are lovely, facilities are clean, only 6 beds so quite homely, two birthing pools - BUT in case you need a doctor you have to go in the ambulance to the nearest available hospital, which is at least 20 minutes away. They do tours, btw. And I was a first-timer too!

The Conquest is great, I had a really good experience there. There is only one birthing pool, in room 5, so it would be best to ring the midwives when you first go into labour and request that they save it for you. The facilities in general are very good though and the staff are lovely. I'd ring them again and ask for a tour - can't imagine why they would say no, unless they are restricting access in flu season or something . The tours are usually part of the antenatal course so maybe you could tag along with one of them.

I went on a tour of Eastbourne and was less impressed, although I don't know anybody who has given birth there. It was just a bit old fashioned, and the maternity unit was a really long way from the entrance (unlike Conquest which has a private entrance to the mat unit). It had 2 birthing pools afaik, but they were more like large baths. They did a very comprehensive tour, I was a bit that we were taken into the scbu, seemed a bit invasive to see the tiny babies in there.

I have one friend who gave birth at Crowborough. She said it was lovely and homely, but of course you might end up with a scary dash to Pembury if you need any interventions.

I'd also recommend Hastings for a place to live after the baby arrives - it's a supposed 'deprived' area so gets lots of funding for baby groups etc (well more than other areas anyway) and there are always lots of free activities going on where you can meet other mums. A great way of meeting new friends if you're new to the area!

thanks everyone, that's really helpful. I spoke to a rep from the NCT in Eastbourne tonight and she was surprised they wouldn't give me a tour as well. I'll call back and see if I get someone less grumpy but both eastbourne and Conquest said they used to give tours but they don't anymore.

We're going to look at houses on Friday so hopefully we'll find something. The Conquest seems nice I'd just worry that with one birth pool it might be in use!

I had both my DC's at the Royal Sussex in Brighton. I didn't have a fabulous time, but this was down to my body being rubbish not really the hospital or staff! I'm more than happy to be going there again for DC3's birth in May. I used the birth pool which was lovely. I have heard mixed things about the midwife led birth centre that is to open. One midwife said it's going to open early this year, another said not until July.
I grew up in Eastbourne, and have two friends that had their DC at the DGH there (one cs one natural) both were happy with the care they had. I don't know anything about the conquest in Hastings.
Are you basing your decision of where to live completely on hospitals? I think all of them are ok. I certainly haven't heard anything bad about any of them.
Brighton is a great place to live with young children - although it is expensive here, but there's always loads to do. Eastbourne is nice too, more house for your money there. But I do think it's a bit ummm chavy for want of a better word, especially if you go into town a lot. I know both areas well, so feel free to ask any questions.

I also had my first at the Conquest, I found it ok, not fantastic in any way but not bad either. The staff were friendly (although this was 5 years ago now). The first room I was in hadn't been cleaned properly and there was blood on the toilet seat but I've heard worse stories thahn that from other hospitals in London. Anyway the room I gave birth in later on was clean.

Also, if you really want a water birth you can hire a pool and bring with you to hospital.

And welcome down here to the south coast!!!!

I had dc1 at royal Sussex and dc2 at crowborough. I preferred the after care at crowborough but preferred the birth of ds1 at rsch. Midwives were great there and I have very fond memories of floating in the birthing pool in a blissfullness state watching seagulls from the window!
I'm now expecting dc3 and I'll be booking in at rsch. It was busier perhaps less clean but the midwives were brilliant and I was more relaxed knowing I 'could' have an epidural if I wanted one. (I didn't though)

Ello. Had my DD at the Eastbourne hospital all of four weeks ago! She's my first so I can't compare with other places but the staff were lovely, very professional and kind. I live in Eastbourne so feel free to ask any questions.

Hi I had 2 of dc's at Eastbourne and thought it was great, very caring, my first ds was born in another county and the care was shocking compared to Eastbourne!

As a place to live, its great, lots to do, the town centre may be a bit chavvy but there are some lovely areas to live, you don't have to spend all your time in the town centre.

Schools are pretty good too, feel free to mail me if you have any questions

I had dd at Eastbourne dgh in august, lovely midwives and they did a great job on my emcs. I lived eastbourne (or 'ebo') until v recently and love it - old town is a lovely place to live, a nice place to meet mums is the tennis in the park cafe in gildredge park.
I've heard bad things about Brighton hospital from a few friends.

thanks again :) I appreciate it. We had a look and I wasn't that impressed with Eastbourne as a town. I know it makes me sound like a total old lady but I thought it would be a bit more village-y. We don't have a car so need a town centre or near a train station so the nice residential areas would be a bit far for us. We found something closer to Hastings that's lovely and right on the sea so I guess I'll go with the Conquest but I still can't believe they won't let me have a tour! But as long as no one's had any horror stories or says it's complete crap I'm sure it will be fine.

Hi sorry I'm coming to this a little late.

In my experience Eastbourne hospital is awfull, I had a horrible birth experience there. However, I expect you could find a story like mine linked to every hospital.

The conquest in my opinion is the best of the bunch as I have never had any problems there.

Which area have you chosen to live in (don't feel you have to answer and out yourself). We don't drive in our household and we are in Battle a smalle market town not far from Hastings with good transport links.

Did you just ring and ask for a personal tour? Or did you ask if you could join in with a tour as part of the antenatal classes? You'd probably have more luck with the second question as I doubt they'd have time to show individual couples round the unit, but I'd be very surprised if they'd stopped the organised group tours.

It is a nice hospital though - the mat unit is right next to a lake, so if you're lucky you will be able to sit in your postnatal bed and look out of the window at the ducks!! Just remember - room 5 if you want the pool!

Good luck!

As Jaqueline says, Battle is a good choice if you want 'villagey' - direct train to London, a really good playgroup on mondays, and the secondary school has a great reputation if you're thinking of staying long term!

I am from Crowborough, no longer live there but have several friends who had their babies at Crowborough. I've yet to hear a bad thing about it, except for one girl who didn't progress and had to be moved to Eastbourne.