Southend or Basildon Hospital?

[cherryberry01]

Hi everyone I am new on here. I come from Wickford in Essex. I am abit confussed I dont know what hospital to have my baby at I need peoples reviews on both hospitals. I had my son at southend hospital back in 2006 & I had amazing care at southend I had quite a tramatic labour & could not fault southend. But I heard Southend has gone down hill & do not have the midwifes so they get agency midwifes in. Ive had a few people told me that Basildon has improved highly & they couldnt fault the place. But back in 2006 i wouldnt of gone near basildon hospital.

Hiya welcome to Mumsnet. :)

I live quite near you & had both my children at Southend Hospital.

Perhaps ask your midwife for the next dates for walkarounds at both hospitals & decide for yourself which you feel happier giving birth at.

X

Hi I have a lot of contact with new parents, and the views I am hearing at the moment are that Basildon has improved greatly recently - very, very positive stories. Also today just heard lovely birth story from someone who birthed at Southend. Go and visit both and go with your gut instinct. You could also look at the reviews on the NHS CHoices website although bear in mind that people who have a poor experience - be it hospital or meal out - tend to tell everyone about it, if people have a reasonable/good experience they tend to just get on with life and don't bother writing reviews!

Sorry - should have said first off CONGRATULATIONS !

I checked rates of assisted delivery, c-sections and MRSA type infections and went for Southend but not sure how up to date the figures will be.

Bear in mind that if your chosen labour ward is busy they will send you to the other hospital.

I went to Southend for ante-natal appointments but actually had home birth. I felt the docs didn't really listen to me and the midwives were a bit distracted/busy.