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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Refused booking at Kingston Hospital - what to do?

14 replies

LEAH1976 · 18/11/2011 19:55

I am 20 weeks pregnant and returning to the UK after being abroad. I have just tried to book online at Kingston Hospital, which is my local, and have had a response to say they are full for March so are rejecting my booking. Can they do this? What am I supposed to do now? Grateful for any advice!

OP posts:

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showtunesgirl · 18/11/2011 20:18

I would have thought that you would be offered the next nearest hospital.

SootySweepandSue · 18/11/2011 20:27

I gave birth there last year and it was very very busy! Fine but exceptionally busy. I didn't see the same MW twice and I was there for 4 days. I had the start of my labour in a room with newborns too (funny didn't bother me that much...). No home visits either -not enough MW available for it. Maybe try Middlesex or Charing Cross or Chelsea & Westminster.

KatieMiddIeton · 18/11/2011 20:30

Where do you live? West Middlesex in Twickenham, St Georges in Tooting, Queen Marys in Roehampton are all near Kingston.

PANCHEY · 18/11/2011 22:05

West mid is great e mw led unit.

AbyCat · 19/11/2011 14:04

Have a look at St Peter's in Chertsey if that is near your way - my best friend gave birth there last week, & has nothing but praise for the midwives & the other staff there & she said the maternity unit was new & very clean.

West Mid is also supposed to be improving now with the new birth centre there.
(Queen Mary's is for antenatal appts & scans I think only, you can't give birth there).
I gave birth at Queen Charlotte's in Hammersmith/Acton instead of Kingston, & was so glad that I did, but I know that they get booked up very early as well.

first1 · 19/11/2011 16:03

Trust me, you're lucky not to get Kingston, it's so busy, the midwife care is atrocious

KatieMiddIeton · 19/11/2011 18:27

You are quite right AbyCat there is no birthing at Queen Mary's hospital or any scanning even! Queen Mary's is the name of the unit at West Mid. Too many outpatient trips to QMH for DS recently has addled my brain!

KatieMiddIeton · 19/11/2011 18:29

You can go to QMH to get pregnant. It has assisted fertility clinics. Probably not much help to OP though

urbandaisy · 20/11/2011 19:58

I had a great experience of Kingston in September, unlike first1, and my midwife care was brilliant, so I'm sorry you didn't get Kingston. From what one midwife said to me they are really trying to keep a cap on the numbers they see, as apparently they got out of control a few years back (with knock-on effects for care).

A local friend had her baby in August at Epsom and had nothing but good things to say about it -- it's a much smaller unit. That might work for you?

griphook · 20/11/2011 20:18

west mid great, but they refused me for April so you might not get in there. Go to you gp who an make a referral. The Gp midwife called other hospitals there and then to see if space

Potol · 20/11/2011 22:41

I had the same problem, as I was abroad from Week 7 (when I discovered I was pregnant) to Week 13 and subsequently got rejected by Kingston. Go back to your GP and ask him to refer you or self refer yourself (google the maternity unit and they have forms you can fill up). Your choices, most likely will be:

West Middlesex- but be aware that they fill up quicker than Kingston.
Chelsea and Westminster.
Queen Charlotte's.
St. George's.

I'd approach all of them simultaneously and see who had a place. Your GP will also be aware of which one is most likely to have a vacancy. When one of them offers you a place, just cancel the rest. Also, do a bit of research and see which ones you prefer so that if more than one offer you a place, you can make an informed choice. Also, be sure to mention that you are 20 weeks pregnant, as an anomaly scan is scheduled around this time, and they might have to expedite this for you. All the best!

Withwoman · 21/11/2011 17:08

www.independentmidwives.org.uk

Have you thought about hiring an independent midwife?

thestringcheesemassacre · 21/11/2011 17:10

West Middlesex is great,I'd try an get in there. Excellent midwive led unit and care.
St Peters is ok. I didn't have a great experience there but it wasn't dire.

petaluma · 21/11/2011 17:27

Depending on which side of Kingston you are on, St Heliers is amazing.
It's carshalton way but a 10 min drive from raynes park area. The main hospital has a bad reputation but the maternity unit is fantastic. I had both dcs there and couldn't fault them, particularly as I had two complicated births. It's supposedly one of the best in the country. Anyone I know who's given birth there say the same.

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