New Lister Hospital in Stevenage

[BellaCB]

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience of the new maternity unit here? I am moving in to the area this weekend (at 33w, panic...!) so haven't spoken to any North Herts midwives yet, but was hoping someone could spill the beans on the Lister service?

Not got experience of the new unit, but was appalled by most of the staff. The midwives during delivery were amazing. The SCBU staff were mostly offhand, uninformative, and didn't listen to a word I said. The staff on the maternity ward were the worst. Rude, offhand, uncaring, unhelpful, sarcastic and generally horrid, especially to be working on a ward where peoples' hormones are a little out of whack. I was absolutely disgusted, and will never go back, regardless of how lovely and new their unit is now.
I certainly would not advise anyone to go there. I'm sure some ladies have had a lovely experience there.

Go to the Edgeware Birthing Unit.

More like a relaxing spa.

I live between Lister and Bedford and chose Bedford hospital because of the awful reviews I'd heard about the Lister, unfortunately. (am 39 weeks)

Crap! No good experiences at all? I don't drive so I don't have much option where I go, we'll never manage a taxi to Bedford or Edgware... Is this all at the brand new maternity unit?

Homebirth?

I had both of mine at lister, had horrid time but not because of hospital. They were fine for me

Hi, I had my baby there in May, IME the midwives in the unit were great. I refused induction and when I finally went into labour naturally 17 days overdue they were very supportive even when I was being pressured by the registrars to still go on a drip to "speed things up" even though my baby was fine, the MW's really stood up for me and fought my corner. I had my other DS's in the old unit and again the MW's in delivery were great. I echo what people have said about the ward though and this time asked if I could go home more or less straight away, we had DS3 at 1.36 and left the unit as the sun was rising, our MW did say that things were changing and that provided Mother and Baby were OK and birth straightforward it will become more common to discharge quickly (without a stay on the ward). The new unit was very shiny btw and you get your own room with a bath, plus there are more birthing pools.

I have now had 3 babies at this hospital, the last one this week in the new midwife led unit. All of my experiences their have been really good. I will say that I have had straightforward births with a brief (6 hour stay on the postnatal ward for my 1st 2) and no stay for my last one.

The new unit is amazing, delivery suite (with pool if required) own bathroom with bath and shower all spotless. Midwives very supportive of doing it your way. I described it as like a hotel. Room has a bed and some easy chairs. I delivered in the evening and was discharged at my request at 11 pm with all the relevant checks completed. Had I stayed, DH would have been able to remain with me and snooze in a chair. Kitchen there for drinks and sandwiches and toast etc.. Honestly it was lovely, though what makes a difference is the staff and your experience. Perhaps I have just been lucky but I have had 3 good experiences.

You'll usually get the choice of QE2 in WGC, or Lister.

QE2 is now closed for maternity care I think Lovehandles.

No experience OP as had a homebirth with an IM in the end, but I had a tour of the delivery suite and it looked lovely compared to Watford which was my other choice.

That sucks about the QE2, I've only ever heard good things about the staff there. Hopefully they've transferred them all to the Lister.
Maybe you just have to be forceful about what and how you want things at the Lister. I was mostly too tearful to do anything but get upset by the hostility and incompetence of the ward staff. And, I do have to add, there were a couple of really nice ones that were good at their job with an outstanding bedside manner. Unfortunately, it was only a couple I encountered in a 7 day stay.

Hi BellaCB

In much the same situation as you. 29 weeks and just moved to the area too so waiting to see the dr on Tuesday to transfer my care from SE London. I think I'm Lister bound too so been watching with interest re experiences. .

Yes staff from QEII have all transfered to Lister. Had my baby in september this year, one of the last to have their babies at QEII. We wanted to go to Lister but when we called up during labour it was full!! When I went on the tour it was lovely and the staff all seemed nice. Don't listen to horror stories, I'm sure every unit has horror stories, but the vast majority of birth experiences are positive.

LoveHandles88 - I had DD1 there in 2004 and I experienced pretty well word for word the same as you.
SCBU nurse was downright rude, no communication between them and postnatal.

I had DD2 at the Rosie and it was so much better.

You would think that 8 years and a new unit later things would have improved though.

I was ambulanced from Bedford to there at 29 weeks with twins and have to say the staff were bloomin fantastic!! Luckily after a 4 day stay there they let me home as the contractions werent doing anything :-)