Hi - this is my first post on Mumsnet, so please bear with me! Throughout my pregnancy (first baby, 11 days old today), I was really keen to find up-to-date info about the Royal Free Hampstead, as had been tossing up whether to go to RF, UCH or to have a home birth. Because of this, I thought I'd share my recent experience giving birth at the Royal Free, which is where we finally opted to go. I know that others have had difficult experiences there, and don't want to undermine or contradict what anybody else has encountered, but just wanted to share in case it's useful for anyone who is deciding.
I was really lucky to be low risk and able to go into the birth centre, and also due to good timing with the pool being free, to have a waterbirth. I had two main midwives during the labour - the handover when I was ready to get into the pool. Both were gentle, supportive of our birth plan, and encouraging while also giving us space when we needed it. I was very impressed by the general level of competence, communication and kindness, particularly with my midwives, but really across all of the staff. Of course, the postnatal ward staffing is a bit of a comedown after the one-to-one care of labour, but I found it consistent and thorough, and felt like the head midwife there did her very best the next day to get me discharged quickly as I and DH wanted. I'm not from the UK - NZer by birth - and have been actually very impressed by all of the NHS services provided thru pregnancy and now, postnatally.
I know my experience is one amongst so many, and I was pretty lucky not to have complications - but hope it's of some use anyway. Happy new year to everyone...