Lewisham Hospital OR Queen Elizabeth Hospital – help pls

[ST82]

Hello everyone,

I have been given a final choice by my GP between Lewisham Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Considering that I have heard such a mixture of review for both these hospitals, I am still very confused which one I should go for. I would be extremely grateful if you could take a few minutes to share with me your thoughts, particularly I would be interested to know which one would be your preferred choice and why?

Thank you so much in advance
:)

Lewisham has the birth centre which is amazing if you have a low risk pregnancy. I'm booked in there (37+5) but have spent time on the labour ward too (I had my appendix removed at 30 weeks).
The staff in the Labour ward were fantastic, and I was really well taken care of. However, the post natal ward was a bit crap, but I'm not sure if that's just because of my circumstances (should have been on post surgery ward but couldn't as pg). The staff were great though, and everything was clean etc.
Sorry for the ramble, I suppose I'm trying to say that I had concerns about Lewisham Hospital before staying there, but they saved mine and babies life so I'm not worried anymore if anything should happen to move me out of the birth centre.
Have you compared the stats on the NHS website?

Good luck

Where do you live OP?

My experience was the same as obove...good on the labour ward but shocking post natal at Lewisham.

For my 2nd DC I went to King's which was like the Portland in comparison.

I have friends who have used the birth centre at Lewisham and had fantastic experiences there.

If both hospitals have the same mixed views I would go to the closet one.

Lewisham looks slightly better on the NHS Choice page. However, i have been told that QE is now a lot more improved and enhances than it used to be and apparently many of the staff from Queen Mary maternity, since it closed, have moved to QE...?

I have heard all the positive feedback on Lewisham's birth center however i will never know for sure what labour i am going to have therefore potentially have to go to the labout unit instead....

many thanks for your thoughts.....

Hi again ST82!

TBH I'm not sure you're going to get much more from this thread than the one last week. The bottom line is everyone knows people with good and bad experiences at both of these busy London hospitals. I honestly don't think there is a good or bad choice. If you want a MLU, it's Lewisham, but other than that there's not much people can say in advance.

You seem nervous about your standard of care. Have you thought about another way of making yourself feel more comfortable? A doula is a great option to ensure you have continuous one to one support during your labour. They really fill the gap between your partner and a busy medical professional, adding to how well both of them can do their respective jobs. I loved my doula...

I had DS1 2010 in Lewisham and will have DC2 there this August. Due to placenta previa I had to be on the antenatal ward (next to labour ward) for 12 weeks before birth. I can not fault the midwives in any way and I had the same fantastic consultant throughout.
As previously said, the postnatal ward is a bit grim. Mainly down to midwives with attitude. Having said that, they got a new manager in 2011 and it seems that things look better.
If you have a straight forward pregnancy the birth centre really is great!

Good luck, sweetie. Friend is just waiting to have her second baby at Lewisham (which used to be Grimmo McGrim but sounds fab now!).