Greenwich mum wanting to get into St Thomas's or Kings - help?!

[oz1mum]

Hi, Im currently booked into QEH. The care so far has been average and I am frankly scared of giving birth there. Im looking into the MLU at Lewisham but think I may not be accepted due to on/off bleeding up until 3 weeks ago. My midwife has applied to Kings and has had a blanket 'no' for both Kings and St Thomas's, but I have had several local mums advise it is possible. I have a history of PCOS/Metabolic disease and my first was induced due to low birth weight. This pregnancy I have had a low lying placenta which has now moved and bleeding on and off (triage 3 times), so have been under consultant care - can anyone advise how I can get referred into either Kings or St Thomas'? Would going privately to one of their consultants help my case? Thanks so much - apologies for the long question...sleepless nights are getting me down!

My local hospital would have been QE too and I asked my GP to refer me elsewhere. She says it is not usually done but with the right letter - spelling out your previous issues - you should be accepted. I know a few local people now who are going to St Thomas'. Just ask your GP and explain the situation and hopefully you will be ok. Might be worth posting on the mumsnet local board too.

Thanks! That's reassuring...I'll post on the local board, and keep pushing! : )

Have you thought about barkentine birth centre? If I still lived in London, that would be one of my choices. My local was qeh before we moved, and there was not a hope in hell I was giving birth there despite living within spitting distance in the new flats at master gunners place.

My local hospital was QEH so I went to my Mum's in Glasgow to have ds1 and 2. Drastic, I know, but felt much more comfortable there.

I had a low lying placenta with a big bleed and on and off bleeding for weeks.
I was under consultant care in Lewisham. Excellent care on antenatal and labour ward. Brilliant consultant: r cochrane.
Postnatal was a bit grim but as to be expected of many hospitals.

Lewisham have made a lot of improvements. Maybe worth considering? I had baby 2010 and will have my next there, too.

I haven't heard of the barkentine, I'll look it up - thanks! @jkkipu, I was booked home to Australia where I had my last baby, but they won't sign me off to fly due to the complications I've been having... Thats the second positive feedback I've had about Lewisham @Onenightsleep - I'm definitely going to go for a tour and see what they offer.