Declined from hospital of choice where I had DC1 -anything I can do?

[Runningblue]

I had a very long but good birthing experience with dc1 at a midwifeled unit. Fantastic midwives, great support on bf post birth, so no brainer, I'd love to birth there gain.

But, Since DC1, I have moved to a village 15 minutes away which means I now live in a different pct catchment.

Fast froward to now, I am 37 weeks pregnant, and have today been declined to have dc2 in my preferred midwife led unit, as the pct is not taking ladies out of the area due to 'over subscription'.

is there anything I can do? I am feeling really upset, I just wanted to go to the place that was familiar to me, and closest at that.

I now have to go to a big hospital in Colchester which is not what I wanted at all.

Sob

You don't 'have' to do anything! If using the MLU wasn't declined on the grounds of a risk factor, and you're not under consultant care for any reason, is home birth an option you would be happy with?

I don't want to drip feed, but I missed out the home birth bit! My mw is evangelical about home birth. Great you might say? Well not really, as she pushes it against any other option, including her own hospital. She isn't a neutral advocate of all options so it's a woman led decision. As a result, Ive actually become quite distrustful of her view is so biased.

What would happen if you just turned up at the MLU in full on labour? Would they turn you away?

I think they have a duty of care to help a woman in labour - don't know if I'd have the guts to do it - imagine if you got a jobs worth and they turned you away....?!

Im in Manningtree. I was under the impression that I would get to choose between Colchester and Ipswich hospitals if I ever got PG again. Seperate trusts, but similar distances.

Sparkly, I think you can request to go to the other pct but it's not a given. I was in mid Essex now i am with Colchester, and even though I'm closer to my preferred hospital, it's been vetoed by mid Essex, who are oversubscribed. Grrrr!

Is there an appeal process?

Colchester has a midwife led unit, is that an option? It's meant to be nice, and I think they have an online video thing you can watch to see what it's like.

I asked my midwife about going to a non-local place (more chance of getting a water birth) and she said that technically they can't turn you away if you turn up. So, I suppose it depends how gutsy you feel.

Not fun to have the worry though, isn't there enough to be thinking about in the last few weeks?!

I hope so, I'm just awaiting the fabled letter they assure me has been sent. Then I shall kick ass- patient choice, my bottom!

I looked here. There isnt much between the two hospitals really. What about the one in Maldon? Is that near to you?

The maldon one is the one I wanted to go to, but belongs to mid Essex.
I went there for dc1, 'twas fantastic, and is still a shorter easier drive than Colchester.
It's a complete shitter to the honest!

To BE honest..

Aah! I thought you were between Colchester and Ipswich!
Not ideal obviously, but in an emergency, wouldnt an ambulance take you there anyway?

I don't think so, wrong direction as the ambulance would come from Colchester!! I'm destined for Colchester general I think...

It does come out quite well here (which I was meant to link to ^^)

Yep wench, I'm now thinking positively towards Colchester Juno suite- the midwife led unit. Im sure it will be fine, I've calmed down a lot since yesterday, it's just a bit stressful at a time I'd hoped it would've been sorted.

Plus, earlier on in my preg, going to maldon again wa put o me as an option, it's only been this week, I had the inkling it wasn't as simple as hat...l

So sorry about my typing. iPad, tired and in bed, not good combo!

Actually, on that comparison site, Colchester comes off better than Maldon.

runningblue aha all is not lost - mid Essex and north east Essex pct's are merging. So attempting to say you're out of catchment for your choice is nonsense!

The maternity strategy for the Colchester area talks about continuity of care and choice. A line of inquiry worth raising!

Have you approached the supervisor of midwives for your area (in writing) yet, to ask them for a written explanation as to how what you've been told fits in with the patient choice/continuity of care statements the pct have issued?

Fwiw I had DD at Colchester hospital (consultant led) and they were great

Essex pct info

Speaking to the supervisor of midwives is a good idea. And I have a gp telephone app tomorrow so can make him aware of my concern - I self referred as I was advised but wonder if it has more clout from mpyour gp?

Thanks for the good birth feedback experience zombie. Out of interest did you visit Colchester hospital on a maternity showaround before having baby? I was told my only optin was to look at the virtual (very short) tour.

Colchester is my closest too which I'm not thrilled about as they have fairly major staff shortages at the moment, but my midwife suggested the MLU at Harwich which is currently underused apparently. I'm going to go up & have a look but I've heard good things about them locally, so will opt for that if my preferred option of home-birth doesn't work out. Mind you they did have to close temporarily recently to go & support Colchester having a staff crisis!

Hi vix
I've got friends who've had really good experiences at Harwich and Clacton, so good options for you... Alas they've further away for me than Colchester is!

running I didn't go on a tour but I did do the nhs saturday special antenatal class which included a look in one of the delivery suite rooms and also the theatre area. This was in 2009 though, so it may well have changed. As I was consultant led I'd spent a while in the hospital anyway .

The midwife to birth ratio at Colchester is not within the RCM guidelines - but sadly neither are Chelmsford or Ipswich. London is even worse

If you are worried about having a mw by your side the whole way through active labour then a homebirth would be the easiest way to get 1:1 care.

A lot of women in the coastal area are switching away from Clacton (with snazzy new birthing pool) and Harwich to use the Juno suite instead because of it being "co-located" i.e. Next door to consultant led unit in case of any complications.

Not sure if getting the GP involved would help or not... Worth a shot though!