Getting to hospital in labour if you have no car. HOW?

[M2T]

Neither DH nor I drive.... although DH is starting lessons next week I doubt we will be able to afford a car before the baby is due(7months time).

Our local hospital has closed it's antenatal and postnatal wards and we now have to travel about 18 miles to the nearest hospital. My parents stay further away so can't take me and DH's parents are 400 miles away. 2 of my friends drive and live relatively close (within 5 miles). But surely I don't have to rely on friends to take me to hospital when I go into labour.

I don't want to have to phone an ambulance as the MW told me that it could take 2 hours or more to get to me as I would be lowest priority! Even if I'm pushing?????? My 1st labour was 7hrs even though ds was posterior presentation so I think that is quite quick. I am so frightened about how I will get to the hospital that I'm considering a homebirth...... even though I would rather be at hospital.

Are there no provisions put in place for those who do not have there own transport?

Any views would be great. Is the safety of me and my child really that unimportant that an ambulance would take 2 hours???

Since you could take a taxi, I think calling an ambulance would be wrong - you'd be using resources meant for emergencies.

However if there is no claim-back-your-taxi-fare scheme available then there should be one. I would take a taxi, get a receipt and then start a high profile campaign!

Don't have any expert knowledge of this but would have thought friends would be the best bet. My dh works 1.5 hours away, so I had back up plans if I went into labour seriously quickly when he was at work (ended up being induced...). They were mainly neighbours, I didn't know them that well but they would have been happy to drive me to hospital in labour - its not asking that much is it? People are very nice when it comes to babies and emergencies. I imagine the ambulance would only take UP TO 2 hours if there were loads of emergencies on - they don't want to say it'll be OK, since for all they know there might be a major train crash nearby or something and that would be a higher priority than a normal labour. If it seriously worries you to ask your friends I'd get a home birth arranged - my sister is training to be a midwife and says you get a much better level of care than you might get in hospital, as the midwifes who do hbs all have to be very experienced etc, whereas you might get a trainee in hospital. (And if teh mw told the hosp. you needed an ambulance it would come v.quickly!!).

SenoraApostrophe - Taxis don't take you if you're screaming "I'm PUSHING"! Thanks.

In fact, taxis in our area refuse to take women in labour at any stage. Something about not being insured if you drop the sprog in their taxi. So what choice would I have???

And people die in labour you know.... and if I am delivering then I will need medical help! I thnk it is a waste of resources if I am only 3 cm dilated and not really in established labour.

As far as I know there are no provisions for non car drivers to get to hospital. My DH doesn't drive and has no desire to learn, so for all 3 of mine I've had to find 'alternative' arrangements. I'm lucky in that my Mum was one of my BPs and was more than happy to drive an hour to me and then on to the hospital at 3am!

I asked her what she did with us as my Dad didn't drive either and she got cabs to hospital.

I would rely on your friends, you shouldn't have to, but I know I'd be happy to offer if I had a friend in the same situation.

I'm sure if you were that far along you were pushing, an ambulance would have to make you a priority!

Well yes, if you are in advanced labour then call an ambulance - and I'm sure one would arrive in less than two hours if you were pushing: that would be an emergency.

But you do usually get a bit of warning.

Hi M2t, I think you probably have to play this one by ear. If things are progressing in a stable way, and at a reasonable hour of the day you could call on a friend to take you. If however things get a bit hairy and it's the middle of the night or whatever I would not hesitate to call an ambulance. My Mum and Dad had no car when I was born and they arrived by ambulance, as most people will have done years back.

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Dino - I don't really know many people in this area. Only moved about 2.6 yrs ago and its not a close nit community. My neighbours are either in their 80's or unfriendly so that is out of the question.

I could ask my friends, but I can't rely on them as the are always off on holidays and they drink quite a lot. Certainly wouldn't want them to drink drive. So although they are a possibility I really CAN'T rely on them. All my friends nearby are childless and still lead childless and quite wild lives.

I'm just so worried about it it's getting me down. Had I known the ward was closing I probably would've waited until DH could drive and we had a car before trying!

It pisses me off. NHS close the ward then tell us we've got to find our own way to the nearest hospital!

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It is very common for women to be admitted to hospital by ambulance when in labour. If you are in advanced labour then an ambulance will come within 2 hours, especially if you are delivering. That is classed as an emergency. So do not worry M2T - you are entitled to ambulance transfer. The only gripe I have about ambulance use is when a truckload of relatives turn up folowing it! Another problem with ambulance is that if you are not actually in labour, you cannot get home again if you are admitted during the night.

SenoraApostrophe - I did add that taxis in this area don't take you AT ALL if you are in labour. My friend found out the hard way, but the ward was still open at the local hospital and since she wasn't that far on in labour she phoned another taxi company and lied to them...it was only a 2 minute journey rather than the 35mins I will travel.

And why so flippant? I do know you normally get a warning, but then my Mum didn't with me. 20 mins in her waters broke..... one push and I was born. Bit of a shock really. I'm a bit concerned that I will be the same.

True Northerner. Thanks.

Stressyhead - Thank goodness I'm not in London. I am in the sticks in Central Scotland.

lol Mears! I didn't realise people actually did that! My goodness.

Thanks Dino. I will check that out. This is going to be an expensive trip! £30 taxi ride. Better make sure I have the cash on standby in the house. I don;t want to have to stop at a cash machine on the way there too. Lol.

Dino - I hadn't thought of asking the hospital if they knew a taxi firm that would be willing to take me. I only the one's I have asked don't. Might be lucky then.

Mind you.... might be waiting longer for a taxi than I will for an ambulance!

I have had to catch a taxi both times. First was ok...but the second time. HE WENT THE WRONG WAY TO THE WRONG FREAKING HOSTPIAL. IDIOT.

Thats all really, sorry not to be more help.

Bless you M2T! Don't stress about this too much luvvie, you'll go into labour and you'll get to the hospital in plenty of time. Try not to worry and it will all work out when the time comes I'm sure.

If you do need a taxi just get dh to call, and then he can 'sneak' you in when it arrives!

M2T, I agree with you (for a change) NHS policy on moving acute services to larger, more distant hospitals don't take into consideration how the hell people are going to get there. Do they really think women in labour are going to catch the bus? The chief exec of the hospital where I gave birth told me to call an ambulance! This was his answer to my letter protesting about parking charges ? because they don't make any reduction for women in labour. I got Health Service Journal to investigate and London Ambulance Service confirmed this was OK, bizarrely. I'm lucky because we could afford the £48 it cost us (and obviously we have a car). But I still think it's outrageous particularly as this hospital serves a community where many people are poor. Ambulance services do prioritise calls but you shouldn't have to wait 2 hours and obviously if were at pushing stage they should send one PDQ. But I've looked at ambulance service chat rooms and some paramedics are really nasty about women dialling 999 when in labour, although others say best part of their job

You will definately get an ambulance in Scotland M2T

My GOD Pie! What a pleb!

Must be the pregnancy hormones Northerner, they're making me all irrational!

Feeling better already.

Thanks Mears.

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