Whipps Cross or Queens? Which to go for?

[EEvans]

Hi all,

Any East London Mums had a baby at either Whipps Cross or Queens in the last 12 months?

Geography allows me the decision between Whipps Cross or Queens (now BHRUT and I don't know which to choose from.

My sister in law had a horrible experience at Queens 6 years ago a friend had a rubbish time at Whipps about the same time
ago.

I was hoping there would be some more recent opinions on here.

I've heard Queens has a new midwife led centre? Any one experienced this?

Thanks in advance! xx

I had DS at Whipps in September and wouldn't recommend it. Nothing major but I just didn't feel very well looked after or listened to. Rather unpleasant midwife for delivery who made me feel like a failure for needing EMCS, student midwife who didn't take my PGP/SPD seriously at all, midwife in recovery who brushed DH aside and gave DS his first ever feed herself, no support at all with breastfeeding, long delay before discharge (signed off by doctors at 11am, not discharged until 10pm).
Is Homerton a possibility? I know several people who had good experiences there.

Had a great experience at Homerton if you can go there? Birth was long and difficult but midwives, students, all staff excellent and loads of support & encouragement to breast feed.

Had DS at whipps 7 years ago, then had my daughter at Princess Alexander, Harlow.
The appointments and aftercare on the ward was rubbish at Whipps, but when I had an emergency they were obviously on the ball and ready to react.
Which is far more than I can say for Princess Alexander. How about UCL?

I've just had my baby at whipps. Had excellent care. Was high risk and consultant led - so dealt with with antenatal clinic and assessment centre a lot. All staff were good and very helpful. Yes ANC was always running late - but think that's quite standard.

I had a planned cs which all went well and once on the ward had good care. I was in for 5 days and the first 3 had the same mw each day and the same each night which provided good continuity of care. Same again for the next 2 nights.

It was an improvement on my previous experience 5 yrs ago where there just seemed to be whoever was free dealt with you.

I think they key thing with any hospital is that the care is so dependent on individual staff. That means you will always get mixed responses.

I only had choice of whipps this time but for first could have gone for there or king George's (so now all at queens). I picked whipps based on distance which as first was in SCBU for 8 weeks turned out to be the right choice as post cs I could get there easily on public transport which I couldn't have done with queens.

Thanks all,

I've heard good things about Homerton but it's a bit far away from us. I was given the option of Homerton, Newham, Royal London, Whipps Cross or BHRUT (Queens/King George)

My friend had a similar sounding experience of Whipps, said they weren't very friendly/supportive.

I'm leaning towards Queens (BHRUT) but it's just my sister in law had a bad experience there. But that was before they built the new midwife unit. I have to ring and tell my gp what I have decided tomorrow! Eek!

I wouldn't take a dog to Whipps Cross much less have a baby there. Newham every time. Consultants and nursing staff are lovely, the hospital is clean and the midwives make you toast! what's not to love.

More thoughts pushing me to Queens there! Lol!

I'm hoping some one can review the new midwife led birthing centre they opened there in 2013 when they closed the King George maternity.

I'm a bit further out (had my DS at Broomfield, Chelmsford), but I have a friend who had a baby at Queens in Feb. She had a VBAC & was high risk, and had a great experience. She was listened to, and she said the after care was good. Hope that helps.

Thanks all for the info. Still deciding!!

Hi EEvans,
Which did you chose?
I've been asked to chose too.
I can't decide between Whipps or Queens.
Heard good stuff about both.

:?