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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Choice of hospitals Essex

26 replies

Gooseygander1 · 25/03/2015 19:03

Hi, I've been given the choice of hospitals for my antenatal care and I've been given Queen's (Romford), Basildon or Broomfield (Chelmsford). As I live in Brentwood, Queen's is the closest but am aware that it's not had a good press in recent years. Is anyone able to give any advice/experiences of any of these hospitals to help me choose? Many thanks

OP posts:

Tranquilitybaby · 25/03/2015 22:58

Can you visit them and decide for yourself? Brookfield is more modern than Basildon but I'd choose either over Queens, due to the bad press.

Myfanwyprice · 25/03/2015 23:01

I had both my children at Basildon and cannot fault the care I received.

Tranquilitybaby · 26/03/2015 09:03

*Broomfield

zannary · 28/03/2015 20:24

basildon, it's suppose to be the best maternity unit around. I'm 38+6 so due any day now. just finished antenatal classes and looked around willow ward. looks a little run down compared to Broomfield but I would rather go where the care is good than what looks good.

wouldn't even consider Queens and Broomfield is actually quite far to go from brentwood. have you been to see any of the hospitals?

seaoflove · 28/03/2015 20:27

Hi, I'm in Billericay. I was given the choice of Broomfield or Basildon, and since I don't know Chelmsford at all but grew up in Basildon (parents still there) it was an obvious choice. It's true the building itself is pretty shabby, but that's true of a lot of hospitals. I can't fault the care I've received so far.

I wouldn't touch Queen's with a bargepole bearing in mind their record of maternal deaths.

Issie339 · 28/03/2015 20:39

Hi, I had my baby at Basildon 2 years ago and it was ok but the care wasn't great and mistakes were made (we're all fine now though, I don't want to scare anyone!) That being said, their NICU and general baby care is fantastic and the best in the area, I can't fault that. If I have another baby I'll definitely be going for Broomfield which is rated very highly by everyone I know. 3 of my friends had their babies at Queens and had great care and will be going back, I don't know anyone who is going back to Basildon for a second time.

seaoflove · 28/03/2015 21:08

I must admit, I'm hoping to minimise the time I spend on the postnatal ward because I know it will be awful. Most postnatal wards are, as plenty of threads on MN will show.

teejayem · 29/03/2015 07:42

I'm also brentwood area and I've chosen Broomfield. I'm 30 weeks and consultant led and have had absolutely fantastic care. The facilities are great and the staff have all been brilliant so far, from antenatal to epu. Yes, it's a bit further to go and the parking is a bit of a sod but I can live with that. Also part of your antenatal care will be with the brentwood community midwives at the community hospital as well, so you won't have to schlep to Chelmsford for every single appointment. I self referred to Broomfield after one email and had a reply, dates for booking in and my scan all inside a week. I tried to self refer to basildon, and I'm still waiting to hear back!!

Lindt84 · 07/04/2015 23:36

I'm in brentwood and was given the choice of Broomfield or Queens last year (nobody mentioned Basildon as an option). I picked Broomfield and couldn't fault it. I liked that the Midwife Led unit was just down the corridoor from the labour ward (I ended up being transferred halfway through labour), and the staff were all lovely. Only downside was the food, but they have an M&S downstairs!

A few of my NCT class gave birth at Queens and nobody had any problems.

EssexMummy123 · 09/04/2015 11:50

Basildon had a terrible reputation around 5 years ago (not quite as bad as Queens though) but they did put measures in place to improve things.

Queens - well my GP said she would be 'worried' if I went there. In fact my Chelmsford midwife described the choice of Basildon or Queens as between a rock and a hard place.

Brentwood isn't that far to Broomfield which is a lot newer / modern - although agree with Lindt about the food.

Discounted · 09/04/2015 11:57

Basildon....but then you have to put that on the birth certificate

Tranquilitybaby · 09/04/2015 11:59

Basildon has really improved in the last year. They won an award last year too.

MrsCakesPrecognitionisSwitched · 09/04/2015 12:09

Basildon Maternity dept. got an outstanding rating from the CQC recently (the rest of the hospital got a good).
Here's a link to the report.
They have led the way on achieving UNICEFs Baby Friendly Accreditation.
They are really proactive about improving care for women and babies.

You can do a virtual tour of their facilities although I'm not sure how detailed it is.

I had both my babies at Basildon and was happy with my experiences.

seaoflove · 09/04/2015 12:58

Basildon....but then you have to put that on the birth certificate

Meh, it's on my birth certificate too, and it hasn't held me back in life too much

Discounted · 09/04/2015 13:04

Me too seaoflove (and Dc) but I know it was a big factor for friends from Billericay and Brentwood when choosing their hospital.

seaoflove · 09/04/2015 13:08

Well that's really stupid, and snobbish.

Discounted · 09/04/2015 13:14

Yes, that's why I laugh about it. My post wasn't supposed to be serious, more a dig at those snobbish enough to care. But then there is an awful lot of snobbishness about Basildon generally.

Basildon Hospital has been nothing but excellent for me and my family OP.

Germgirl · 09/04/2015 13:24

I've worked at both Basildon & Queens, although not in maternity. I wouldn't touch Queens with a 50ft bargepole for anything But definitely not maternity services.
Basildon is not a pretty building but the maternity dept has a very good reputation. If it was me, I'd go to Bas.

EssexMummy123 · 10/04/2015 11:36

Germgirl any info on Colchester or Ipswich hospitals for maternity?

Germgirl · 10/04/2015 12:36

Sorry, no. I'm sure someone on MN has experience of them though. Good luck.

Snowsquonk · 10/04/2015 13:03

You've not been given all your choices, because you have the choice of birthing at home!

Queens has been through huge improvements and feedback from users is now good - they have also invested in birthing pools with two in-situ and access to inflatable ones in all the other low-risk rooms, so if you are interested in using water you'll maximise your chances by opting for Queens.

User feedback for Broomfield and Basildon is also good - you're always going to get people who are not happy with their experiences.

So - much of a muchness really. Support for breastfeeding probably more robust at Basildon.

Disclaimer - user rep on MSLC for Basildon.

seaoflove · 10/04/2015 13:25

I was given the option of homebirth at my booking appointment, but since my choice is ELCS it wasn't for me

Lindt84 · 10/04/2015 19:33

A friend had an ELCS at Broomfield. She was really nervous but said the consultant she met before was really lovely and put her mind at rest. She had a really positive experience, and really good breastfeeding support.

Madamecastafiore · 10/04/2015 19:38

Food is shite at Broomfield but there's an M&S in site which is a huge bonus!

Care was v v good IMO, only thing which upset me was noise on ward during night but that wasn't staffs fault more other mums.

I'd say it was the best out of the 3 hospital I've given birth at. (Basildon being ine of them)

Madamecastafiore · 10/04/2015 19:39

My lovely hairdresser has just chosen Ipswich over Colchester.

Her 2 sisters gave birth to 5 kids at Colchester and she went on their feedback.

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