St Helier's experience

[Eminado]

Hi

Anyone have any recent experience of antenatal care and/or birth at St Helier's in Carshalton.

Had my first DD at Kingston and would go back there but have since moved house.

Had a MC which was handled by St Helier's and while staff were kind, there were quite overstretched and maybe not as attentive (egforgot to give me painkillers, forgot to cancel my 12 week scan and someone phoned me up to scold me about missing an appointment and I had to say well my baby is dead etc)

Am now expecting again and have had a few issues - referral from GP not being processed for over a month, reassurance scan not being booked in despite request from GP being on the 2 copies of the referral sent, erroneously missing out my 12 week scan and booked for 20 week scan instead ....

All a bit of a nightmare and I am just wondering whether I might actually be better off somewhere else.

So just hoping anyone can let me know how they found it?

Also what would you do in my situ after having to chase so much and stuff going wrong/ missing etc?

Thanks

I know people who had fab experiences at st helier and awful experiences, much the same as Epsom, Kingston, CUH, st georges, Chelsea and west, st Mary's, tommys etc etc. There will always be good and bad. It's unfortunate it isn't always good but due to staff shortages, no budgets left and low morale in the NHS this is the way it will be, to the detriment of women.
Also, perception and expectation plays a part.

If this is your second baby, think wisely about location, how quickly you can get to hospital etc etc

Hi.

I had my son at St Helier in April of last year (he's 9 months old) and honestly I couldn't have asked for more kinder, attentive and amazing midwives

I was very well looked after and the ward and labour room was very clean.

I would definitely choose to have my second child at St helier in a instant due to the amazing experience I had last year.

Hope that reassures you X

I was with St Helier until 21wks (now 35) but the moved a few hours away. The midwives seemed lovely, more personable than new location - and sonographer and trainee were great too. The hospital (didn't make it to delivery areas) looks a bit tired but nothing to put me off.

The only niggle was that the antenatal side seems very overstretched. Despite 8wks motice my 12wk scan was done at 13 and was still before my booking appointment though I was called for a pre scan bloods appointment. It took weeks to prep my notes after that and the 16wk appointment was not at my local surgery despite there being weekly visits there so I spent a lot of time on london buses (had to make separate trip to collect my notes).