Help please: first pregnancy (twins!) - HOMERTON OR UCH?

[prasessa]

Can anybody tell me which hospital is better - considering labor ward, postnatal and neonatal care?
Thanks a lot!...

I had my first baby in the Homerton and it was hideous. Don't go there. Have heard much better things about UCH.

It's not the birth bit that's bad at the Homerton, it's the aftercare - the ward staff are overly busy/stressed, and there seem to be lots of rather unpleasant bullying types of staff - heard loads of horror stories around the time I went (2003). Also, it's just so grim outside - I used to worry about my husband getting attacked on his way home from the hospital (mind you he doesn't drive).

I had my first at Homerton as well (though it was back in - gulp! - December 1998) and agree with Manoo. I had a long labour and went through a total of 9 midwives during it, and though they were great and the team that eventually delivered (forceps in theatre) were great, the after care was pretty grim. Busy, harrassed staff, not very cheerful. And the area is pretty rough too, particularly at night.

A friend of mine had twins at UCH and really like it.

I hated UCH - no ensuite facilities in the delivery rooms, cramped and dirty postnatal wards. Can't fault the staff - doing their best in difficult conditions. Would not recommend it. The home-from-home section had mostly tiny rooms, and again, no ensuite.

Have experienced 2 consultants from Homerton when I went private for #2. Fantastic guys. However in the NHS, you rarely see the consultants unless something goes wrong, so the facilities would be the most important aspect for me.

I've had all three of mine at the Homerton. Don't worry about the area too much - we live close by and it's really okay.

The Homerton improved enormously between 1999, when DS1 was born, and 2004, when I had DS3. In particular, the delivery suite midwives are, in the main, fantastic.

The postnatal wards did also imo improve a lot but that was from a very low standard in 1999 - filthy wards, unbelievably filthy showers and toilets which were literally thigh-high in bloody dressings - truly gross. It didn't seem too bad at all when I was in with DS3 last time but I managed to get myself discharged in less than 12 hours though.

Special Care Baby Unit at Homerton is fantastic though - which obviously you may well need with twins - I would seriously consider the Homerton from that point of view.

Had my ds there- the midwives in delivery are fantastic, so I would really recommend it from that point of view. Not worried about the area either (some of you must be awfully posh). I did think that the post natal ward was dirty and the care pretty non-existant, but I was on a high and really didn't care for the most part.
I was annoyed when I asked for a towel on the post natal ward and the Midwife said 'we don't give towels to Mummies'. Seemed so stupid as I had been there 2 days and no-one had told me I shouldn't be asking to use their towels. They had a big cupboard of them. I felt properly told off which seemed inappropriate considering the circumstances (and amount of bleeding I was having!).
Just remembering another midwife walked past my bed and said 'are you still holding that baby'!?Like I would have been bored by him already, ha.

Oh yes, I remember the towel thing! I also got told off for asking for them before DS1 was born, but my waters had gone and I needed something!

Thanks, girls!
I went to see both Homerton and UCH and I have a better idea now. Actually Homerton looked a lot cleaner and the staff was nicer. Maybe it did change quite a bit since the late 90's. I don't really care about the area that much, I'm more concerned about the hospital itself. Thanks again. If anyone has something to add on the subject - please do, the more info I gather, the better!

I had me DS at Homerton last Oct and the staff were great. Postnatal care was a bit frantic, but the mws always found time to help me when I needed it. And the delivery mws were fabulous. It was also very clean - I was in a side room and the cleaner came round daily.

I had both mine at Homerton. 1st time was a bit grim but I had a room of my own which was great. The 2nd time I had great mws but the postnatal ward was horrible. The food is grim, but there is a good Vietnamese takeaway at the end of the road. If you go to Homerton, make sure someone brings you some decent food! For some reason, some of the the mws on the pn ward are fantastically rude.

Will try and be more specific about the good points/bad points of the Homerton.

Good points - Great staff on the labour ward (although they gave me an 'emergency cs' that I now think was unecessary). Great staff in the special care baby unit (SIL's baby had to go there). Fairly clean postnatal wards.

Bad points - CRAP staff on the postnatal ward. I had an emergency c/s at 8pm - was supposed to be regularly checked (BP, temp etc) through the night but wasn't. By morning had lost most of my blood. Nearly died as nobody would take me seriously. Only rescued by surgeon who did my c/s popping by and noticing that I was a lot paler than when she did the op. Was rushed back to labour ward for another operation and blood transfusion - all v traumatic but (back to good points) was looked after wonderfully by midwives on labour ward.

Back on postnatal ward a woman in bed next to mine was told she was a 'dirty bitch' for bleeding on her sheets. I was told that no they couldn't pass me a towel from my bag (even though after two ops I couldn't get it myself). When I was in pain lying down and couldn't pull myself up I was told I couldn't have help.

I was getting breastfeeding established when my baby decided to have a bit of a cry. Horrible bully woman came and told me he had to have formula. When I mentioned the intention to breastfeed she actually picked up and flapped my breast and said 'there's nothing there'. She then took my baby away without my permission, fed him formula, then brought him back.

Barely any support with breastfeeding. Was told off for holding my baby in the night instead of having him in cot. Was given barely any help after ops getting baby in and out of cot.

The drainage bag things you have after a c/s were ripped out by a very very cruel woman (I told her I was frightened of this, and she chose to do it in the most insensitive way possible).

I was told off for not walking about sooner (after a two day labour and two operations!).

I saw staff tell off other vulnerable women (mainly those after c secs) for using their buzzers to call them over for 'trivial' things when they were busy.

I couldn't move after my two ops but nobody would get my breakfast for me, even when I asked ultra politely.

In short, it was hell on earth in the postnatal ward. But, (hopefully) what I had been through was fairly rare, and most people will be in a better position to take care of themselves after having had their babies. I have a friend who was on the postnatal ward same time as me (her baby was in special care) and she didn't have any problems with the ward staff at all (think as she was up and about was easier - they don't like it if they have to care for a woman too much. also staff were sympathetic as her baby was in special care).

The delivery staff are wonderful, and the special care baby unit fabulous - they are the most important things, but just remember to BE STRONG and don't let yourself be bullied in the postnatal ward like I did. They have great private side rooms (can't remember how much per night), and these are FABULOUS as all the horrible bully women don't go past the end of your bed and pick on you.

Excuse the ultra long post and good luck with your twins.

I woud definitely not recommend the Homerton. I transferred from their to UCH at 5month pregnant after one of midwives reduced me to tears. I went to have a look around their ward on an arranged appointment and this particular woman told me it wasn't possible she was vile. I transferred to UCH and although they have their problems I still feel it was better than the Homerton. Besides, where would you rather be if you go into labour in the early hours and are searching the streets for parking or the like. Also, something stupid I know, but it's easier to get a decent coffee or breakfast in the West End than nearby the Homerton.

I had my first child at the HOmerton in Sept 05. I had great community midwife/shared care antenatally, but used the EPU a few times due to bleeds and they were fabulous.

I planned a homebirth, but due to various complex circumstances to do with midwife shortages/sickeness I ended up in the Homerton.

My care during my labour and delivery was pretty good, facilities not bad and clean. However, things went badly wrong during my delivery and I now have a colostomy bag as a result.

My postnatal care, in a side room, was absolutely excellent but I am pretty sure this was a lot to do with the disasterous delivery and its aftermath.

When I left the hospital and walked through the postntal ward I could NOT believe my eyes, it was like a war zone. The police were called twice during my stay to deal with various 'distruptions'.

I live in Hackney but find the area around teh Homerton to be absolutely awful, if that's a concern to you. Oh, yes the food was horrendous but due to me being given a colostomy i wasn't really eating anyway.

I am now taking legal action against the Homerton for clinical negligence so I find it hard to recommend although, apart from the delivery, my care was pretty good.

I don't have any experience of UCH but have friends who had good labours/deliveries but awful post natal care.

I'm due to have my second baby next week, but have gone private this time.

It's so hard to make a choice because everyone you speak to wil have a different view on which is the 'best'!

x

My God, spudballoo, that's horrendous .

I'm sorry to hear about your horrible experience spudballoo!... Thanks for the info and good luck next week!
Thanks everyone!

I've not got personal experience, but have had friends who gave birth at both places. Reports from both of some fabulous midwives and some terrible bullies (why is this ACCEPTABLE? yet the NHS seems to think it's ok). Overall I think I would probably go to UCLH with a twin pregnancy - because it's a big teaching hospital, because it's in central London so easier for people to get in and out of (and bring food in and out of). But the clinical care will be up to a more than acceptable standard at both.

That last sentence of mine was a bit pompous. I do work in the NHS locally, and what I meant to say was that neither has the reputation within the NHS of being a place you drive past while in labour (which does get said of some).

Also, Dino will think me a wimp, but I personally find going to Homerton by public transport a bit scary.

I'd better not invite you round to ours then hester .

It is sad to read about some of the 'bully' midwives and awful things that have happened on the post natal wards. I too had planned a homebirth, but went way overdue and had an induction.
I do remember feeling secretive when I held my baby at night time. I definitely felt I would have been told off. Isn't that strange?
Manoo's experience regarding breastfeeding was horrific. I was helped to breastfeed by one of the lovely delivery midwives.
On the induction ward, I remember one of the midwives being very rough with a vaginal examination and also not taking her hand out when I asked her too. Makes me shudder. I think all these things get forgotten in the euphoria after childbirth and maybe brushed to one side as long as you and the baby are healthy.
Gosh, I really enjoyed the food, but I have to admit, I am greedy and would eat practically anything. I used to really enjoy school dinners too.

I should add (prompted by DH) that the delivery (at the Homerton) didn't go as smoothly as I thought as there was some panic on the side that I had no idea about... also it was a nightmare trying to get discharged as they were too busy. Had no probs with the area, but then I live in Hackney and have never had any problems

I've heard lots of good things about the Homerton but only one of my friends had her baby at UCH (she said it was fine)

Ds was born at the Homerton in 2003. I'd agree with most of what's been said here. The antenatal care I have no complaints about - the midwives were always pleasant and thorough, although I was a very straightforward case. The labour care was 'good enough' in the sense that I went away happy from what was in fact a very medicalised birth - knowing more now I don't think they did quite enough to keep it natural and normal and I ended up with ARM, synto, epidural etc some of which in hindsight I might have managed without had I had a bit more support, but that's the tragedy of busy labour wards. The staff were all lovely though - and in fact the midwife who delivered ds was my inspiration to start midwifery training myself .

Post-natally it was, unfortunately, a different story. I don't remember it being dirty but I do remember being alternately shouted at, belittled and ignored by everyone from the healthcare assistants ('Haven't you learnt to feed that baby yet?' three hours post-birth) to the senior midwives ('Shut that baby up, it's disturbing the others') and I couldn't get out of there fast enough. A side room might have made all the difference, though, so it's worth bearing that in mind.

As far as the area is concerned - well, it's Hackney, innit? Never had any problems myself.

I had dd in the Homerton in March 05, didnt have the best of experiences.........

Went for an antenatal on my due date, blood pressure was sky high, was told I was being admitted for induction, this was no surprise as I had been warned things were heading this way for a few weeks, was sent straight up to the ward from clinic at about 11am, was put on a moniter, and told that i needed to have my bloods taken before they could induce me, at 4pm I was still waiting, despite telling them I was a trained phlebotomist and was more than happy to take my own blood if it would get things moving, was finally given a butterfly and blood bottles at about 6pm, and took my blood, still was not induced till 8pm.

My mum and dp were sent home about 9pm and told that they would be called if anything happened, but that it wasnt likely, by 2am I was being sick and in quite a bit of pain, asked for some pain relief and a sick bowl, got neither, had sick down the front of my top and couldnt get anybody to help me get a clean one out of my bag, in the end I gave up and used my mobile to call my mum, her and dp came back, at this point i was still on the assesment ward, not a delivery room, my mum finally got someone to give me some pethadine, and heres where my memory fades quite a bit............
apparently i slept the whole night, just scrunching up my toes when i was having a contraction, nobody came to check on me, woke at 7am, and went to the toilet, locking the door, it took me about 15 minutes to realise i was actually pushing my mum and dp had to get one of the staff to open the door, dd was born at 7.25am on the assesment ward, thankfully it was empty by this time!
I suffered a 3rd degree tear, the midwife that was checking me after was very rough, and when I had finally had enough and told her to stop poking around, she shouted at me that I HAD to be examined, anyway, was saved by a lovely surgeon that came round and gave me gas and air before examining me, was taken to theatre right away and given a spinal block, and repaired, I thought I would be ok after that, but nothing prepared me for the postnatal ward, luckily for me I had a catheter in, and didnt need to use the toilet the first night, but the next day i discovered they had blood splatters up the wall, were caked in poo, and had a bowl of bloody water and gauze in! The staff were rude and unheplful, when I asked 1 to get me a bottle for dd, she told me I had to get up and get it myself, at which point I burst into tears, they had sent my visitors away, I was still a bit numb from the spinal block, had a catheter, and 2 ivs in.
I was told I had to stay in for 5 days, but the night after I gave birth I could stand no more, and asked to be discharged, was told they wouldnt discharge me, in the end I walked out without my notes or medication, I was so so relieved to be out of there and back at home!

as for the area, I live in Hackney, so had no problems with it whatsoever

Strange isn't it? I think no-one will have perfect experience, other than those who go for homebirth, or a one of those birthing centres (nearest one, Edgware). I know someone who had first baby at Newham, and hated it, so decided second one at Homerton. There, she had a cs - and they cut some vital artery and she very nearly died...so on balance for her, Newham was better. Other friends of mine have had great experiences. I went to Whipps and it wasn't very good either. I wish I had gone to Edgware as the labour for a first baby is long enough to drive there! Think second baby, I will go for a homebirth. Also heard quite good reports of Royal London at Whitechapel...which may not be too far if you are in Hackney.