Can I give birth outside my catchment area?

[minime88]

Hello everyone,

Just a quick one- does anyone know if I could request to give birth outside my catchment area? What I mean by that is that in my area I have the choice of 3 hospitals, but to the South of the city I live in there is another hospital which has an amazing birth unit. Can they stop us from choosing a hospital further away?

Xx

You can absolutely give birth where you like. I gave birth in a hospital 40mins drive away not in catchment (nearest catchment was 10mins drive). in any case, if you happened to be out of area when you go into labour, e.g. Visiting someone, they aren't exactly going to ship you back home :)

At my Booking Appointment I was offered two hospitals that are in nu catchment area but I declined both and asked to have my care at a specific hospital in our neighbouring County.

There are a few difficulties with having my hospital maternity care in a different County to my community midwife and GP care but it has never been a huge problem.

Oh yes there are some hiccups with it - e.g. My wee sample got lost as GP sent it to the wrong hospital!