Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

Original poster

Chelsea and Westminster or Queen Charlottes

18 replies

WhereInWestLondon · 30/05/2007 12:22

Does anyone know how Chelsea and Westminster compares to Queen Charlottes in Hammersmith? I have the choice of either.

I had DD at Queen Charlottes. The medical care was great when I was in labour and then ill afterwards, but as soon as I was out of any danger it was crap. The ante natal and post natal wards were terrible. I had pre-eclampsia so was in for a few nights before an induction and was pretty much ignored. I was then left labouring on a crowded ante natal ward throughout the night with no support and I was not allowed to have DH with me. Post natally I was left to get on with caring for DD alone even though I was very weak and having blood transfusions after a big bleed.

I also found the location of Queen Charlottes a pain as there was nowehere DH could pop out and get nice food from, or nice anything. It is the middle of nowhere.

I am tempted to try C&W next time as it is central. DH could keep me stocked with nice food from the Kings Road (v important if I have to stay a while because of pre eclmapsia again). More people will visit as it is central etc etc etc. However I don't know how it compares medically or in terms of pre and post natal care and that is obviously the most importnat.

Does anyone have any relevant experience that they can share?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

jem1969 · 30/05/2007 12:39

Can't give any proper advice really as I'm due to have my first at C&W in August. If you do a search there are lots of stories on both and lots of people have bad things to say about C&W, particularly the post natal ward. However they normally seem to say Charlottes is much better but you've proved that's not ness the case! All I can say is that I know lots of people who've had good experiences at C&W and some who haven't but I think that's the case with most London hospitals.

Original poster

WhereInWestLondon · 30/05/2007 14:10

Thanks Jem. What do they say about the post natal ward?

Any one else with experience?

OP posts:

jem1969 · 30/05/2007 14:39

Just that they're really big and the midwifes are geneally too rushed to give any help whatsoever!

If you do a search under the threads for Chelsea and Westminster lots of stuff will come up. I've stopped reading anything though as some people are V negative.

As you say, at least the location is good!

Eleusis · 30/05/2007 17:14

I had DS at QC two years ago, and they are fab. The midwives were a bit militant, and one even said "What's your name?!" at one point. Do you think she called my mum?

But, I put so much more importance on the medical team (planned section) and they fantastic. Itprobably makes a big difference if you have a private room, but sadly that was out of budget for me.

I've heard good and bad things about C&W, never been there myself. But, I have also heard some not so great stories about QC.

MarsLady · 30/05/2007 17:28

C&W has Carluccio's opposite. I was at a couple of births there recently (C&W obviously... Carluccio would've been shocked otherwise lol).

It was fine.

There's good and bad at pretty much every hospital, but so far the good (imo) outweighs the bad at C&W currently.

Azure · 30/05/2007 17:32

I had DS1 at C&W and DS2 at QC. I found the pre-natal care better at C&W, although that might be a first vs subsequent baby thing. The care during birth was good in both - very attentive at C&W, with a midwife present at almost all times. At QC I had an elective c-section, so it is difficult to compare exactly. The post-natal care was much better at QC. At C&W there was a complete lack of midwives and the wards were larger and a lot dirtier. At QC there were only 4 to a closed-off ward, with its own bathroom. I particularly remember the complete lack of support for breastfeeding (or anything) at C&W. Although I didn't need that level of support 2nd time around, at QC I saw a midwife a lot more frequently, which was probably due to monitoring me post-surgery. It should be pointed out that DS1 was almost 6 years ago and DS2 approaching 2, so things might have changed.

DivaSkyChick · 30/05/2007 17:44

Hi Jem,

I'm at C&W for my first at the very end of July. Apparently we've picked the busiest time of the year to give birth! Let me know if you decide to go with them as we could be in together? Be nice to have someone to share the bitching with!

Egg · 30/05/2007 18:05

I had DS at C&W 15 months ago and have no complaints. OK they didn't have THAT much time for me the following day, but they were not neglectful and tried very hard to help me with bf probs. Am now expecting no.2 and will go back there again as long as we still live in the area.

miniegg · 30/05/2007 21:38

divaskychick, i'm giving birth at the C+W in late july - might cross paths with you!
my baby's actually due on 17th july but my instinct is that it will be really late...
(runs in the family, though not sure if that has anything to do with it!)
i do not like the look of the post natal ward at all (i did a tour ages ago) but i think if we go in with low expectations then we'll be okay.

DivaSkyChick · 30/05/2007 22:23

Hi Mini,

Nice to meet you! How did you get the tour arranged? I haven't been offered any tour! Do you live near me? I"m in Fulham. Have you already had your antenatal classes?

itwasntme · 30/05/2007 22:32

I had dd in the birthing centre at QC 3 years ago.

It was wonderful, I could stay in the same room I gave birth in and dh could stay with me.

Midwives were lovely and it all looked clean.

It's in the middle of nowhere though, and the food is disgusting. I knew this in advance though and took the number of a local pizza delivery place with me.

Egg · 31/05/2007 07:28

Hi miniegg, just wanted to say hello as you have a similar name to me. I call my DS miniegg when on MN!

DivaSkyChick, I think the number you call for hospital tours is 020 8846 7850, least it was when I had DS there. I am just down the road in Putney.

Good luck with your babies, mine is not due until Feb (just found out!), but my bday is end of July and it is a lovely birthday to have.

jem1969 · 31/05/2007 09:42

Divaskychick & miniegg- am due on 18th August at C&W but convinced will be early as I'm huge and all my first timer friends seem to be having them early. Maybe we'll all share the post natal ward hell together!
My NCT classes start in Fulham near the end of June (I live in Putney) but I think you have to arrange the hospital tour yourself- I keep meaning to get round to it. I think there is a number somewhere in the maternty notes folder (or the MW will have it) but it is also on their website. The MW told me I didn't need to do a tour until 37 weeks but I think that's a bit late!

foxybrown · 31/05/2007 09:56

Just to say the post-natal care is pretty crappy everywhere I think. On a practical note, parking is atrocious at C&W (I had to queue for 40 mins just to get into the carpark, so DP missed my scan!) and I'm not sure if its in the congestion charge zone.

On a positive note a friend of mine just had her 3rd C-Section there and was out 2 days later and had very good care ante-natally.

I on the other hand, found them very negative re supporting my choice to homebirth so went elsewhere in the end. I think they are over-subscribed, and very popular because of the location.

Good luck, I hope it all goes well for you

zebedee1 · 01/06/2007 10:37

I had my first baby at C&W 3 weeks ago. I'm sure that we all have different experiences but this is mine.
Care when i was pregnant was good, all the midwives I saw for my checks were reassuring and knowledgable, they made sure i had extra scans and appointments when we realised my baby was big for my due date and my blood pressure was too low, i felt very looked after. I did always have to wait to see the midwife, sometimes up to an hour which is a pain when you have to get back to work afterwards.
During labour care was excellent, midwife was with me the whole time along with a trainee Dr (my labour was quite advanced when i arrived at the hospital so maybe if I was less far gone they might not have been so attentive). They were both very kind and encouraging. My epidural was done within 5 minutes of demanding one despite the fact that all delivery rooms were occupied and the staff were clearly very busy! Dr and pediatrician arrived as soon as the midwife called them (needed a ventouse and baby's heart rate was too high) and they did a great job getting baby out and keeping me informed as to what was happening as i was a bit scared by that point!
The worst bit of the whole experience was the post natal ward. The staff were clearly really busy and had to prioritise ladies who needed help most such as those with pooply babies. In my experience you have to ask for help, often several times, and then wait a long time for someone to come which was pretty horrid for a first time mum who had no idea what to do with a little baby! i imagine if it's your second you'd be fine. Some of the midwives in the post natal ward were vile but i guess it takes all sorts!
Food is grim, Marks and spencers and carluccios are just down the road!

Palmwoods · 01/06/2007 13:12

I had both mine at C&W and found both the antenatal care and labour ward to be brilliant. I wanted a relaxed environment, particularly second time around and the midwife was outstanding in this respect. She set up the room accordingly, dimmed lights, mats on floor etc and just left me to my own devices. She was there when I needed her and stayed with me when I asked her to. I couldn't have have asked for a better expericence.

The postnatal ward was rubbish. I was told by a midwife that part of the reason for this was that they prioritise their funding for antenatal/labour ward care.

The postnatal care at home was brilliant so my advise is to have your baby and then get out asap if all is ok with both you and your baby.

Good luck!

foxybrown · 01/06/2007 17:43

Totally agree with Palmwoods. If you've had a straightforward birth they may let you go home from delivery suite.

IMO post-labour ward best avoided! You'll get community midwife round in less time than one on the ward!

miniegg · 02/06/2007 17:01

hi Divaskychick
i did the tour ages ago (to be honest, probably too early, i was only about four months pregnant and didn't know anything about anything, so i'd quite like to do it again!) - there's a number to call on the hospital's website. It's a sort of group tour and quite helpful just to be able to see what's what, though they do'nt show you the birthing unit, which I am now interested in. (that's the midwife led unit thing.)
I'm doing NCT antenatal classes which are absolutely brilliant - so much better than I ever expected - and have also been to an NHS one organised by the GP surgery, which was very different, but good too.
For me, the best bit about the antenatal classes is meeting other mums-to-be as none of my friends are having /have had babies recently.
I live in Barnes. It falls between various hospitals - Kingston, QC's and Chelsea and Westminster...

Flip