Changing Hospitals: Lewisham & St Thomas'

[MrsNOC]

My first time posting on this site! Though I have read other posts.

I'm 8 weeks pregnant & have my 1st appointment with the midewife in 2 weeks time. This is my 1st pregnancy. My local health centre have automatically referred me to Lewisham hospital. However, I want to give birth in St Thomas' Hospital. I live in SE6.

St Thomas' website says they take referrals from the local catchment area incl Lewisham & if you're outside that area they may take you if there's a medical condition. A girl from their helpline said I'd need a referral letter from my doctor.

My health centre have said there's no chance of me moving to St Thomas' unless I have a clincal reason for doing so. However, my reasons are personal: St Thomas' is near my work & I can do pregnancy yoga there after work. Also, I'd like to do a birth rehearsal class there but these sessions are strictly only for those planning to give birth in St Thomas'. My other reason is that I want a water birth. Lewisham have 1 birthpool & St Thomas' has 2 pools.

What's the NHS policy on changing hospitals? Have any of you moved hospitals (esp if it was to St Thomas') and how did you arrange it?

Thanks for your advice.

I think you have a choice - through NHS choice -they have to allow you to give birth at hospitals in your catchment area. You can ask for a transfer anyway. I went to a hospital 23 miles away because ours is filthy! The original hospital was obviously a bit cross at my reason (but didn't question it). I called up the hospital direct and made an appt.

Hang on a sec, I'll find you the relevant link...

page on NHS choice

Dr foster birth guide - call the head of midwifery at the unit you want to go to and ask them

I was based in Tower Hamlets when I was pregnant with DS and wanted to give birth at St Thomas'(my local hospital was the Royal London which I really don't like). I was told by my GP that she would need to write to them and they would assess whether they could accommodate me at the time I was due as they would obviously have to take people from their own catchment area first. I got in no problem. The only issue is that if you're from outside the area the midwife that you have to see for your ante-natal appointments are in a doctors surgery that is a bit out of the way if you're public transport based (which I am). It took me about 20-25m to walk from there to St Thomas' itself. I really liked St Thomas' - pregnancy yoga is great, birth rehearsal sessions were fine and the home from home centre is excellent (although I was induced so couldn't use it). One thing to be aware of though is that, if you have any problems as I did, the ante-natal walk in clinic (I can't remember what it's called) is really busy and I've ended up spending the best part of a day in there on a few occasions.

I live in Brockley and my Drs tried to automatically send me to Lewisham. I kicked up such a stink about it and now i'm going to St Thomas'. I have heard from a few people on here that they have been told they can't go to St Thomas' even though they live in Lewisham Borough, part of St T's catchment area. After kicking up enough they have been allowed to change. I think you just have to make yourself a nuisance at your Drs.

It's funny you guys are having problems and you're in the catchment area. I had no problems at all; I guess it depends on your GPs attitude.

Insist on a transfer. Lewisham is my local hospital and I gave birth to DS3 there; I had such a bad time I told my GP I could not go there again and was referred to Guys (which has since transferred to St Thomas') for DS4 and DS5.

Thanks for the information & advice.

I went back to my GP & he is referring me to St Thomas' Hospital. Hope they accept me!!

I got into tommy's though in kings catchment area. Told gp I could not go to kings as I had a terrible experience there as a student nurse - true.