Kent Hospitals?

[NotwhereIshouldbe]

What hospitals would people recommend in Kent for child birth? I’m currently under Medway and my appointments have been a nightmare so far. At my booking appointment I was waiting an hour and had the mid wife call me asking me where I was! Turned out the receptionist didn’t tell them I was there so my booking appointment was squeezed into 15 minutes because otherwise they would need to rebook me and by this point I was 10 weeks. At my 12 week scan I was waiting 3 and a half hours! I was the last one to be seen simply because they forgot about me! I am quite keen to go to Pembury but they come under a different NHS trust and I did self refer to Pembury but they never replied to my emails or phone calls. Can I just turn up at Pembury once I’m in labour? I am happy to see my midwife at my local GP which will be under Medway but I read online that sometimes you would have to redo bloods again with the new NHS trust? I’m a FTM so have no clue how this all works! Also heard good things about Crowborough as well and both Pembury and Crowborough are about an hour’s drive from me.

I can’t really comment on other hospitals - I had both my 2 at Medway and will have this one there too.
Have had nightmare appointments too in the past but when it’s come to the labours the staff have all been amazing.
At my booking in a few weeks ago I was told bloods go to Darent Valley which takes up to 3-4 weeks for the results (and some like you say have been lost as a result)
Hipe this is of some help and you hear back from Pembury

Hope*

I had my first at darent valley then moved to Medway. I have chosen to be cared for at darent valley for my other children as the care was superb. Appointments mostly on time, staff friendly and wards were spotlessly clean. All visitors commented how nice it was! My only experiences of Medway were not maternity based but they really put me off. Best of luck!

Ive got 3 children and had my last 2 babies at Medway (last one in September 2018) and the care on the midwife unit was excellent - my outpatient appointments were also a bit of a nightmare, with long waiting times etc. The birthing centre was really comfortable - the midwives were brilliant and all rooms all had pools etc, if that's something you wanted. I think they have won a national award this week too.

However, I had my first son at Crowborough and also had a great experience there but it was 11 years ago, though Friends who have had their babies there couldn't fault it

In my experience how competently the deal with antenatal appointments isn't that related to how they deal with you in labour. Medway is supposed to be really good though, they used to have the lowest occurrence of tears in the country (not sure about how mind).

If you want to go to Pembury in labour they have to take you, just like any other hospital. If you want on the books beforehand and for bloods/scans then call Maidstone birth centre and ask to self refer for antenatal care, you will have to go there for all normal apointments, but pembury for labour (i m assuming birth centre is closer to you).

DH and I are moving to Tunbridge Wells so I self referred there- I sent the first email on the 21st Feb, they replied the next day and I had my booking in appointment on the 14th, and received a letter with my first scan appointment this week. Initially they did suggest booking in at my local hospital but I explained that we wanted to ensure continuity of care where possible (and also our local hospital has a terrible reputation!) and after we confirmed that we definitely wanted all our care there it was all fine and sorted within a few days. My booking in appointment went very smoothly and I'm really happy with the choice we've made- not going to lie, that hospital was one of the reasons I was so keen to move to TW! I've had a few friends give birth there who've nothing but good things to say about it, it has fantastic facilities (all individual rooms, including post-natal) and is said to be one of the best in the country. I'm terrified about childbirth in general but feel very relaxed about giving birth at Pembury- much more so than I would have been elsewhere I think.

Also the email address I was given to contact them was [email protected] hope that helps!

Thanks for all the replies. I had a chat with my midwife who said because I’m considered low risk I wouldn’t be able to give birth at Pembury anyway, I would go to the Maidstone birth centre. She cautioned me that if there were any complications during the birth I would then get taken to Pembury which is something to bear in mind as it’s a 40 minute journey on a good day. Not really sure what to do as there are mixed reviews with Medway and the only people I know who have given birth in Kent all went to Pembury!

I had my DC at Medway and so has everyone I know. I think the hospital as a whole has a bad rep but the maternity care has pretty good feedback. I only know one person that gave birth at Darrent Valley and they ended up complaining after for various reasons that I can’t actually remember. So I guess everyone’s opinions are different.
I think go where you feel most comfortable but most people I know have had good experiences at Medway. The birthing unit is also nice which is where I’m hoping to deliver this time