Chase Farm Hospital?

[Bikbikmum]

Hi everyone

I am at 5+0 weeks and I am referred to Chase Farm Hospital. I was told that it was recently renewed. I cant find any info whether they have a birth centre or not, it has to be consultant led or not?

What was your experience here?

Thank you!

I'm actually going to chase farm this morning for a midwife appointment :) they don't have a birthing centre, you can just have scans and check ups there and you would then choose another of the royal free hospitals to actually give birth in e.g Barnet, Edgware or Royal free.. Hope that helps!

@Caneloalvarez I hope your appointment went well. thank you so much! This is super helpful.. i tried to check online, couldn't find a lot of information. Now it makes sense. Did you decide where would you like to give birth? I read good reviews for Edgware BC. I have my first appointment on 26.11

It will be Barnet or Royal free as I'm actually hoping for a planned c-section.. I have heard good things about Edgware though! So far the appointments at chase farm have been fine its all very modern and not too much waiting around!

I’ve heard great things about Barnet hospital. Royal free is also great but if you live up by chase farm think of the journey and parking ect

@Witchinaditch thank you 🙏🏻 yes Royal Free definetely will be too far away, I can't risk a very long journey, all the way down to London

I like it. Midwives are knowledgable and hospital has a nice calm feel but appts are split between chase farm and Barnet. compared to other hospitals my impression so far has been that Barnet is busy, extraordinarily busy. Check ups at chase farm are simple, and reasonably quick but Barnet is different.

The consultants seem worn out and stretched but as soon as anything has seem awry in pregnancy but , or even hinted at being abnormal , they have been totally on it and have provided excellent advice etc. Their knowledge makes up for the long waits to park or to be seen. If you do go to Barnet and chase farm , practically allow 30 mins to park at Barnet before your appt unless someone can drop you off. Chase farm has a multi storey so no problem.

There has been a rise in requests for Elcs, so if it’s your first and it’s a preference rather than a necessity , expect to be asked on your reasons and don’t be surprised if they ask you to consider it for longer before making a decision

. I don’t plan to have another baby but if I did I would go back there

@Bigoldwimp I have terrible experiences at Barnet A&E that's why I am a bit skeptical for the hospital. I guess I will try birth centres first. Not sure whether I will be eligible to give birth at BC. I was told Edgware BC is very convenient. And if something goes wrong, they transfer you to Barnet.

Thank you for the info @bigoldwimp that's really interesting! I'm familiar with the parking situation at Barnet and it is a bit of a nightmare. Interesting you say that about the ELCS too, this is my first and when I requested it at my last appointment they asked me to see how I feel at my next appointment and they will then arrange for me to see the consultant if I still want to go down that route.. But I am worried they are just going to keep fobbing me off! Good to know that they were very on it despite being so busy.

@Bikbikmum I've had good experiences of A&E at Barnet so hopefully your bad experience was a one off.. But it's important you feel comfortable with your choice so you could give the birth centre a try.. I totally get that a bad experience really puts you off a place entirely!

@Caneloalvarez good to hear that you had better experience! That's a relief for me :) I don't want to choose a hospital which is far away from home to be honest. Probably I will end up at Barnet or Edgware BC.