Your experience of Sussex hospitals?

[BrightonMaman]

I'm 6 weeks pregnant and need to register online for scans and choice of hospital to give birth.

Could you please tell me about your experience at The Royal Sussex County, Haywards Heath, Worthing Hospital or any other options nearby to help me make my decision?

I had a baby at the Royal Sussex two years ago and will be having my second there in July. It was a pretty straightforward birth so I don’t really have much to report! The postnatal ward was pretty busy but I think that’s the case everywhere. Someone in my NCT group had a few complications and she was put in a private room for a few days so she didn’t have to deal with the public ward.

Really though, I would say to go for wherever you’re nearest. Travelling from home to the Royal Sussex in Labour was uncomfortable enough and it’s probably not much more than a mile for us. I’d have hated to have to go all the way to Haywards Heath feeling like that!

I had my first at Royal Sussex 3 years ago.
Pros:
Birth room was lovely. Dim lights, pool, music etc.
2 lovely midwives.
DH allowed to stay overnight (I am pro this though I know it's controversial.)
Close to home.
Great views from the windows.

Cons:
Parking is a huge stress. The car park is often full or you can get stuck in there for ages hunting a space. We parked in the emergency bay then DH moved the car. Mostly we parked on the street and used the app on both phones to renew the parking so we could keep the car there for 8 hours at a time.
It's busy. I was left waiting in a side room off triage for what felt like hours, waiting for a birth room, despite being very much in active labour, with no midwife and no pain relief.
Busy post-natal wards, noisy.

I'm hoping to home birth this time but if we end up having to go to hospital again we will go back to Royal Sussex. Worthing isn't too much further for us but distance does make a difference (and those sunrise views really are something special.) So on balance, I would recommend it. I think we'd try to get a taxi there though rather than take the car.

Where do you live? There's quite a drive between Hayward Heath and Worthing, really you want to register at the closest.
Also remember that if the hospital is full when you go into labour they will have a backup to send you to - so when I was registered at Worthing they told me I might need to go to Chichester if they were too busy. That would have been a really long drive for me. So if you aren't near the hospital you register at you could be even further away from the back up.

Hi all, apologies I actually forgot I'd posted 🤦🏻‍♀️ I blame baby brain! 😄
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. This is my second pregnancy. We had DC1 in another part of the country.

I hadn't even thought about being shipped out to Chichester if Worthing are busy. That would be a nightmare!
We live super close to the RSCH so parking is not even an issue.

Some friends had an absolutely awful experience there which has stuck in my mind. This is the only reason I've looked at other options.
I think when it comes down to it, considering the extra support I needed in my first pregnancy and the fact the RSCH is the best equipped in terms of theatres and anaesthetists, I should probably stick to Brighton.
Thanks again for your help

My experience at Worthing was really positive; I found it a positive that it’s not massive as it made the care feel really personalised and the midwives were invested in me as I’d had a really difficult pregnancy and been in and out a lot. I’ve recently moved out of the area and wish that i could go back there for subsequent pregnancies.

People have mixed feelings about the RSCH but I have nothing but praise for the team there.

First baby was delivered there and the midwives were all incredible. It was a lovely birth, and the views over the sea and South Downs made it feel really special.

I've had to stay on the antenatal ward a few times in my current pregnancy and it is lovely and calm with kind and caring staff.

The only negative I can think of is the hospital is undergoing a refurb and it's really confusing trying to locate the maternity ward. It's also on the 12th floor and the lifts are slow and always busy. I would definitely recommend doing a dry run rather than trying to find the maternity ward while you're in labour! There is probably a quick way to get there but I always end up walking through a labyrinth of corridors.

Another poster mentioned parking being a nightmare - we got taxis which seems like the best option.

My daughter had an amazing birth at RSCH in December. The antinatal care was brilliant...reduced movements were the main issue and she was welcomed ,monitored and scanned every time. All the staff were kind and lovely in every department. She was induced at 38 weeks and the birth was fantastic,calm and surreal. The midwives check each other’s patients every few hours to ensure safety and fresh eyes . The anaesthetist was lovely and gave her a mobile epidural which was a dream and my daughter had control of the pain relief . We had a midwife with us all night from the community because they work as a team and my daughters main midwife came in the morning ( on her day off ) to deliver the baby and then stayed until 230 to stitch and take her and baby to the postnatal ward . I cannot speak highly enough...bloody brilliant every single person involved!!

Agree with Sapphosrocks ...the fabulous view from the 12 th floor made the birth even more special...lifts and parking a pain but worth it .