Queens Medical Centre or Nottingham City Hospital?

[AppleT]

Hi Lovlies,

I haven’t been able to find any recent threads about the above hospital regarding giving birth.

1.	I’m looking to know which is best.

2.	I want to know whether both have en-suite bathrooms. If not, which one has en-suite and which has shared?

3.	Any options for a private room for partner if necessary at any or both?

Many thanks!

If I were you I’d go to Leicester Royal Infimary. It’s mw unit is amazing and linked to the labour ward so you get the best of both worlds. No way would I want to be giving birth anywhere in Nottinghamshire while they’re in special measures - doubly so if you aren’t white.

I had my first at QMC and am having my second at City - I’ve moved house and it’s slightly closer.

I’ll be honest, I think they’re both very similar and it will depend hugely on how well staffed they are on the particular day you go in. They’re the same trust, procedures seem incredibly similar etc. I’m just crossing my fingers and hoping for the best!

I’ve only been treated with respect and kindness and care by everyone I’ve had contact with, there just isn’t enough of them.

I had my dd at City in 2019, unfortunately for us isn't wasn't a great experience. They were very short staffed when I was in labour (I gave birth on the busiest day) it took them ages to give me an epidural (literally at 9cm!! Even though I asked for it hours before)
I then had to stay in hospital for 5 days after her birth on a shared ward even though I asked for my own room because I was still so distressed. I had no support in breast feeding so ended up stopping whilst in hospital because they had no time to help. I demanded to be discharged after 5 nights and finally got out of there!
I'm currently pregnant with my second and I'm having him via c section at qmc.
Everyone's experience is different though, I could have had a similar experience at qmc, I will never know!
I've heard both have extreme staff shortages at the moment now anyway so I'm quite worried!

Name changed so not to link my posts.

I am a midwife at City and have been for many years. To clear a few things up:

Whilst there may be a shortage of midwives, units don’t take on more women then they have midwives for. We aim for 1 on 1 care in active labour and we remain in the room of women being monitored by CTG or if the woman needs extra support. We have lots of students who, whilst learning the art of midwifery, are also extremely caring and go above and beyond for women when midwives are stretched.

There would never be a time where a cleaner delivered a baby. That’s just ridiculous. Cleaners or maternity support workers do not enter rooms in use unless asked by a midwife and certainly wouldn’t answer a call bell or deliver a baby. Some people like to exaggerate.

Rooms at city sanctuary and labour suite are all 2 rooms to one bathroom. This has never been a problem in all the years I’ve worked there.

There are no additional rooms for partners but when appropriate, we always try and accommodate the birth partner with either a pop up bed or by making a bed out of birthing cubes.

During covid, one birth partner can remain on labour suite the entire time, until discharge. If moved to the ward, partners get given a 2 hour visiting slot each day.

I can assure you that the upmost care, respect and dignity is offered to every woman who walks through the door into my care, and I speak for the vast majority of the midwives I know and work with.

The reality is we are the NHS. People will have good and bad experiences based on their perceptions and expectations. Sometimes emergencies happen so there isn’t an anaesthetists to put in your epidural. This is nobodies fault. There may not be a birthing pool available but if appropriate, we jiggle things around to get you what you want.

@StealthMidwife45 Thank you for your clear, considered reply and also for everything you do in your job. Can you arrange to be on shift when I have mine?

@StealthMidwife45

Name changed so not to link my posts.

I am a midwife at City and have been for many years. To clear a few things up:

Whilst there may be a shortage of midwives, units don’t take on more women then they have midwives for. We aim for 1 on 1 care in active labour and we remain in the room of women being monitored by CTG or if the woman needs extra support. We have lots of students who, whilst learning the art of midwifery, are also extremely caring and go above and beyond for women when midwives are stretched.

There would never be a time where a cleaner delivered a baby. That’s just ridiculous. Cleaners or maternity support workers do not enter rooms in use unless asked by a midwife and certainly wouldn’t answer a call bell or deliver a baby. Some people like to exaggerate.

Rooms at city sanctuary and labour suite are all 2 rooms to one bathroom. This has never been a problem in all the years I’ve worked there.

There are no additional rooms for partners but when appropriate, we always try and accommodate the birth partner with either a pop up bed or by making a bed out of birthing cubes.

During covid, one birth partner can remain on labour suite the entire time, until discharge. If moved to the ward, partners get given a 2 hour visiting slot each day.

I can assure you that the upmost care, respect and dignity is offered to every woman who walks through the door into my care, and I speak for the vast majority of the midwives I know and work with.

The reality is we are the NHS. People will have good and bad experiences based on their perceptions and expectations. Sometimes emergencies happen so there isn’t an anaesthetists to put in your epidural. This is nobodies fault. There may not be a birthing pool available but if appropriate, we jiggle things around to get you what you want.

I never met a midwife that wasn’t calm friendly and caring. (Both City & QMC) You are lovely people x

I agree you'll always get varying opinions. But years ago Nottingham was the place to be. Now it's the place not to be! My other alternative would be Kings Mill but it's just not ideal with it being further away.

Neither do I particularly think it's the midwives fault. Like with all the nhs its down to the way it's ran and how well its staffed. And for the most part the issues lie because of the strain on it all. So for me it's just choosing where I'll feel safe and get appropriate care.

@StealthMidwife45 thank you for your response, that's reassuring.
@Clarkey86 City is nearer to me too. Plus better parking.
@Onehotmess yeah I can imagine no one cares about the shared bathroom. Odds are that you won't be needing it at precisely the same time and it's not like you are sharing with 20 people.
@traveltheworld1986 I'm sorry that was your experience. It definitely doesn't sound ideal! I hope you enjoy it more next time around.

@paintfairy I've been considering Kings Mill too, but it is much farther away.

With everything that's going on with City and QMC, it feels like a difficult decision to choose one, and I'm nervous about the experience.

I also feel like I don't have much choice. Other hospitals are further away. And giving birth out of town seems complicated when I think about it. I could be wrong, but I imagine I would need to move to that city possibly a month before due date and just wait... I have no clue.

I'm appreciative of the posters who have shared their experience so far and of course for the midwife at City, thanks for all you do.

If there is anyone else that can share, it's appreciated 💕

@AppleT Kings Mill is a 35 minute drive for me (assuming no traffic). So not really ideal. Its not just getting there for the birth that you need to think about, but if any of you end up staying in etc. But then if you do need that you want to feel somewhere safe! It's a very difficult decision but I've got to let them know when I go for my appointment tomorrow, which one i want to use. You can give birth anywhere (if you were randomly out for the day a few hours away and it happened, the nearest hospital couldn't refuse you just because you aren't booked in). It will have happened many times before.
I think I'll end up choosing City to be honest.

I haven't read all of these responses yet but I agree with the ones recommending King Mill Hospital over city and queens.

I live 40 mins (literally exactly) from all 3 and I'd always choose kings mill if I had a choice. I'm having my second baby there next month and have always received the best care during both pregnancies there. Not just pregnancy, my epilepsy too.

I have been in all 3 for both pregnancy emergencies and seizures for my epilepsy so I have quite a few encounters to compare the 3. Obviously everyone has different opinions and there's probably others that disagree:)

Whilst I appreciate your post and putting a realistic and professional view on things it's really quite worrying to see you say that 'People will have good and bad experiences based on their perceptions and expectations.' Experience does come down to this, but also comes down to the care you receive and whilst you and most of your colleagues are wonderful, caring and professional, it's very clear from my own experience as well as several reports that some women and babies have been less safe than they should have been. That is not down to their perception, it's been objectively concluded, and to resign yourself to the fact that you can do what you can do, and some people will have a bad experience down to their own expectations is concerning and a ridiculous attitude that blames people who haven't received adequate care.

Agreed! Some of the reports that have come out of this Trust are disgusting. It doesn't mean individual midwives aren't doing their best, but to basically say that everyone will get adequate care, despite the clear evidence to the contrary is disingenuous at best. The staff shortages are dangerous!

I actually used city and had my baby recently. It wasn't a busy day and I was maybe lucky. But i really couldn't fault the staff on the labour suite. There was no issue of shortage. I believe they have a new lot of staff being trained to start by September though? Whilst not ideal- I think they are trying.