Would you switch hospitals based on these ratings?

[Lagirl20]

I am due to give birth at Whipps Cross Hospital in London mid-May. It’s currently rated as inadequate by the CQC, though the maternity service has been rated as “good”. It is 10 minutes from my house.

Homerton hospital, which is 20 minutes from my house, is rated as good overall. It’s maternity unit is also rated as “good”.

I’m really stressing out about this. I don’t want the hassle of moving at this late stage of my pregnancy (I am 33 weeks). However I keep thinking about the ratings and feeling like it’s irresponsible of me to choose to give birth at a low-rating hospital when there’s a better one close by. But then both maternity units are rated as “good” and Whipps Cross has a lovely, new birth centre. What would you do in my position? I really need some help deciding. Has anyone changed hospitals and what did it entail?

Thanks!

Here are the ratings for both:

Cqc is based on loads of nonsense, but even so a 'good' rating is good! Whips cross is a great unit. I'd go to your local hospital - make your life as easy as possible?

Whipps cross was my local too and I went to Homerton based on the ratings. Homerton was a pain to get to. It's very big and busy. They safely delivered my baby but it was quite a complicated birth (and discharged me in less than 24 hours after an emergency c -section!).

I have since moved house and it was easy to switch hospitals at 36 weeks. I just filled in the forms online and got an appo with my new hospital, as antenatal care is separate from delivery, it didn't make a difference to me.

Good luck with your decision!

I went private to avoid whipps cross! This was in 2004 but I can’t see it has improved, in fact the opposite!

I don't think the Whittington can be too far from you? It's supposed to be excellent

I've given birth at the Homerton 4 times and couldn't be happier with my experiences there.
Doesn't exactly answer your question- its up to you to decide, although I always say that giving birth in an NHS hospital is always the luck of the draw- sometimes great and sometimes not so great... But I definitely recommend the Homerton.

Best of luck!