Anyone recently given birth at Nottm City or Derby Royal?

[Lucy304]

Hi,
We live on the Notts/ Derby border and have been given the choice of where to have antenatal care.
I had my DD at City in 2019 and had a good experience, but the recent CQC inspection is worrying me.
Derby Royal is rated good but was last inspected pre-Covid, things might've changed!
Visiting is important to me, last time my DH stayed overnight and I don't know what I would've done if he hadn't (c section so couldn't get off the bed to get to baby without him passing her over).
Derby Royal currently saying one support partner can stay overnight, Nottm saying it is assessed on a case-by-case. I think it would make me quite anxious not knowing if he would be allowed to stay.
Just wondering if anyone has any recent experience of either?
Thank you

Yes, we had the same choice having had a really terrible time at QMC with our first baby. We went for city and it was pretty good. I was very watchful and we are up on all of the news about maternity services at the Trust so we had a lot of questions.

I liked that city is a small self-contained unit rather than part of a massive institutional building with other hospital care. I wish you luck with your choice.

Last used maternity services 10 years ago and then it was still on a case by case basis.
However hubby has been using other wards in the hospital over the past few weeks and you would think we were still in the middle of the pandemic. No under 16s on the wards, face masks in clinical areas and had to ring up to book in for visiting and could be refused if they were too full.

@JennyForeigner thank you for your reply. I agree about City being smaller, I chose it last time as it felt nicer and more personal than QMC or Derby.
I think I've just heard so many negative things recently about NUH maternity services that it's making me question my choice...
Still undecided, got a midwife appointment tomorrow so will ask her advice.
Thank you again

@ArnoldBee thank you for replying to my post. I'm sorry to hear that regarding visiting people on the wards. Being in hospital is such an anxious time, even if you're in for a happy reason like having a baby. To not know when or if you can have visitors is awful. People being alone at times where they need support more than ever. The impact on mental health is huge.

Not sure if too late but Nottingham city now allowing partners over night and siblings can visit too.

My mum had a less than great experience at Derby but it was 40 years ago so likely not relevant.

However, one thing that might still be the same. The room had a huge window at the business end of the bed and I think she said on the first floor. She wasn't happy about that.

I gave birth at city 2 years ago at the height of pandemic and my experience was really good! They let DH stay for quite some time. Due to give birth again hopefully this week at city again