Bad maternity wards

[Franny1]

Has anyone given birth in Milton Keynes General Hospital? I've heard it's awful...

No, but I used to live not too far from there. The women in the village I lived in had a choice between there and Bedford - they generally chose Bedford. That was a few years ago though. Bedford might be worse now!

Do they do tours so you can get a feel for the place yourself?

I'm sure someone with recent experience of both will come along soon.

hello, my friend had her last one there and said it was absolutely fine. she did have a very quick labour though, so I don't know if that helped. She definitely didn't have any horror stories though. I agree with eli, have a snoop round and get a feel for it.

How come they chose Bedford?

Hi Franny,

have you checked out Babyfy.com, they have some good reviews on MK general.

www.babyfy.com/index.php/hospital-review/2719/uk/Milton-Keynes-General-Hospital/

Thanks,

Char

Hi franny! i chose bedford and found it to be lovely, no complaints from me. on our tour of the hospital before the birth there was a couple who'd had their first child at milton keynes and said no way on earth would they go back. they loved what they saw at bedford though. hth

db and his wife went to MK for first, second at Bedford and said it was a much better experience. Was a few years ago now...

I was just about to post the same thing - am due to give birth in MK General in a few weeks and now beginning to feel a bit panic-y about it after the bad stories in the press. I actually live in MK so not sure that I would be allowed to choose Bedford as an option. Sister has given birth in Northampton which seems a similar sort of distance away and she chose not to have her dc2 there after a bad experience with dc1, so not sure I would want to go there either.

It hasn't helped that so far I haven't been able to sort out any ante-natal classes as they are all full so I have no idea what the place is like (or even where to go should I go into labour early - I just know it is not where you go for scans or obstetric appointments!).

Has anybody had any experience of using a private hospital locally (are there such things?), or is there a private wing at MKGH? Or alternatively using a private midwife or doula to supplement the care given?

Sorry to hijack your thread Franny1 - and thanks to anyone who has any thoughts!