Basildon or Chelmsford or Southend Hospital?

[butterscotch]

Any experiences of the above?

Had DS at Chelmsford. Ended up having ECS. Think they have a high rate of CS there. The building is very old, but I found the staff great, helpful and happy (despite being overworked). I was absolutely shocked by the poor standard of food, so if you go there and need to stay, make sure someone brings your meals in!

I would avoid Basildon if I were you - high mortality rates and poor hygiene, oh and now Legionnaire's disease news story here

Agree with blondie - Basildon isnt known for excellence thats for sure. Ive had both my girls in Chelmsford, and will probably have this baby there too. Agree that its very old but both times thought that the staff were great, particularly 2nd time around. I didnt hang around long enough to taste the food - I had a couple of days stay at the midwife unit WJC in Braintree after mine which was fabulous! Good luck!

Ive had 4 at southend.

on the whole I'd say it was ok. My dd was stillborn and the handling of by all staff except one lovely midwife (lorraine) was appalling and we complained.

Next 3 were 4 week early inductions and handled ok I was lucky to have lorraine for them all as well as my own midwife. Although my wonderful consultant who managed my last 2 pregnancies has tragically died so cant comment on care under anyone else.

All SVD 2 were admitted to special care and the care there was great although I'm told as the rotations are fairly swift in NICU then this can be hit and miss also (with regards to parent relations i think, never the care of the babies)

I think the reason my subsequent births following dd improved because I stamped my feet a whole lot and didnt cow tow to their say so. They were very swift to forumla feed my ds1 (my second birth) even tho I was certain I wanted to bf, luckily I had great after care from my midwife at home and so was able to bf. with the next 2 births I made certain I shouted loud about BF and organised a pump in my sideroom so I could express between feeds, as my babies were prem feeding was hard for them to begin with. I also took my own alarm clock as the babies had to be fed every 1.5 to 2 hours and it was up to me to ensure that I got up and pumped, a prem new born wont automatically wake himself for feeds and if you dont wake him (and as i did cup feed) then the sugar levels drop and things can get worrying.
All 3 of my boys had terrible jaundice and this was a factor in their aftercare that by ds3 I had worked out and was able to better care for him myself.

Had my two at Chelmsford in 2007 and 2009. Both were caesareans and I can't praise the theatre staff enough. Postnatal staff seemed pretty rushed off their feet both times, but overall I was happy with the care and would be happy to have another there. They have single rooms that you are able to pay for if you don't want to be on a ward, although it depends on availability on the day. They also have a birthing pool, again subject to availability. I found the food to be improved last year, at least in choice - there was a menu to pre-order what you fancied with choices of starter, main (some 20 choices) and pud. Depending on when you're due, the maternity services at St John's (old Victorian building) in Chelmsford are due to move to a brand new building at Broomfield (other side of Chelmsford) at some point this year. No experience of the other two hospitals, though Basildon's reputation would put me off. I don't know where you are but I've heard good things about the midwife led birthing centre at Maldon too.

Had my eldest at Basildon in 2000. Very well looked after then, not sure about the standard of care now.

It's a shame that the poor press received by Basildon Hospital has affected the reputation of the maternity unit. There has not been excess mortality at Bas Maternity, there has never been a problem with cleanliness there and all of the criticism it has received has been levelled at the general wards - different staff, different management, different building actually! Basildon is full of fantastic midwives (although of course there is the occasional bad apple) and a brand new midwifery led unit. The rooms in the consultant unit are a bit small and not en-suite.

Would echo that Basildon has fabulous midwives (worked there myself at one time). The new midwifery led unit is wonderful and the feedback I've had from parents as a HV has been really positive.

Had 2 emergency C- sections at Southend.
TBH there were crap staff (not many) and excellent staff.The people that counted for my sons safety and mine were the excellent ones.I wouldnt touch Basildon hosp would rather have a baby out in the carpark and i have no experience of Chelmsford.
HTH.

chelmsford is fab, can not praise it enough. i loved the place

Why don't you go and see all three units and judge for yourself. And think about home as well. Oh, and the midwife led unit at Maldon. You will always get those people who love or hate a maternity unit.

Southend have a one-hour pushing policy before they start rattling the forceps, Chelmsford had a higher section rate but this has come down recently, Basildon has the within-unit midwife led unit.

What do you want - do you want to increase your chances of a straightforward birth ? Or are the facilities more important or distance from home ?

Just remembered - you can visit Basildon (2.30pm every Saturday) but St Johns are not doing tours at the moment because of swine flu.

I had my eldest at Basildon in 1999 and had an awful experience. Then again, I could have had an awful experience at a different hospital too. My niece had her daughter there in 2005 and she had a terrible time - not helped at all by the lack of care by the staff. Quite a few of my family/friends have actually booked into hospitals in different counties rather than go to Basildon (which is a 10 min journey from their homes). Yes, I know that's rather odd!

However, I do agree with Snowsquonk that you should make a plan to visit all 3 and judge for yourself. There are always good and bad birth stories and you need to weigh up what is going to be important for you.