St Helier... Good, bad, ugly??

[designerbaby]

I'd hoped to go to Kingston, but as I'm transfering my care at 35 weeks it's looking unlikely that I'll get in... GP recomends St Helier as an alternative, but I know nothing, and only reviews i can find are quite old and pre their £3m apparent investment and new MW-led birth centre.

Wondered if anyone had any recent experience they'd mind sharing?

Thanks,
db
xx

DB - i have no first hand experience, but St. Helier is the hospital in my catchment area and on my recent NCT class, it was covered off. Apparently the new unit is magnificent! The NCT class teacher had been on a tour and it came highly recommended. Apparently all the midwives have been selected for their expertise in working to achieve minumum intervention births.
I have had two visits from the community midwives now; and if they are any reflection of the midwives in the new unit, then you will be in good hands! Good luck!

Nothing of any use to add, but I have also heard good things about their new maternity unit. I'm in Epsom and if Epsom hospital is full then they would send me to St Helier.

Someone will come along with experience, I'm sure but don't let the fugly building cloud your judgement. And it is seriously offensive to look at

Im due to go into Epsom, but am considering a water birth at the new Centre at St Helier instead.... it looks lovely and I have only heard positive feed back so far....

I was born there 37 years ago! but can't remember anything about it......

Mistletoekisses - that's really good to know, as that's exactly what I'm trying to achieve (no interventions etc.) this time.

Rockbird and Joanne, it seems things are on the up since the refurb, so that's good news...

Especially as it's looking like it might end up being my only option!

DrDoobs... well you survived!? Unscathed??

Thanks everyone, feeling a bit better about it - just like to know what I'm letting myself in for!

db
xx

DB - I think we had our first bubs close together. I could be wrong. My previous nickname was Dal21. Congrats on your pregnancy! When is this baby due??

Oh hey Dal! Yes, Weren't we on the October 2007 antenatal thread? (Although I ended up only having DD on November 10th!)

How's it going?
db
xx

Yes we were! I thought so!

It is going really well. DS1 (born 7th sept 07) is a very active toddler!

DS2 is 6 days old and snoozing next to me as I type. Am in newborn heaven and is so much easier the second time round.

We moved from NW London to Surrey just over a year ago....looks as though you are about to do the same. St Helier is our nearest A&E so you will be quite near!!

When is your baby due?

Hello DB - I had a HB through St Helier in July last year, but the head of the mid-wife led unit delivered DD2. The unit was't open yet so she was helping out on the HB team for a few days. She was absolutely fantastic and if the staff are anything like her it should be good. Had a few antenatal appointments there and staff were always very friendly, kind and informative. I actually transferred there from Kingston. But the hospital is v v v ugly, we thought it was a prison when we first moved here!

Hey mistletoe - that's funny isn't it - both due in October, you go in September and I popped in November... and over 2 months between our DCs! Just goes to show how unpredictable this pregnancy lark can be! Massive congrats on DS2...

I'm due DD2 on 19th March... and hoping I don't end up in April and still waiting!

Hadeda - is the hospital as ugly on the inside as it appears on the outside? Just out of interest, would you mind telling me why you transferred from Kingston?

Thanks ladies!
db
xx

DB - I haven't seen the new unit, it was being built when I was going there last year, but I expect that will be nice being new. The part where I went for AN appointments, blood tests etc was what I'd call "standard issue hospital". Not very new but clean, tidy and did what was needed.
I transferred after my 20 week scan because I wanted a HB and St Helier covers my area. But having moved I felt much happier. I found Kingston rather impersonal and no one seemed very interested in me, my pregnancy or whether I had any questions etc. DD1 was born at St George's and St Helier felt more like that - buildings weren't pretty but the people were friendly and kind as well as professional. That said, I know a lot of people in this area who have been to Kingston and were very happy there.

Good luck with everything . If it helps, I think St H runs tours of their maternity facilities so that might help you make up your mind.

By the way, just snooped at your profile and saw your pics. Your DD is gorgeous!
Are you part of the SA expats over here? Just guessing from your "Miss SA 2008" caption. We are too, as you might have guessed from my name.....

I did wonder Hadeda! Actually DH is a Pretoria boy, born and bred but I'm as Eglish as Marmite - DD, well, she's tall and basically carnivorous, so no prizes for guessing which nationality she favours ...

From whereabouts in SA do you (and your DH/DP) hail?

Soooo many South Africans in SW London... . DH is ridiculously excited by the fact he can pick up biltong and Ouma rusks at the station on his way home...

db
xx