Best childrens hospital in england?

[Desperatelyworriedmum]

please advise. need some investigations done on our three year old re:stomach aches and vomiting. Local hospital a bit here there and everywhere. Have been advised to seek second opinion. where shall we ask the doctor to refer us to. Only need one visit. Therefore distance no object. Am in oxford, so London hospitals preferred, but others also considered. TIA

Bristol Childrens Hospital (the Wallace and Gromit one) is fab. They also did a tv series there focusing on the very prem babies. I think it has a really good reputation. It certainly was good with our DS (not a serious condition or anything) but everyone was friendly etc.

I would look at who the consultants at Great Ormond St are who specialise in the area your DC needs. You can do this through their website. If you have medical insurance you can then google the names of relevant consultants to get contact details for private consultations.

I did this for my DS - like you seeking a 2nd opinion. The consultant who treats him is based at GOSH but works privately from the Portland so we went there as we have private medical insurance thro DH's employer. The consultant is fabulous and I have only ever heard good things about GOSH. The Portland on the other hand I have nothing good to say about - DS had 4 lots of surgery there. No complaints about that but the nursing care and facilities in a hospital that is allegedly world class were utterly appalling - so if you can go to GOSH itself I would - not sure how easy it is to get referred there but yr GP may be able to advise.

Good luck - horribly worrying I know

U.C.H.
or G.O.S .H
My DS was in great ormond street 8 yrs ago , and they are brilliant.
My DD (20yrs ) is training at University college hospital and it seems very good and has an excellent reputation.
If you wish to go private, how about The Portland ?

I can only reccomend re: London but I would push for GOSH.

Otherwise UCH or the Evelina Children's Hospital (part of Thomas')

my 3yo DD has been treated at St Georges, Royal Brompton and Chelsea and Westminster but for the symptons you are describing I would suggest the gastro team at Chelsea and Westminster. We see DR Fell who we are really happy with.

hope you can get something sorted

Great Ormond Street. Good luck.

my daughter is under the gastroenterologists at sheffield's children's hospital - they seem very good and knowledgeable, she suffers with a very rare condition.

Alder Hey, Liverpool long way but very good?

They have Ronald McDonald house if he needed treatment and you needed to stay.

The posts on this thread have named just about every children's hospital in the country!

GOSH. GOSH is actually part of UCLH.

GOSH it isn't part of UCLH it is a Trust in its own right. I would go there they have a great private wing as well as first rate NHS care.

gosh - best in the world for children

Doh. Quite right re GOSH. They are linked via the AHSC, though.

GOSH (which is not part of UCL) but be aware that they re-do all tests/investigations for themselves so it can take time.

You need the best consultant, rather than the best hospital. But given your location, I'd probably be going for GOSH. Good luck.

Birmingham Childrens Hospital - brilliant (and more importantly you're probably in the catchment area). Good luck x

hester is right - you need to find out which consultants are the UK leaders in the condition/problem your DC has, the first gastroenterologist we saw has a fantastic reputation in the UK for one GE condition but the one we now see knows DD's condition in more detail and has treated other children with it and has made it one of his specialisms.

royal free - london - for paediatric gastroenterologist

dd was at Chelsea & Westminster, they were great with her.

Thank you so very much for your advice and recommendation ladies. Very much appreciated. Not been on here, as been too busy looking after ds. He's much better now, touch wood. Still very clingy and needy though. Will pop back later for further advice, and to explain in detail what we have been through. Your advice here is so invaluable. I appreciate it. GOSH and UCL looking like our likeliest options: will we be able to be referred to them on the NHS: as we have no private insurance?

try to find the consultant you want to be referred to as well. think you are able to ask to be referred anywhere so you should be ok

I guess another deciding factor is how desperate you are to get your son looked at?

I dont have any direct experience of GOSH (but have of 3 other London hospitals!) but would imagine that it could have long waiting lists particularly as most people on this thread have suggested it as the best hospital?

I have heard that GOSH are first class for the very unusual conditions and extremely poorly children so if it is proving impossible to diagnose your son then they could well be the best place for you

Remember GOSH is a tertiary hospital so you wont be able to get referred via your GP, you will have to go via your local hospital who would need to make a referral to one of the gastro team up at GOS. Waiting lists sam as elsewhere (Govt targets!!!). If you can get seen there I would highly recommend.

We had the most amazing, literally life-saving, care from the paediatric gastroenterologists and surgeons at King's College. I cannot rate them highly enough. Hope you find someone to help.