Help choosing hospital in Epsom area

[Brixie]

Hello all, have recently had the very exciting news that I am expecting my first baby, but need to choose a hospital before the three month scan.
It seems I can choose between St Heliers and Epsom Hospital.
Would really appreciate any guidance/info/experiences on these two hospitals to help me make up my mind!
Thanks in advance...

I've not been to St Helier but gave birth at Epsom and had no complaints. Have heard good and bad about both so I would go for the most convenient for you.

Hi,

I had my baby at Epsom hospital 3 months ago and the staff there were all really good, both for the delivery and afterwards.

I had both my children at Epsom and the care I received wasn't bad, but I think preferable to St Helier's.

Basically, Epsom hospital has had the threat of closure and downsizing hanging over it for so long (super hospital on St Helier grounds) and talk of it also becoming a midwife led centre, but it has gone pretty quiet on that front of late. I am sure this must impact on staff morale.

I have no experience of Epsom, but i have had 3 at st . helier. I think it depends on what you are looking for. Ante natal was relatively poor - long waits, not often getting to see who you thought you were going to see. 3D scanning good though.
All hospitals are only as good as the care they give when you need it most. The care i got after an emergency c was first class.
How easy is it for you to get to each of them?
You also have to remember that if you go into labour on a busy night, you could be moved anywhere - Kingston, St georges etc.
have you made a choice yet?

I live in Epsom and chose both times to go to Kingston to give birth. My sister gave birth to her son at St. Helier and had a very good experience and was very happy. The staff at St. Helier did seem much more pleasent and warmer compaired to the staff at Kingston.

I had my second baby at St Helier in late August 2010, having had ante-natal care elsewhere (moved house and area just before the birth).

I was there for just under a week in total (before and after the birth), saw quite a lot of the services (maternal assessment unit, wards, labour ward and theatre, as had an induction and C-section) and was quite impressed with the care. The new birth centre looks really nice, not that I got to go there (boo hoo), and the labour ward was fine. The maternity wards were not too busy during my stay and the midwives were attentive.

A big plus was that the cleaning and domestic staff are employed directly by the trust and not an outside company under contract, so there seemed to be good team-working and everything was nice and clean.

The staff were all really friendly and willing to help / answer questions, things happened when they were meant to etc. etc.

It was miles better than Kings College Hospital (where I had my first baby in 2008).