West Middlesex Hospital or Kingston Hospital?

[Pimmstrake]

Hi all,

I've just found out I'm pregnant, saw the Doctor this morning who said I could self-refer to either West Middlesex Hospital or Kingston Hospital. I've only had one experience with each hospital and nothing to do with their maternity wards (this being potential number 1!).

Does anyone have any recent experience of maternity care with either hospital? We're fairly close to both, West Middlesex perhaps slightly closer.

Thank you in advance!

Hi there, you might have already made your decision, but I just wanted to say that I have recently had a baby at kingston and would strongly recommend it.

Like you, I had the choice between the two, and am so pleased I opted for Kingston. The care was excellent from start to finish - the midwives were all lovely and I was in such safe hands through until the birth itself.

I do have friends who also had positive experiences at West Mids, but one friend recently had to go to their A&E dept and found it really dirty!

Good luck either way!

Hi!
I too am in the same situation. The doctor has told us to choose Kingston or West Middlesex but I'm really not sure. I'm only 5 weeks but keep getting hideous cramping so I am keen to register with one and ask advice, I just don't know what is best. West Mid is closer but I've heard bad reports. Kingston's website is better but that just shows they have a good marketing team!
I think I'm swaying Kingston.. (Thanks MrsG) but wondered if you had any more info now Pimmstrake?

I had all 3 of mine at WM, with DS we lived so close there was really no choice to be made. We moved while pregnant with DD1 but I could have changed. In the event I had complications with DD1 and doesn't a month in hospital. I would always consider the impact a long might have on your partner as an easier journey to visit really helped. I went on to have DD2, was offered a choice, after excellent care with DD1, I chose WM again only to suffer the same problem, 6 admissions totalling 6 weeks.

I had my first baby at Kingston this time last year. The care was generally brilliant, although the one night I spent on the postnatal ward was hot, noisy and sleepless. I asked my GP which she'd prefer and as we thought our baby might have a serious illness (he doesn't), she thought the SCBU at Kingston was marginally better, though made it clear that there isn't much in it. Either way, best of luck with your pregnancy.

My wife and I had our first child in Kingston in Oct last year. We too had to choose between Kingston and West Mid but my wife preferred what she read about Kingston and it was a slightly easier journey for us from Richmond. Parking can sometimes be an issue at Kingston but we never actually had any issues.
The birth itself was great - in the Maldon suite - slightly too quick for my wife to use the water but the care was first rate. We were put in a private room for 48 hours for various reasons with no fuss and no cost. Thoroughly recommend Kingston