how far from hospital are you?

[Annie456]

Afternoon all,
I'm trying to decide between 3 local hospitals and am leaning towards the one which happens to be the furthest away (St Thomas' in London) other options are Lewisham and Kings.

just out of interest, how far away is your chosen hospital and just how close do you need to be?

I think Tommys would take me about 20 mins at best but who knows during bad traffic!!

Well I'm not sure why my doctor gave me a choice of 3 hospitals...I just went in and told her St Thomas's and she said "we've not had a successful application to that hospital for over a year.."
Other than paying privately (not an option) is there anything I can do? Also to those who have been to Tommy's, my doc said my midwife appointments would all be in streatham if my application was successful...really? They are miles apart?!

Feeling very frustrated right now. I'd rather they had just given me 2 choices rather than 3....

Mine is about 14 miles...but about 35 minutes if traffic is good and if its peak time could be 2 hours.

We were told that we could call an ambulance as we don't have a car and have no way of getting there. But they would put flashing lights on. I am pretty sure I will be admitted early anyway so shouldn't be a problem for me. Or I could get the 2 buses I normally do if its daytime, to get there lol.

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary - about 25 minutes away, depending on traffic (and snow in late Feb/early March!). I'm lucky they moved it out of the centre of town a few years back or it would be much further. Fingers crossed that new birth unit will open in Jan as promised...

Both our hospitals are 40-45mins away on a good day nearer to an hour in traffic. Luckily I went into labour at 2am and there wasn't another car on the road - DH made it in 25minute

Annie456 - that's frustrating if they offer you Tommy's then basically un-offer you it!

Re the midwife appointments being at a different hospital - I can't see that that makes any difference really - I had all my midwife appointments at my local surgery in Town A (where I lived), some scans / blood tests etc in the hospital in Town A and some at the hospital in Town B (neither of which have a maternity unit), and then had DD at the maternity hospital in Town C. Actually, I think I also had a scan in Town C at some point. All within the same NHS Trust though. To be honest, I didn't really care.

No advice though on how to get a successful application to Tommy's I'm afraid!