Refused first choice - where to go in SW London/Surrey

[Portree]

Wonder if I could have some words of advice and/or personal experiences. I have just found out that the hospital I wanted to deliver at, West Middx, has refused me. I feel very miffed about this. I don't know why yet, probably catchment or something. Had Ds there in 2003 but were living closer at the time.

• What are my rights? Can I appeal this decision or is there no point in trying?

• The hospital in my catchment area is Kingston and I feel very jittery about going there. Of all the mothers I know who had their children there only one had a good experience. I know there have been quite a few well publicised blunders too which makes me nervous. I know that none of this is rational. Plus, 2 weeks ago when I went to my GP Kingston had closed the books for June. EDD is 3/7/06 and I'm not sure if they're still open for July.

• My other nearest options, if they would take me, are Epsom, St Helier, St Peter's, St George's Tooting. Or should I try for Queen Charlotte's? Thing is I don't also want a big schlep to get there either.

Advice and suggestions most welcome though the kitchen floor is looking more promising right now.

Many thanks,

I was at Kingston and, for my own experience, I coudlnt' recommend it highly enough and in fact, I do not know of anyone in RL who has had a bad experience there (which amounts to quite a lot of people) and knwo of people that have had first baby elsewhere and had second at Kingston and prefered it.

I had a fairly high risk pregnancy (IUGR) and was induced at 37 weeks for 3 days followed by c-section so was there for 8 nights in total and had experience of antenatal ward, delivery suite, theatre and postnatal ward. My only criticism was the fact that the breast feeding counsellor was not very helpful but I know others who she did help.

They are popular though and do get booked up very quickly.

Hope that helps.

Also, during my pregnancy I had a lot of scans, consultant appointments and everyone always had so much time for us, to explain over and over again procedures etc... They also put a lot of effort into allowing me to stay at kingston to deliver at a time when the neo natal was fit to burst and there was no room if dd needed to go there. Everyone's compassion to a hormonal first timer with problems saved both dh and i going mad !!

Apologies for going on, and I know some people have had bad experiences there ...

hey! you stole my name!

but you're not even a nut - how can you be roasting on an open fire ???

Actually seen quite a few of us about roasitng on open fires....

bosscat....chestnut......isn't it obvious

Had two Ds at Kingston - very good experinec. Kingston tends to be very popular and always busy.

I have only heard of one major blunder at Kingston , it was reported last week in media, but have herda lot more over the years about St Peters.

when I was expecting DS1 in 2000 and was having a look round Kingston there were parents there who wanted to get into Kingston as they didn't want to go to West Middlesex, why I don't know.
Since then though haven't West MId opened a new maternity wing ?

From personal experence Kimgston was fine.

I suggest you speak with your midwife as she will probably know more than your GP.

Thanks for your experiences. Don't know why all my acquaintances never want to return to Kingston! Mummydear, I don't have a midwife yet which is part of the problem. Yes, West Mid used to have a bad rep but new unit was fab, or at least ime. Seems to be all swings and roundabouts really as there were many at West Mid who had first at Kingston. Agree about St Peter's. It may have to be Kingston then.

the vast majority of my nct group had babies at St George's Tooting and thought it was v good. i went for chelsea and westminster and thought it wasn't

I had both of mine in St Peters, Chertsey. It was fine. I had a very long labour with ds and a very traumatic labour with dd and the staff were friendly and helpful. No complaints.

I had a high risk pregnancy at St Georges, and I can't fault them one bit. They were very caring, attentive and efficient. I also can't praise the SCBU enough. I wouldn't hesitate to go there again.

Had DS1 at St Helier. Ante natal and post natal care was fantastic.

Also if you go for homebirth (which i did with DS2) they have a fab team of midwives

BTW only did homebirth 2nd time because I wanted to not because I had a bad hospital experience.

You could call the head of midwifery at W Middx and find out why you have been refused a booking there.

Personally I would not recommend St Georges. They are probably very good if you are high risk or having a C section but I received bugger all care there and would not choose to go there again

I had DS at Kingston and was in there for about a week (high blood pressure and emerg cs in the end) and overall I was very happy with the level of care and I'm booked in with my next one as well.

All my friends who have had their babies at Kingston recommend it.

I believe Kingston are refurbishing and it's due for completion in June which is why some women are having difficulty getting in. Mine is due end of June so I think I just about scraped in.

On the other hand I've also recently heard another MNer say how pleased she was with St Georges.

Good luck.

Hi

Had DS1 at St Helier and also fantastic experience - they really took care of us and not as busy/mad as Kingston/St Georges. Reputation for keeping their midwives and not having such a high turnover but not a hospital trendy among the middle class mummies, I think due to location. Very surprised how well treated in a London hospital! Know people had bad expereinces at both Georges and Kingston. Heading back to St Helier for next babe due Jan!

HTH

I had ds at St Peters in April 03. Went in for induction and ended up having emergency cs. Was in for 5 days in total - I had no complaints about any of the midwives or other staff, just that there didn't seem to be enough of them.

Will be back there in March for No2 and am perfectly happy about it. Hasn't it just recently gone up to 3 stars in the ratings?

I heard Kingston was good and very popular too

Had both of my children at St Helier. 1st experience not positive but much better 2nd time round.

I had a bad experience of Kingston in 2000. Friend of mine did too in 2002. However another firend has had 3 there - first came out teh wrong way and they didn;t know but other 2 were fine. IIRC the rest of my nct group in 2000 had ok experiences. none of them got left to fall asleep in a bath anyway. Post natal care was excellent

i have heard absolutely dreadful things about kingston but also that you get your own room which must be worth something?

i spoke to an ex royal college of midwives director and she told me off the record (oops) that st heliers was by far the best if you were of my mindset (wanted as much autonomy as possible, and for the care to be midwife lead).

i had ds in st georges but it was meant to be a homebirth and i was only in for four hours in total! it was v grubby and it was lucky i was with independent midwife as it took ages for anyone to come and see us but the midwife was fabulous (she listened to us and allowed us to have things as we wanted) and so was the consultant (apart from saying if i didn't give birth within half an hour it was c-section for me...talk about pressure)...

I am pregnant with my first baby and due to deliver at Kingston in May. For various reasons I have been under a private consultant who couldn't praise it highly enough. He said he has delivered numerous babies at the Portland and in his opinion Kingston is better! He also stressed that alot of new hospitals are modelling themselves on Kingston. Obviously I'm yet to experience it myself but feel reassured that he speaks so highly of it.