moved home so should I change hospitals - from QCharlotte to St Mary's

[lalababy]

I am 27 weeks pregnant with my first and and booked into QC hospital. However, I have recently moved to queen's park and st mary's hospital is only a few tube stops away while QC is about 50mins away on a bus. So now I am thinking whether I should change. On one hand I couldn't be bothered as I only have 1 more antinatal appointment at QC (rest are with GP) although on the other hand I figure if I end up in the hospital for a couple of days then it might be more convenient for hubby to go back and forth from St Mary's.

However, ultimately I just want to be in the better hospital... I haven't managed to book a tour at either so not sure what the delivery suits/labour wards are like.

Any advice?

Hi
I am booked into St Mary's. But my doctor nearly tried to get me into Queen Charlotte's as she said it was the best in the area. Couldn't in the end as they weren't accepting referrals from my area (Harlesden) at that time.
Personally I would stay with Queen Charlotte's! Though all the midwives I have met at St Mary's seem lovely.
Hx

It is funny coz everyone seems to say QC is amazing but frankly I don't know why it is so great. I am waiting for ages and ages each time I have to see a midwife, I haven't really gotten anything from the appointments, haven't managed to book at tour or parent info sessions coz the line is always on voicemail... ! So far my favourite is seeing my GP

I've heard great things about St Mary's - well the birth centre in particular! They do tours on Sundays.

I've also heard good things about St Mary's midwife led birth centre, Ive even seen a pic of the birth centre and it looks very nice. (Theres a link which I found on an older thread where you can view the pic, I'll post it if anyones interested)

Im booked in at St Marys NHS and Im 30 weeks and due in Jan. I'm just being practical and thinking if I will actually get a place on the birth unit as theres only 5 rooms!! Considering theres always like hundreds of other women giving birth at NHS hospitals on any given day........ Im just wondering if I will even get a look in at this wonderful birth centre!

I suppose it wont be too bad as Im hoping for an epidural so may have to be on the labour ward anyway.

Also wondering if anyone has given birth on the NHS labour ward at St Mary's recently (like this year 2011) and could tell me about their expirience. In particular I would like to know:

• the cleanliness of the labour ward, toilets and bathroom etc
• If doctors are available to give you an epidural if requested
• how the midwives treat you *whether you were left alone or given support throughout labour

Thanks, it would be really helpful as I've heard mixed things about St Mary's. Just want to know I've made the right choice!!

With my first I changed from st. Mary's to QC on the advice of many people, only to change back again when I was ill and felt that I wasn't getting the treatment I should have. So for antenatal care I would say St. Mary's is better (in my experience).

But then I had to give birth on the labour ward at St. Mary's and I have to say that it isn't something I would advise for anybody.

However, with my second (and funnily enough I was also living in Queens park at the time), I had my DS in the midwife led birth centre at St. Mary's. I won't go on about it now because I could write pages, but it was fantastic and I would definitely say that if you are low risk then to try to change and have your baby there.

My advice is the same to the poster above who wants to know about the labour ward at st. Mary's... If you can you should try for the Birth Centre down stairs. Especially if the only reason not to is because you want an epidural, because to be honest, you can't guarantee that they will give you one. And if you are in the birth centre and complications develop, they'll just take you upstairs.

thanks messybedhead, that was useful. Is the labour ward at St Marys that bad?? Im transferring from Whipps Cross after asking by Gp to refer me to St marys so I was hoping that it would be an improvement. What went wrong on the labour ward at St Marys? (if you dont mind me asking)

thanks