Can you choose a hospital? How do you know which is best?

[louisdog]

Hi all

I haven't even been to see GP yet never mind midwife so may be getting ahead of myself! But I am wondering if people are able to choose which hospital they wish to give birth at if they have several equidistant? Do they have to be in your own health board area?

If you can choose, how can you find out how well each hospital performs, is this type of info available anywhere?

Thanks!

Hiya,

I went out of area for both of my pregnanices to two different hospitals.

I used this link back in 2008 [[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7207683.stm

here]] not sure if there's a more recent version, worth a google probably.

You can also request a hospital tour which will give you an idea of what the hospital is like.

It's a simple process to be referred to another hospital - your m/w can ask your GP to do it.

i was offered to choose whichever hospital i wanted but decided to stick to my local (fear of not making it in time)

You will never now which is best. I have heard stories about many of the hospitals both good and bad but everybodys experience is different so keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes ok for me!