Switching hospitals - how to go about it.(London)

[CashewNuts]

for various reasons and the fact that the records of my previous and existing medical conditions are held at UCH Im considering moving there from Queen CHarlotte? Has anyone done this and how have they gone about it?
Thank you

Not london, but I just spoke to my community mw and told her I wanted to change and she sorted out the paperwork etc.

I had to phone the maternity unit at the chosen hospital and they took my details over the phone and asked me some questions about how many weeks i was and what scans I had had, then they booked me in for an appointment and they did another green book for me/went through all the questions in the green book.

I did this as I moved from NW to SW London. I downloaded and filled in the self referral form from the new hospital's website, went and handed it in,.got a letter for booking in appt a few days later. I did it at about 34 weeks.

Good to know you did it quite late,threewheels. We don't have a community midwife that i know of? Its all done at the hospital.
Thought maybe I should have a chat with gp also? Hope it works it's very busy in london, hard to get a place.
Thank you

By the way has anyone had any luck with UCHL?

I moved from Chelsea and Westminster to UCLH about when about 13/14 weeks (now 28 weeks) , it was much more convenient for appointments and transport links. I had no problems, I just rang the number on the website and asked to self refer, talked through details with lovely lady, she set up my next appointment, all good.

Ok that's good to hear. Allthough I'm much further along. Are you happy there?

I've just moved from Lewisham to King's. I called the King's maternity helpline and they did it over the phone, posted me out booking in appt and 20 wk scan (was 17 wks then). Then I cancelled my appts at Lewisham and told them I was transferring. Had to go through all the booking in questions again at King's and get a new book but so far v straightforward. Have you called UCLH? They should be able to tell you if you can get in there.

I'm happy there, our plan had been to move back up to Durham at 39 weeks however I like the hospital and midwives there so much we decided at the weekend that we would stay to have the baby delivered at UCLH

My antenatal care is with UCH (hoping for home birth). So far been very satisfied with care - I'm 21wk and low risk. Had my first mw apt on a Sat and subsequent ones at a local children's centre, which is really convenient for me. 12-wk scan was very thorough - in there for an hour, 2 sonographers, very attentive. Test results come through post ridiculously quickly too. The facilities seem good and I'd be happy to birth there if home birth doesn't go to plan.

It is v busy though, or popular, so my only concern would be level of attention during labour if mws are stretched.

I'm switching from UCH at 33 weeks to The Whittington. I've spoken to a MW there & they're fine about it!

I'm with UCH, 36 weeks and so far excellent service. I have many friends who have been very happy with it there too. Good luck!

Please - any reason? I'm 32 weeks, so I'm concerned it's quite late. I'm not low risk but I feel that being in my hospital that deals with my other medical conditions is safer at this stage. Q.C are really not taking it seriously enough although it impacts my pregnancy and birth.
I can deal with the busyness it seems to be the norm in London and I've gone through it before.
I presume there isnt any parking?

Cashew- I'm 33 weeks. I'm moving to The Whit partly because it's closer to me (I'm in Islington) & easier for us to drop DD off at my friends on the way!
I've no complaints about the care I've recieved at UCH so far. I've got a BMI of 35 & they seem to be making it all a bit medicalised than I want it to be.
I didn't have a great experience at The Whit last time, but my friend is a MW there & is v reassuring about all of my worries.
There's no parking at UCH to the best of my knowledge.
Feel free to Pm me.

I'm nearly 39 weeks and at the Whit and have been contemplating transferring for last 3 weeks - but have now left it too late. I've been a bit concerned about some of the ante natal care I've had to date. I did phone the Royal Free as 2 friends had fantastic births there (though I've read on MN some pretty miserable stories) and was told I'd have to go back to my GP and get a referral as too late for a self referral. The MW I spoke to could not have sounded more bored or irritated at having to explain procedure. It was only when I said I was a bit unhappy with the Whit that she perked up a bit!

I had a bad first labour at St Thomas's. I'm worried about the overworked, uncaring busy London maternity unit. But I've decided to stay put in the Whit as it's my 3rd labour and I don't want to give birth stuck in traffic on the Euston Road trying to get to UCH.

Yes I have images of giving birth on the euston rd too! Especially in rush hour.
I've been there done that at the royal free, can say apart from the labour/birth part it was great, they let me down there and kept me in the dark. But I'm more experienced now. It was a very busy night so as you can imagine with any London hospital it's just like a conveyor belt. Antenatal was great because I only ever waited 10 mins max and it's seemed quite spacious, easy to get too etc. QC is over crowded and I'm not very happy with the consultants.
I just feel most confident choosing a place that will address th full medical picture. It seems so modern compared to QC
Sound ok please if the practicalities are taken care off you'll be more stress free.