East/West Kent

[embaker112]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone who has been pregnant in East Kent PCT was given the option to give birth in West Kent, i.e. Tunbridge Wells? I'm not keen on Ashford!

Thanks

I'm mid Kent and have been offered either Ashford / Pembury (which I assume is Tunbridge Wells? / or the birth centre at Maidstone.

Not sure if that's much help to you though. How far East are you?

I'm in Tenterden. Haven't had a chance to speak to new midwife yet (just moved at 16 weeks) but all the leaflets I've just been given only mention east kent services like Ashford and Margate!

The impression that I've been given is that since the closure of the consultant led unit at Maidstone, Pembury has become very oversubscribed and so they may be quite strict about accepting women from out of the area.

I'm not really sure how the system works though, so definitely worth asking your GP about this when you book.

In other nhs services you have the right to choose which hospital you use but I'm not sure if this applies to maternity, the nhs website wasnt very clear. Does anyone else out there know?

There's certainly no harm in asking gp/midwife - and if the answer's no they might be able to answer some of the negative things you feel/have heard about Ashford.

sorry I can't fully answer your question - hope you find a good solution

If it's any help one of my good friends is an obstetric registrar and used to work at Ashford. She used to speak quite highly of the department and happily gave birth there herself.

I'm going to be having a section at Pembury soon and have found my hospital antenatal care to be a little haphazard ( my community midwife is lovely though) . Looking forward to the single rooms on the postnatal ward though!

Just had a look at the NHS website and maternity services are not included in the choose and book scheme. It does say that you have a right to choose within your area though.

I'm in Headcorn and have been given the choice, so not sure why you wouldn't either. Probably best to speak to your GP / midwife though as the others have suggested!