Choice of hospital - what's the policy?

[DollyP]

Hello

I am 8 weeks pg and am trying to book into a particular hospital. However, I live in an area which seems to send people to Kings. I would like to go to a different hospital (St Thomas') as I had DD there, they have a whole active birth suite and I had a fantastic consultant last time who looked after me brilliantly when there were concerns about the baby's development.

When I saw GP last week, she said St T's were a bit sniffy about who could go there and as I lived about 5 miles away now (we have moved) they could turn me down. However, she would try to get me in there if possible. I've now got a message to call her so I am not esp hopeful.

I thought that you got a choice of hospital (subject to availability on the day). Can anyone let me know what the position is or point me to some docs which could help me?

Many thanks

Dolly

I had a similar experience recently when I tried to book into West Middlesex, where I had my DD. My GP told me they no longer accept people from my area! She gave me the choice of two others (Kingston or Queen Charlottes). I had DS at Kingston and would rather give birth on the kitchen floor than have to go there again, but GP said QC might not accept me anyway as they get booked up very quickly and I was already about 9 weeks. Luckily they did, but I may not have had a choice if they had been booked up.

However, with DD three years ago, I switched from Kingston to West Mid a week before she was due! I actually rang them up direct and said I really didn't want to use Kingston again and they were very kind and took me on! I'd suggest you could ring St T yourself and tell them you're really keen etc, they may accept you direct like West Mid did with me. If they are a bit sniffy they might be flattered you want them and let you in.

So much for "choice" in the NHS!

Good luck and hope you get the hospital you want.

My understanding is that you sort of get a choice, Tommy's gets booked up really quickly (too many babies!) and when they are full they're full and you will be turned down even if you live next door. I'm sure many others do too. My local midwives told me the other day they get to close their list as well when they have too many babies booked! Not much help I'm afraid 8 weeks is still quite early so you never know (but OTOH if they take you then they run the risk of having to turn the person next door down!). FWIW they are really busy I'm 24 weeks and still trying to get a 20 week scan off them! Anyway good luck.

this is the nhs choice thing

If she says they have declined you ask your GP what else you can do to get a place there, good luck

Thanks ladies. I just spoke to the GP who has tried 2 different avenues with them and both times got turned down. She says that they have really tightened up who they will have over the last 6 months as they fill up so quickly. However, she has promised to fight my corner should it come to that at the lovely kings .

Thanks for the replies XXXX

18mths ago I actually wanted Kings over St Georges (terrible experience). I got the knock back from Kings and did som surfing and found the something explaining my right to choose which hosp to give birth in (will try and find something for you). I spoke directly with Kings - No Joy - and then I sent a letter quoting the relevant things I had found out and Hey Presto I got what I wanted.

As an aside in some ways Kings were fantastic in one crucial way they were bad. They sent me home 4cm dialated saying there were no beds and I ended up nearly having DD in the car in the Ambulance Bay. However they did pick up on a rare condition and treated it very quickly and effectively and I understand their Baby ITU is second to none. In that way I felt lucky. I also found the midwive fantastic and I met a lot of them cos I was in for a week. The two I had were amazing.

You need to get a copy of this. It doesn't seem to be on line

\link{http://www.birthchoiceuk.com/BirthChoiceUKFrame.htm?www.birthchoiceuk.com/Rights.htm\more info)

more info

Drosophila, that is great! Thanks for this info, it'll come in handy for the next round of arguing.

Glad you had a (mainly) positive exp with Kings. I know of quite a few people who have had less than wonderful experiences there. I'll keep you posted on my quest to get back to Tommy's.

Cheers

This is probably not what you want to hear so I hope I don't upset you but if you were given a chioce of eg Kings or Lewisham then you could say you have been given a choice even though it may not be the one you want. As I said Tommy's gets v. booked up and has to turn down people from within their area so again cold be argued they are being very unfair to "catchment" population if they take people from out af area because of choice rather then medical reasons.Aso because of their situation they will have to take many people from out of area with lupus/kidney problems plus many from their tertiary area with complications/pre-eclampsia etc. all of which will put more pressure on their beds. Finally if you would be out of PCT then presumably your PCT will have to agree to pay and they may not want to if not for sound medical reasons not ideal but that's what the NHS is being reduced to! I do have sympathy for you and do hope you get a good birth/antenatal experience but there is always another side to the story. I'm sure King's will not be that bad I think the unit was re-done not that long ago, and whilst the medical care at Tommy's is excellent (IMHO) I found the surroundings to be a bit grotty TBH.

Thanks ladies. I think my chances to getting to Tommy's are very low so have sort of resigned myslef to Kings now. SueW, I had a C section last time and may well end up with another one for medical reasons so I think a homebirth is out of the Q! Just like the idea of trying to have an active birth if I am not in theatre!