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St Thomas v Kings - help please!!

30 replies

mccahill15 · 22/02/2015 19:11

I rang the doctor and she asked whether I wanted to go to St Thomas or Kings - I haven't a clue!!! Also can't ask friends as can't tell them I'm pregnant yet! Any advice really appreciated!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Dildals · 23/02/2015 14:53

I have said this before and I will say it again. Places like King's and St Thomas are very good dealing with emergencies. I just wish they were a bit better at preventing these becoming emergencies.

Low probability, high impact, has become my life motto. That, and carpe diem.

Number3cometome · 23/02/2015 14:56

Places like King's and St Thomas are very good dealing with emergencies. I just wish they were a bit better at preventing these becoming emergencies.

Absolutely that!!

They have some real pioneering stuff going on at those hospitals too.

In the defence of St Thomas hospital, I have to say I have had two major spinal surgeries there and received amazing care. I could not fault it at all.

I also used one of their main consultants in Orthopaedics to perform my spinal fusion and disc replacement surgery (albeit at a private hospital)

They really do have the best people there, just not enough of them.

Threesoundslikealot · 23/02/2015 16:07

I'm so sorry to hear your stories, Didals and No3. To be fair to Kings and Tommys though I think that these things are happening everywhere. We have fantastic staff out there but not enough of them, so mistakes happen.

Do you reckon we've really scared the OP yet?

SunnyBaudelaire · 23/02/2015 17:33

OP should not be scared; the London hospitals are so much better than in the provinces, it is a fortunate choice to have IMO...

whosafraidofnaomiwolf · 23/02/2015 17:45

To get back to OP's question: Having had 4 babies under their auspices, and been closely involved with maternity services in both I would unhesitatingly say KINGS every time.

Tommies is OK, but the home-from-home is a bit dire (think 'nice hospital room' rather than anything more special - and definitely NOT a home-from-home), whereas the new midwife led rooms at Kings are just beautiful places to be - really lovely (think boutique spa-hotel) - well they are brand new so they should be I suppose?

The labour wards on both are... well labour wards, not a pin to chose between them, or the expertise of the staff who work there.

The postnatal at Kings is streets ahead of Tommies, particularly as there are no specific visiting hours for partners whereas there are at Tommies and I've known this create a very difficult start for some Tommies Mums, especially those who've had a Caesarean and need the extra help & support that their partners can offer, but the busy midwives can't (though I hear on the grapevine that Tommies are bowing to pressure and may be thinking about relaxing their pn ward rules a little?).

Plus Kings has a lot more case-loading midwifery teams that you can link into so you can get a named midwife to care for you throughout your pregnancy/ labour/ birth and after. Tommies only has a couple. And I really would urge you to try to get with a case-loading team for the gold standard in maternity care.

Unless you live on Tommies doorstep, or have to go there for medical reason then I'd always go for Kings. I appreciate it's just my personal opinion though. Congratulations OP and Good luck with whichever you chose. Smile

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