Diabolical local hospital, can I choose to deliver somewhere else?

[Hollyhop17]

Hello,

Bit upset, had a terrible experience in my local hospital today and definitely don't want to give birth there. I am gutted I left Lambeth and would like to go back to either Kings or St Thomas's to give birth.

Does anyone know if it's possible to choose any hospital you like? Has anyone else not given birth in their closest hospital? Any problems? Thank you

Yes I was able to choose. I booked myself into a hospital wasn't the closest or even second closest.

You can choose. Most hospitals have a self referral option on their website. I'm out of borough for King's but booked there.

Thanks both. John how far away are you from Kings and did you/do you anticipate any problems? I'm in the LB of Croydon, in South Norwood

Have sent you a pm

Hi Holly I self-referred to St Thomas's right at the start. I'm out of area (live in Hackney) but wasn't keen on the local hospital and St Thomas's is in a better location for me. I've had all my appointments there so far.

You don't say how far along you are, but it might be worth giving them a call. They can turn you down if you are out of area and they already have a lot of babies due around your date, I think.

Thanks Mrs. I am 9 weeks tomorrow. Got my booking appt tomorrow morning with the midwife so will speak to her about it then. I would love to go to St Thomas' but my DH is worried it is too far!

For us having all the appointments there is really easy with work. It is a bit further away for when I actually go into labour - half an hour drive rather than 15/20 mins. But I figured babies take a while to come...

Yeah I keep trying to hammer that message home but it isnt working! We are in Croydon so it would probably be more like an hours drive. Sad as I am to let it go, I am going to go with Kings.

I asked my GP for a referral to an out of borough hospital. It worked, although apparently not all are successful. I'm also in London. I wanted to go elsewhere mostly for convenience. I worked throughout pregnancy and knew I'd have some complications requiring extra appointments. The hospital I wanted was in a far more convenient place.

Hello, I'm in Sydenham (lewisham borough) and I'm going to Kings. You can self refer on the Kings website.

I had a great experience with King's and will be self referring again when the time comes.

I'm in Upper Norwood so also Croydon and got referred to King's by my GP no problems. My GP did mention that anecdotally those who self-refer seemed to get lost in the system and the GP referrals were smoother

Lovely to hear other mums live nearby! Thanks for your replies ladies, much apreciated. Got my booking appt tomorrow morning so will update you once I've had that! Going to spend the evening trying to convince DH to go for St Thomas' (as well as try and force some dinner down, this nausea is killing me...)

When I asked about St. Thomas's with my first child I was told I wasn't in their catchment area. Things might have changed, so worth checking! I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow :)