Changing hospital at 32 weeks.... stress!

[fluffyslippers]

I hope to move house before due date and therefore I have requested to change hospitals. Even if I don't end up moving (it's all still up in the air), I've decided I want to go to this hospital as the facilities are better and it offers a birthing pool.
My GP wrote a transfer request over 2 weeks ago and I've heard nothing. I rang the hospital today and they said they weren't processing my transfer until they received further info from my midwife. My midwife isn't being particularly helpful, I've asked her to ring the hospital and hope she does, but she has made me feel like I'm being difficult.
Surely I'm not being unreasonable, the fact is I want and need to know where I'm having my baby, it would be nice to have an element of certainty especially since I'm now 32 weeks pregnant. I would also like to arrange a tour of the new hospital if I'm able to transfer.
Even if the transfer is successful the hospital says I won't get a letter confirming or anything, so how am I going to know where I'm going to give birth? My midwife keeps telling me that if I'm in labour they can't turn me away, but I don't find that particularly helpful.
Sorry for the long rant, but I feel like I'm in limbo and don't know what I should do.... Would there be a 'higher body' I could speak to about this if I encounter problems?

Interesting question, I've experienced a similar thing except that I'm not as far along as you - I can totally understand the stress you are having from this! I've so far not been too successful either with pushing the process along and speeding things up and my transfer letter was written about a month ago now. Madness... At the rate they go with processing these things my baby will be about 5 yrs old! I've literally been calling everyone in the hospital I can think of but so far no luck. I tried my GP's office too but they said they can't do anything and it's basically my responsibility to chase up these things.

It is true that they can't turn you away if you are in labour but that's clearly not a very comforting thought. The only thing I can suggest is badgering your old midwife until you make such a pain of yourself that she does it sooner rather than later just to get you off her back. My midwife also had a similar reaction - she went from being mild mannered to being totally uninterested once she knew I was transferring. I had no faith in midwives to start with but even more so after this experience. I can't understand why she's acting like it's something personal as far as my needing to transfer hospitals. Don't worry about what she thinks of you and don't let her make you feel difficult, you have to look after yourself and who cares what she thinks. You'll never see her again anyway!

Have you tried calling up the new hospital to see about arranging a time you can come in to look around the ward even tho the transfer's not complete? They may be willing to let you do this even now. You definitely need to keep on top of the new hospital too to see when they receive all the necessary transfer paperwork. It's crazy that these things need to become a full time career for you but welcome to the NHS. I wish you luck with this and I'm sorry if I wasn't very helpful, just wanted you to know you aren't alone!

fluffy - I moved house at 32 weeks, to the other side of Scotland, which also meant a change of GP obviously. As soon as I got here, I went to see my new GP to be registered, and he wrote a letter of referral to the local hospital. They didn't give me a booking-in appointment until last week - when I was 36 weeks! So I know how you feel. I won't be getting a tour of the hospital either.

I'm sure it will all be fine - you've still got plenty of time although I know it doesn't feel like it. I'm now 37 weeks, have had a scan at the new hospital, all my bloods have been taken, and I'm set to go.

We moved last summer to a new area when I was 33 weeks.
I called the hospital there and I couldnt do anything until I had actually moved and registered with a GP.
I was really stressing about it but when I thought about it, if worst came to the worst, the hospital wouldnt turn away a woman in labour. I know you said you didnt find it very reassuring but its true!

Have you tried contacting your GP again rather than leave it to the MW?

I changed hospitals quite late last time as I don't like my local hospital. It took a littel form filling and persuasion from my GP.

This time I asked early on to go to yet a diferent one. My GP said that the rule have changed and that woman can now go where they like. You do need to book in though as the hospital likes to use its own 'notes'. You don't need to be registered to do a tour (I did tours of all th local hospitals to make my choice).

I suggest you badger your GP or their recptionist to keep writing or at least faxing.

The midwives find it all horribly complicated as they are attached to the local hospital. They don't like using other hospitals' notes and I think take it personally that you don't want to give birth in 'their' hospital. I'm suprised your new hospital wants info from the midwife and not the doctor.

I moved from London to Edniburgh at 35 wks pg and once I was registered with a new GP, he sorted a referal to the local hospital. I didn't have a tour or anything but we knew where it was when the time came It was all smooth for me, but thats probably because it was my first and I was a bit naive and had no expectations.

Could you register with a GP in your new area now - do you have a friend / family in your new area whose address you can use to get the ball rolling?

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies, I guess I do have time. I will give the midwife a day and check if she's contacted the hospital on Thursday. The thing is, the hospital I want to transfer to is one I could choose to go to even if I wasn't moving (it's just in town rather than local) so I don't see why there's such a hoo-hah about it.

Probably a good idea for me to contact the gp in the area I'm moving to even though I don't have a move date yet.

Nothing's ever straightforward is it, as if I didn't have enough to contend with with an imminent house move!