Choosing hospitals Homerton vs UCLH!!??!!

[nomi]

I am currently living in tower hamlets area and was originally referred to Homerton Hospital. A couple of people reccommended University College Hospital so I changed my referral as I will be living closer to there for the birth. Since then I have had Homerton reccommended and I am a little in a quandry as what to do. I don't want to keep changing referrals as I want to get the ball rolling but also want to make sure UCH is a good hospital.
I moved from sydney to London just over a year ago so am not familiar with hospitals here at all.
I hope some of you can help me out!

Hiya- no experience of Homerton- but I had my 2 DC at UCH. This was 8 and 4 yrs ago- but I had a fairly good experience with both of the births- I say fairly good because I dont think I could ever say a hospital birth was fantastic (IMO). The best thing were the midwifes- they were fantastic. I did see quite a few when in labour with DS as I was in for blooming hours ... but I had the same one when I had DD. She was lovely (if a little bit inexperienced perhaps... there was always a superior MW around though).

The hospital wasnt very clean, that is my only negative really- yucky loos and bath... but I think that is a common problem. They do have a birthing pool there... but I never used it... think someone else was in it.

Parking is a bit of a nightmare as is London traffic if you are trying to get there asap...

Hi Nomi - have you looked at both hospitals? I think your gut feeling is the most important thing. I've never been to the Homerton but have heard friends' good experiences there, I had my first child at UCH and have very mixed feelings about the place, the medical care is world-class and in an emergency you will be well taken care of. However, it is short staffed like which results in appalling (imo) postnatal care and that can impact a lot on your experience, but I think it's the same for many/all London hospitals, the building is ancient and grotty, I gather birthing centres in Australia are lovely and new places so you may get a bit of a shock. There's a thread on childbirth about someone being upset by the UCLH birthing centre but many people have reassured her they had a good experience there. Go and look at both and follow your instincts. Good luck with it all

On the childbirth topic list is a thread about UCH I started a week ago after a visit to the birthing centre there. All the feedback I recieved was very positive after . It has a birthing centre which I'm not sure the Homerton has which is midwife led and supposed to be very good....and is across the corridor from the more medical delivery rooms should you need intervention.It's old and run down but apparantly care is excellent whne you are in labour (haven't heard of anywhere which has good postnatal care!)

But visit both and then decide. You can change quite late and I think it is a great idea to 'shop'.

Hi Nomi

I have had two positive experiences at Homerton, but am considering looking at UCH (Bloomsbury Birthing Centre) for my 3rd baby on the basis that there are loads of women due at the same time as me at Homerton (loads more than normal apparently). I'm in a real dilema because Homerton is just down the road and I know I would be happy there unless I end up giving birth in the corridor!

I'm due in October by the way, so this might not be a relevant factor for you.

I think both hospitals have fairly good reputations. Don't know how you can really 'shop' for this, as the most important thing is surely the quality of the staff and it's very difficult to tell that on a visit.
I think maternity at UCH is moving to a new building sometime fairly soon? Generally buildings are older and grottier here than in Austalia, but again it's surely the staff rather than the building which counts.
Parking is difficult at both, but especially at UCH. But UCH is usually much easier by public transport for antenatal appointments.

Maybe shop wasn't the right word. Visit both and go on what you feel if they both have similar reputations!

Oh dear Ruthydd, I am planning to go to the Homerton in October too - didn't know about the baby boom! Did your midwife tell you that? Would explain why it takes a month to get to the local antenatal clinic!

Sorry Mandler - the last thing I want to do is cause alarm. I heard this when I had my scan which I booked direct with the hospital myself because I hadn't heard anything. It was at 13 1/2 weeks, but as a result of the scan they put my date forward and said they couldn't do the nuchal fold. Had I left it to the hospital to book it would have been done next week at the same time as my booking appointment (when I will be 17 weeks). The lady who did my scan said that they had so many letters requesting booking appointsments they knew they couldn't fit everyone in for a scan in time.

All that said, I have had 2 positive experiences at the Homerton, both starting the "Mother Suite" (mid-wife led unit) and once transferring to a normal delivery room for an epidural. Both times I wasn't aware of anyone else being in labour at the same time as me, and the staff were all wonderful (in the delivery suite that is, not the post natal ward but thats another story).

All in all, I'll probably end up opting for the Homerton again, as it is just down the road, and my concerns about it being busy may not materialise, and UCH may be no different. Just wish I hadn't watched Panarama last week!

By the way, does anyone have a phone number for the Bloombury Birthing Centre? The number I found on the internet doesn't work. Thanks.