Anyone here in Lewisham & Greenwich? Assigned midwife MILES away

[WazFlimFlam]

I have FINALLY received my booking in appointment for three weeks time (arrived 11 days after they sent it) and I have been assigned a midwife as far away as they could possibly be, from my home.

It will take me an hour on public transport to get there. I live in Greenwich so I am in Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust but wanted to give birth at Lewisham hospital and have my hospital appointments there as it is the closest to my home. But all of the other children's centres, where I understand many midwife appointments in both Lewisham and Greenwich are closer to my home than this one.

Can I challenge this? And on what basis? Will it delay my booking in appointment etc?

Thanks EffRam, the outcome of this is that I went to my booking in appointment miles away. Midwife was lovely and assured me that the other clinic that is supposed to open near me will open this week in fact. She is giving me a call this coming week to book my 16 week appointment in, so it has all worked out in the end.

But yes, being expected to self-refer with no other information, when there are actually a number of complicated factors at play is a bit silly.

Ah good glad it's getting sorted! I guess we are lucky really having multiple options available...! Is this your first?

Yes it is my first. I supposed we are lucky, but there is no guidance at all about how to use these options best!

Yes it is quite overwhelming. Its our first too. I have had quite a head in sand attitude! I asked around friends etc and there didn't seem to be any major differences between hospitals other than location, so I just thought we would go with that and there is always the option to change. My midwife seemed really nice too and so that was reassuring!

We went to the open evening of the maternity unit at Lewisham, it was quite over whelming!

Effram well we are off to the open evening this week. Wish us luck!

Good luck!! It was just wayyyy busier than I expected, but apparently it varies a lot so maybe everyone went in April and it will be quiet this month! It was really helpful to see everything, esp for my husband.

Hi OP. if you are in SE9 or thereabouts, you can call Maritime Midwives and see them. They are based in the Alderwood CC and absolutely brilliant.

Good luck at Lewisham. I've had my two there and now, my third. It's an excellent maternity hospital. You will be looked after very well.

Thanks Lozengeoflove. I have asked Maritime Midwives but they wanted me to have my booking in appointment at the original place, and then call them for a follow up appointment.

However, at my booking in appointment (which really was miles away) they said that a new clinic was opening in Mottingham (a mile away) and that they would be in contact with an appointment there for my 16 week midwife appointment.