North London Hospitals - Experiences?

[designerbaby]

Hi all,

Having had a terrible 12 week scan experience at the North Middlesex Hospital, I'm rebooking at the Homerton... Just wondering if anyone's had any experience of these two, or any others in the area esp:

North Middlesex
Homerton
Whittington
Royal Free

Many thanks for any insights - finding info on the net is IMPOSSIBLE and you lot are by far the best source!

Ta
DB
xx

I've had 2 children at the Whittington - the fabric is a bit shabby but the clinical care was very good (I had c/s both times)

lots of friends v happy with homerton

heard good things re: royal free recently
after their care was deemed pretty poor a few years back

Several Mners have had babies at the Homerton, including (iirc) Hoxtonchick and Dinosaur. Dino is on MN sabbatical atm, but I can email her if you would like me to. Overall the things I've heard about Homerton have been good.

The Royal Free is currently under investigation for a couple of very unpleasant baby death incidents, so would be inclined to steer clear myself. Their BF advice is also meant to be v. poor.

The Whittington I've heard mixed views of; people don't rave about it they way they do about UCH (which is where all mine were born).

hth

I had my 12 week scan at the Whittington and it was fine, am planning to have my baby there. Its a bit scruffy but the people are nice. Friends have also had their babies there and say its ok - I've heard of good and bad births there but nothing particularly bad to say about the staff. Am going for my 2nd scan on 18th July so may have more idea then.

Hi Frogs - if you'd email dino and ask for her experiences that would be very helpful - thanks....

Thanks for all your messages so far - I knew this would be the place to find out the real skinny

I'm just a bit jumpy after a pretty traumatic first-hospital experience, so as much info as possible appreciated!

xx

I loved the Whittington.

The place is a dump but the staff are brilliant - really hard working and kind. Lots of friends have been there too and think it's great.

would definitely go back there.

Have done, db. I think today is her non-working day, so she may be spending quality time with her children instead of reading emails, though...

Had two experiences at the Whittington - my DD now 2.5 and a late miscarriage earlier this year. Excellent midwives and consultant but facilities a bit grotty. Found the theatre staff not so friendly but put it down to the fact they're used to people being under a general anaesthetic so can just ignore them (I had a spinal block).

Would go there again except have moved out of the area. Just take in flip flops/slippers so you don't have to walk on the grotty floor and don't expecting to have a relaxing bath or good food. Main thing though is having supportive, professional staff and they certainly have that.

i think hoxty had ds at st mary's and dd at homerton

Thanks Frogs... doesn't need to immediate...
Re: Whittington - that's what I'd heard. Nice people but whole place a bit tired.

Goodness - does anyone think there should be a specific online forum where people can find out about birthing units and the rleative pros and cons between them? Otherwise how can women make an informed choice?

DB
xx

Hi Bundle _ I'm still a rookie at this - any way I can get hold of Hoxtonchick/alert her to this post through this site?

Ta
zz

have emailed her, x

have you thought of a midwife-led birthing centre (if you are low risk)? the edgware is v nice.

Not really Bundle - TBH. We've had such a scarey time to date I kind of feel like I want as much possible back up around as we can... We thought we'd lose this little one already and just don't want to take any risks... not that it necessarily would be, but... well I'm sure you know what I mean?

Just a little jumpy and nervous and worried, I guess.

DB
xx

I understand, x

(transfer time to barnet is 30 mins from edgware btw - actually more like 10 mins but they allow for 30)

Had my dd at the whittington. Agree with what has been said here, facilities a bit scruffy, but the staff were great. Had to stay in for five days as dd jaundiced and wouldnt latch on. Given lots of help with bf. Would be going back to have this one but have moved out of London.
Some friends who went to Homerton had probs, especially post c-sec care, 1 in particular who really wanted to bf had her dd whipped away in middle of the night by the nurse and bottle fed in order to shut her up as she was keeping other mums awake, this despite my friends pleas!!

I had both mine at the Whittington.

Pre-labour and post childbirth care was not at all good imo. The delivery midwives were fantastic though.

I had a chest infection when pg and a couple of years later I had a miscarriage. Both were dealt with at the North Mid. The hospital itself is not nice but the staff were just great, really really nice.

Mate had a home birth via the Homerton. Not a good experience I'm afraid. Her dh had to phone 999 in the end.

I lived near to whittington and homerton, but decided on UCH. Was also a bit of a dump, but lovely staff... that's the most important thing. This was going back a bit... so probably nicer now.

UCH much better than it used to be, from what i hear

Whittington every time. NHS acupuncturists there and homeopaths. Lovely hospital.

If you go to the Homerton they seem rather keen to give the induction pill to "speed you along".... If you're doing okay then don't take it. Care can be good, staff seem to like each other.

Not keen on the Royal Free or the North Midd.

I spend a lot of time in the maternity units of the North London hospitals. Postnatal care pretty much pants in all of them.

UCH... not as keen as I was. Had a couple of clients there where they dropped the ball. Not as happy with it as I was a year ago.

(Opininated aren't I? lol)

Mars - you have every right to be!

hello, bundle alerted me to this thread.

i did indeed have ds at st mary's & dd at the homerton. fabulous care at both places (well, antenatally & during labour, postnatal a bit underwhelming). i have diabetes and therefore high risk pregnancies & saw obsetricians all the way through.

mary's was a bit shabby, but i met the head of midwifery there a week ago & she said they'd had a smart new refit. it depends where you live really - we had a bit of a nightmare getting to mary's from hackney & parking is a pita. also, bear in mind mary's is a teaching hospital & homerton is a district general hospital.

at homerton everyone gets a nuchal scan at 12 weeks, but it sounds like you're a bit beyond this.

i would go back to either again, though would choose homerton for proximity reasons. and we had a bit of a job persuading the community midwives to visit after i'd had ds out of area.

hth, ask away if you have any more questions.

Had DS at the Homerton, scans etc. fantastic (NO waiting), lovely mws, pretty good birth exp (in mw-led unit but doc brought in at last minute), postnatal care a bit hit and miss but v good on bfing

Only thing is the antenatal classes they hold there are a bit pants.

Thanks for all your messages guys - Mars ar you a midwife or doula or doctor or something? Or have you just had MANY MANY children? Your insights much appreciated anyway - wherever they come from!

My experience of the Homerton - which essentially is the specialist fetal medicine unit so far ? has been good - I had a booking appointment there yesterday and they seemed nice, considerate and very competent if possibly a bit rushed off their feet...

Still a damn sight better than my experience of the North Mid (only 12 week scan, booking head midwife and consultant, admittedly) but which scored badly in my book on pretty much every possible front from cleanliness to sensitivity to comptenence and everything in between...

Just aware that there are other options in the area about which I know very little, and wanting as much info on Homerton as I can get.

Like I said - pretty jumpy about the whole thing tbh.

DB
xx

designerbaby, mars is a doula