Can you choose your labour hospital in Scotland?

[AnyM0use]

For my first child I went to the local hospital which had a really good labour ward.

I'll be moving house soon and just found out I'm pregnant. The maternity ward local to my new house isn't nice, I've visited friends there before and really didn't like it.

The NHS website says "Your midwife will discuss the options available in your area but, if you're willing to travel, you're free to choose any maternity services."
Is that true? Can I choose any hospital I want for giving birth? I thought you were just assigned the local one.

@AnyM0use

I think it's fine, I have a friend who's moved out with our local hospital but they're happy to
Let her her continue future appointments and give birth there, the additional travel time on motorway would be 15 mins at the most though so nothing major x

I could have chosen between 4 different hospitals. The closest is 45 minutes away. We are choosing the one that is an hour away due to lack of traffic and it being a more community hospital than the other big ones.

@AnyM0use yeah I rink it's fine for me to choose. My midwife asked me which hospital I preferred so the decision is up to you.

Oh, that's good to know. Thanks for asking AnyM0use! I'm pregnant with my first and have no idea how maternity services work here ☺️
I'm in Glasgow... Any recommendations for which hospitals to go to/avoid?

@Goose4 I'm in Glasgow too.! I had no clue either and my midwife told me the Queen Elizabeth maternity unit it the best, so chose there for that reason.

Thanks @RudyRoo! The Queen Elizabeth is my closest, so that's handy. Good luck with your pregnancy and birth!

@Goose4 same to you! ☺️

Yes you can choose any-decide on the day. I waited to see what traffic was like etc and as it was middle of the night went to my preferred hospital despite it being twice as far.