St Thomas vs Queen Charlotte vs Chelsea & Westminster

[mumoffluffs]

Hi All

I am looking into options for where to give birth this year and live in the West London area. There are a few similar threads but most are potentially outdated as quality/facilities may have changed in the past couple of years or so.

The 3 hospitals (Thomas / Charlotte / Chelsea) are the 3 I am looking into whilst being open to any others which may offer better facilities.

We have not decided on Private or NHS but most likely to go with NHS and pay for a private room (if necessary and available). Also most likely to go for a labour ward as birthing centres do not offer epidurals; although we may look into birthing centres if there is an option of being transferred to a ward if an epidural is requested. Having my partner be permitted to stay overnight is (personally) quite important too.

I'd really appreciate if you could share whether you had positive or negative experiences at either of the hospitals and what you would recommend based on what you may know of the hospitals.

Thank you!

Kensington wing at CW is fab, had amazing care there, after a scary first pregnancy I've felt really safe and reassured.

Heard good things about St Thomas but as I wanted a c section it wasn't an option!

@manicmumdayss thanks for your reply! I'll look into the Kensington wing, any idea on how the NHS side of CW is too?

@mumoffluffs

Hi! I've had a lot of my friends go there, mostly positive, but it is very very busy and none have actually managed to get a private room! And a lot of spent a long time in the waiting area even in labour, but I guess a lot of London hospitals are the same now!

@manicmumdayss Wow! That's interesting to know Last night we looked into maybe going down the private midwife route in an NHS hospital, it is around 3-4k less than going private (without complications) but could be a potential option! Still weighing up the pros and cons

I had my daughter in November on the NHS labour ward at Chelsea and Westminster. We were then in a private room on the NHS ward for four nights. I was then readmitted A few days later for one night in a bay on the general post natal ward.
The labour ward was my choice from the beginning, because I knew I wanted an epidural (which I got). But I’ve also heard good things about their birth centre, which I think is newly done up and across the hall from the labour ward.
I honestly couldn’t fault the care we received, from the doctors to the midwives to the healthcare assistants, both on the labour ward and in antenatal. I had a difficult birth because of the baby’s position and they were incredibly kind and supportive in postnatal. I was very touched at times.
Partners are allowed to stay throughout (including on antenatal in case of an induction). Private rooms are £300/night. Officially they’re first come first served, but I think unofficially they do prioritise those who’ve had a difficult birth.
Hope this helps!

Thanks @EarlGreywithLemon

Very helpful! Glad to hear they looked after you well especially with a difficult birth. I am due in September (busiest time ) so if all goes well with the birth, I've realised I'll most likely not manage to bag myself a paid private room.

Good luck @mumoffluffs! Hopefully it’ll be an easy birth and a private room free that day!

I recently had my daughter at chelsea and westminster. I had to go there because it was high risk (I have a heart condition). Care was 110%. Midwives and doctors were outstanding.

I’m going to C&W, NHS. Didn’t look at anywhere else as have been there for other things and it’s one of the closest ones. Glad to hear some positive feedback on here and good to hear pricing of the private rooms. I recently heard they are £900/night at Thomas’ !!

I had my 1st at Chelsea and Westminster and my 2nd at Queen Charlottes. Both NHS.

Queen Charlottes was by far the better experience.

C&W sent me home in a distressed state and clearly not coping with the pain without even examining me only for me to have to come straight back in where, when they bothered to check, I was 7cm dilated. The nurses were far less friendly and supportive than QC with stuff like breastfeeding. Felt like I was being 'processed'.

QC was friendlier, quieter and the care from everyone from HCAs to Drs was better. DC2 ended up in NICU and I could not fault it. They gave me a private room because I did not have my baby with me so I would not have to be with mums with babies. The room was really nice.

I had DD at C&W and couldn’t fault it. Fantastic aftercare (NHS), yes it was a shared ward so the usual noise, but plenty of midwives who were very happy to help. I was in for 4 nights after she was born and they were amazing - hugging me when I cried from sleep deprivation and day 3 blues. The only thing that wasn’t great was the breastfeeding support. I paid for a private room on the last night - NHS side, not Kensington wing, it was £300.

I had my antenatal care there for DS but didn’t give birth there as didn’t make it in time! Had DS at a different London hospital and the experience couldn’t have been more different (and one I wouldn’t repeat if you paid me).

Really interested to see other experiences! I currently live in West London, but had C&W, QC or St Mary’s as options. Doing St Mary’s at the moment since it’s on my commuting route but by my due date we’ll actually be living in High Wycombe so I may well have my last couple of months of care out there.

Anyone had an experience of either hospital during the pandemic? I am looking to make my decision between CW and QC and I'm very confused.

Hello! I was at QC in October 2019...was very happy and felt I was in safe hands. Haven’t had experience of giving birth during a pandemic but imagine any of these west London hospitals would be well prepared and understanding of the impact on families

I had my son at St Thomas's and can not recommend it highly enough. It is one of the leading hospitals in the country for obstetrics and we had brilliant care from consultants and midwives. Our first birth room also overlooked Big Ben and the Thames which was pretty spectacular.

However, I think all the hospitals you've listed are meant to be good, so go for the one closest to you!

I’m currently being looked after by QC - I did a lot of research and not much between them. I had a traumatic first birth (elsewhere) and chose them with this in mind as I heard they were great with less straight forward cases. I’m nearly at the halfway point so can’t comment on birth etc yet but they’ve been amazing so far and really on top of things. Everyone has been supportive with any concerns I have and it feels like I am being listened to rather than being told if that makes sense. My first appt (phone) at about 9 weeks - I wasn’t keen on the midwife - it wasn’t bad but I felt could be better - but all the other midwives including at my booking in appt and consultants have been excellent. Hope this helps!

Typo - meant to say it feels like we’re working together

I'm currently at QC - had the same dilemma. I've heard great things about CW - in particular their fancy "spa like" birth centre.. and they have doulas there along side midwives.. but obvs because of covid there are no tours of birth wards available. QC has been ok thus far. I would say that you should make sure to be on top of whatever blood tests you might need, and double check that those are done at the right point in your pregnancy - most of the midwife appointments (8 & 16) are over the phone, which is stupid as they can't monitor your growth or take bloods then.. I found out at 20 weeks that they didn't do an antibody test at my 12 week appointment and I'm at risk for rhesus disease due to blood type.. and this should have been flagged up sooner.. but got missed because 16 week appointment was over phone and was never sent a letter notifying me of the need to come for another test.. a little worrying.. I would just say that having a baby during a pandemic means you need to read up on your birth rights, and what types of care you need to have as the system is chaotic and things can get overlooked... so you do feel less supported/managed by the NHS and it's up to you to know what's going on with your pregnancy, find and undertake antenatal classes, read books etc.. generally all the staff I've met at CQ have been very nice - and if you have any problems you can call their triage line and speak to someone. My husband still isn't allowed to come to any appointments with me, which sucks for him.. and is actually against the guidance for NHS England regarding birth partners - not sure if CW is allowing partners yet?

My friend is currently with CW and her partner is also not allowed to any appts with her.

I am now making a decision between QC and CW and I'm so confused.

How do you get a list of all blood tests and checkups that need to be done so that you can keep a check up on them?

I have only positive things to say about West Middlesex (partner hospital of C&W)! The natural birth centre is amazing!

There's a good app called pregnancy+ which has a helpful timeline which shows you when certain tests and scans should happen. I also read a great book called "how to grow a baby" by a UK midwife called Clemmie Hooper. Really straight forward and easy to understand.

I recommend making a list of any questions you might have on your phone to ask midwives when you speak to them over the phone. I didn't realise that they don't do the antibody test at 8 weeks by default on the nhs unless you have rh negative blood.. and didn't find out my blood type until 16 week call, when normally they would have taken bloods at your booking appointment at 8 weeks and any potential issues would be flagged up very quickly.. as a result it's happening at 20 weeks instead.. it's not a huge deal (I hope) but left me feeling a little like something important had slipped through the cracks of the new post-covid system.

When you sign up with a hospital they give you a big folder of pregnancy and birth info, where your appointments get recorded etc - but it's a lot to digest, and because half the appointments are over the phone instead of in person, a lot of the info hasn't been updated.

Worth noting that you can switch hospitals during your pregnancy if you're not happy or the care and feel like somewhere else is more appropriate. I chose CQ because they are the leading neonatal specialist in london - it's where they send complex pregnancies.. so I felt like I would be in experienced hands.. and mainly because I'm within their catchment area if I decide to do a homebirth... people also said it was less hectic than CW (which is a massive hospital rather than a dedicated birth hospital) - however I've also found that CW seem to have great recently updated facilities and if you're interested in the birth centre it looks lovely and modern, and all the midwives I've spoken to say it's great.. they also have a Facebook page for the birth centre and will answer any random questions you might have over messenger... whereas QC don't really have any kind of web presence.. but that's more of an admin staffing issue than a medical care one.. Both hospitals have birth pools, labour wards, birth centres and community homebirths within a certain area.. all the midwives I've met at QC seem very nice and experienced.. and if you have any serious complications during birth it's likely where they would transfer you and the babe..

Maybe go with whichever is closest to your house and then if your birth preferences change or you don't like the care you're receiving - you can always switch later?

Thank you willowlondon that was really helpful!

I had an awful first birth at UCH. I went private at the Portland for the 2nd and couldn't fault them. I'd check they are allowing private midwives into LD currently?

@Confused348 That’s a good point regarding the birth/pregnancy (blue) folder - they have a list of appts in there and when they should happen/what they’re for. At my booking in appt at 12 weeks (in person), they actually went through the list to week 28 and told me where there had been changes (mainly in person vs telephone appts). I didn’t actually ask this, the midwife just did it and it was really helpful. I would defo ask your midwife to do this if they don’t automatically do so. Also, all my Ob appts (including one at 14 weeks) have been/will be in person (assuming nothing drastically changes with Covid). I’m at QC.

@Ponchy

I had an awful first birth at UCH. I went private at the Portland for the 2nd and couldn't fault them. I'd check they are allowing private midwives into LD currently?

A private midwife I spoke to said "I am very lucky that I have a relationship with Chelsea and Westminster Hospital who have been very supportive of Independent Midwives and through a bank contract they welcome us to look after our clients on the birth centre or at home, if the woman lives within a designated geographical area." Appealing if you can afford it! :) unfortunately I'm outside the catchment area for homebirths with CW.

I'm very tempted to opt for a homebirth with QC because you get continuity of care with the community midwife team, and if there are any complications you get transferred to hospital anyway..

But you don't actually have to make a decision on birth centre/homebirth/labour ward until 28ish weeks.