caseload care at King's College Hospital? London experiences pls

[elfran]

I asked yesterday about St Thomas' vs St George's in South London, but am now considering Kings, because I've been told by the midwives at St Thomas that I can only have caseload care if I'm planning a home birth, and I'm currently on the fence about that and not ready to commit either way.

Has anyone NOT having an HB been looked after by the caseload team at Kings? Does this depend on where you live, or other factors? I know I'd like to give birth in one of the midwife-led suites, if at all possible.

I gave birth at Kings out of area in 2017. What does caseload mean?

Hi @FilthyforFirth

Caseload is also sometimes called continuity of care - basically, when a team of midwives are assigned a "caseload" of women, rather that whoever is coming into clinic / giving birth on any given day that they're at work.

Practically, it means you'd see one midwife (plus a secondary/back-up) throughout your pregnancy, who would attend your birth and do your postnatal care as well.

I know many hospitals use this model of care for those planning a home birth, but only some do if you're giving birth in hospital. I really want caseload care (my sister is a midwife and is really pro-caseload) but not sure on the HB thing!

Ah I see. So my current pregnancy I am caseload then. I have a specific midwife who I have seen each time.

At Kings I wasn't. I was out of area, but didnt like my local hopsital. I saw community midwifes, so not always the same one, though they made a big effort to try and match you up.

The one I saw most, Kimberly I think her name was, was bloody brilliant. She pushed to get me lots of extras that I needed and in general was so kind.

My experience at Kings was bloody amazing. The centre where all scans and consultant appts is brand new and really advanced. My 20 week scan pic looks like one of those 4d ones!

There is a midwife led suite in the main hospital. I had a section so cant comment on it, but when I toured round it looked brilliant.

I am really sad I cant give birth there for my 2nd. I really am too far away now! But I would again in a heartbeat. Best of luck!

Have sent you a pm.

I saw one (brilliant) midwife for all my antenatal care at Kings, and appointments when I was back home. It was different midwifes at the hospital for my c-section and in the postnatal ward, though.

I would go back to Kings in a heartbeat. I had fantastic care all the way through, including around complications right at the end.

KCL Denmark hill

My experience there has scared me for life just awful

Leading up to pregnancy a lovely lovely mid wife same one all the time !!!
The antenatal appointments were also fab and the building is truly breathtaking BUT my god what happened in the hospital and listening to the experiences of other women is enough to make me both want to cry and also feel v v angry

dublingirl.
Sounds very difficult.

I went to King’s and it was good. Short staffed on the post natal ward, (where isn’t?) but the mw and clinical care was really good.

My GP (female) told me that King’s was where the local doctors go to have their babies.

@elfran

I am under King's for my pregnancy. They have various teams of midwives and normally the idea is that you are seen by the same team (I think only about 5-6 midwives in the team) so that you get to know them before your due date. At the start of my pregnancy I was under one team and should have expected to see the same couple of midwives for all my appointments.

Because of Covid for some of the teams they have had to merge them (I suppose for greater flexibility in case midwives have to self-isolate for any reason) and so the team I was under has been merged with a much bigger team and I have not seen the same person twice.

The above said, I have been told there is a possibility I might be moved to a smaller team (due to health complications) where I would have better continuity of care and see the same midwives for the remainder of my pregnancy/post-natal care. Could this possibly apply to you too? Something to consider.

Something else to consider is the rest of the care in general. Despite the virus situation I have still felt supported and cared for by the midwives and have had really good experiences at my 12 and 20 week scans. I am pleased so far with our decision to go with King's.

I hope the above helps

I’ve had a baby at kings and one at st Thomas. St Thomas miles better than kings. ... continuity of care for a planned section at st Thomas. I’d go back in a heartbeat. Midwives are kings were confrontational and bullying during labour

Had two babies at King's and loved it all. They opened the Fetal Medicine Centre between my two and that's a great building. I loved how they they were always doing studies into things and feeling part of that. Really interesting. Also all the scans are done by doctors as they have so many there training under Mr Nicolaides.

I had all my antenatal appointments at Midwives House and saw lots of different ones so I don't know about the caseload thing but mostly the appointments are a quick urine test, blood pressure, bit of chat about stuff. Nothing I had any interest in building a relationship with anyone about. All the midwives were fine, some friendlier than others but no issues.

I'd definitely go back there if we still lived in London and I wanted a third child, neither of which are applicable!

I had my first child at Kings and had outstanding care from a named midwife on the Lanes caseloading team. My knowledge is out of date as this was back in 2013 but I self-referred and was lucky that they had a space. I believe that all of the caseload teams were reorganised a few years ago to prioritise women who are vulnerable or disadvantaged for various reasons. I would recommend posting in the Family Room section of the East Dulwich Forum where you will undoubtedly find knowledgeable people with more recent experience.

A niece of mine had her first 5 years ago at Kings, ante-natal care and the CS were very good but the post natal care was appalling. It was so poor she discharged herself.

Two years ago she had her second child at Chelsea she was very surprised at a totally different experience, this time ALL departments were caring and professional.

Based on her first hand experience she recommends Chelsea to all her friends.

Most hospitals are moving towards a caseload model; a lot of caseloads focus on women with vulnerabilities and those wanting homebirth (so if you have a history of mental health problems or have social needs or don't speak English or have a poor obstetric history etc).

You could always find out the details of the midwife in charge of community or antenatal clinic, they might be able to see if there is a space in a caseload team in your area. It's always worth asking.