Royal Surrey County Hospital (Guildford) vs Kingston Hospital for Child Birth

[Parentinfo]

Dear All,

Would be grateful for any feedback on maternity care at Royal Surrey County Hospital (Guildford) and Kingston Hospital.
We are in between house move from Guilford to Hampton and being in third trimester need help in deciding which hospital to finalise for childbirth

Thank you in anticipation

I’m with the RSCH - still a few weeks out from giving birth but the antenatal care is exemplary. They have a fantastic antenatal education page too.

Good luck, whichever you choose!

I'd pick the one that is most convenient for ante-natal appointments; a short journey in case you need to get in quickly when you go into labour; and a short journey for your partner to visit in case you have a spend a few days in hospital after giving birth.

I had my ds at RSCH and the care was amazing. I am now expecting baby number 2 and have chosen RSCH again (even though we live a little further away now). Care so far has been really good and I feel so reassured that I can deliver at this hospital again.

Whichever one is closest or takes the least time to get to.
I had both of mine at Kingston and they were great.

I had mine at Kingston and both antenatal and postnatal care was amazing. My son was in NNU as he arrived at 33 weeks and honestly I couldn't fault them. I was very happy there, and very sad that I'm not having my second there. I had the first 20 weeks of my antenatal care for my 2nd there before we moved and they were incredible despite the pandemic.

Thank you everyone for your feedback !

Has anyone had experience around VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) at either of the hospitals ?

Was also checking the neo natal care aspect at both, seems RSCH has SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) whereas Kingston Hospital has level 2 Neo Natal Unit. Guess level 2 Neo Natal Unit will be better equipped than SCBU ?

Also does Kingston Hospital offer private post natal room if you are willing to hire one ?

Can only comment on RSCH. With a history of pre eclampsia and how they dealt with that I can not fault them. There left zero to chance. Even when it was extremely busy I was never left alone inactive labour and always had two midwives with me. Follow up and readmitted three times all no delays or issues. If I needed something, it happened

I had my son at Kingston and was very happy with my care on the labour ward. I thought my midwife was great. Baby got stuck at the end but she was very calm and I have a healthy son now.

Postnatal - their main ward if you don't need to be close to the doctors (ie straightforward birth) is mostly private rooms with a few double rooms.

@Parentinfo

Thank you everyone for your feedback !

Has anyone had experience around VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) at either of the hospitals ?

Was also checking the neo natal care aspect at both, seems RSCH has SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) whereas Kingston Hospital has level 2 Neo Natal Unit. Guess level 2 Neo Natal Unit will be better equipped than SCBU ?

If your baby needs more facilities then they will arrange an ambulance and a paediatrician to travel to another hospital (usually St Peter’s in Chertsey) and take your baby there.

Sorry Op to jump on this thread but would like to understand the charge/fee for a private room hire in Royal Surrey Hospital. Please share if anyone is aware. I have read some articles claiming £450 is charged per night which sounds scary !!

@duckhouse If I remember correctly, they have multiple kinds of room starting with 200 ish per night. I think you can call at St Catherine's ward at RSCH to get more info (ph no. should be available on website)

I was under private consultant care at RSCh but the care was so amazing that I went with the same team for my second one. The room was about £400+ for our package. Can't comment on vbac because my specific complications meant this wasn't an option but I sensed they would help with whatever your choice is, to the extent that it's safe for you and baby

Would you be able to consider Frimley or is it too far away/not near?