The new building is due to be completed early next year - and was ahead of schedule according to the midwives I spoke to last summer.
I wanted to give birth in the Birthing Centre - so many people have said it is wonderful, but you need to be marked up as completely "risk-free", which I wasn't.
The staff that I had for an emergency forceps delivery were outstanding and I couldn't fault them - the anethesists were so sweet and calming and Dr Nduka is amazing - had my baby out and in my arms within seconds - all with a broad reassuring grin on his face.
After I got to the maternity ward I found that there were a large number of midwives who all told me a different thing for breast-feeding, pain killers etc. They were all really helpful and caring, it's just that it is really confusing with your first baby to be told so many different things - they don't assign midwives to beds, which would be more useful - instead you seem to get 6 at once. There is also no real staggering of the shifts - it really is a whole new set of people at 8am and 8pm. However, with this being your second they'll probably leave you alone a bit more.
If you want to have a room of your own, you can pay for one at £130 per night if the maternity ward gets a bit much. Visitors are kicked out for mealtimes and at 8pm.
Like any NHS hospital there are stuppid littlel admin errors made all over the shop, which got me a little annoyed - like the time of the appointment to see the paedrician got moved twice, so if you can put up with stuff like that, then it is great as the primary care is second to none.