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Original poster

NHS Hospitals - - please tell me your opinion

73 replies

mum2b1 · 03/12/2007 10:30

Hi,
Just found out am 6 weeks pregnant. My GP told me I have no choice for hospital which I am not sure is true. They are trying to make me go to St Peters/Ashford in Chertsey. I ahev heard it is pretty awful there. How can I get to go where I want - Kingston hospital?
I have asked them to refer me there and they went on and on about how I wont get in there - - they said they would send a referal letter but that it would be useless.
Any advice - I am freaking out I am gonna have an awful experience and something etrrible iwll happen if I go to a bad hospital.
Thanks

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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LieselVentouse · 03/12/2007 10:39

they should offer you a choice of two. im sure though, all youve heard are some over-dramatised stories

Snaf · 03/12/2007 10:50

You'll hear bad stories about every hospital, tbh. Just because a hospital has a bad reputation on the 'pregnancy grapevine', doesn't mean you will have a bad experience there yourself. However, I can understand your concerns and your GP should be more supportive. You could try contacting the Head of Midwifery at Kingston and ask to be booked there? If you have real trouble, try contacting AIMS or Birth Choice (will find links in a bit).

Alternatively...homebirth?

Snaf · 03/12/2007 10:53

Your maternity rights

Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 09:59

Thank you for all your messages.

OP posts:
mosschops30 · 04/12/2007 10:02

My local hospital has all the usual horror stories about it, how dreadful it is, women left for hours with no mw, people left after labour not being stitched for hours etc. Whilst I'm sure there are some stories that are true about every hospital I'm not sure that all of them are representative.

FWIW my experience was excellent, I was well treated, dh was allowed to stay, my mw's were exceptional along with the student mw who made it even better.

I have nothing but praise now for my local maternity unit and would definately go there again

goingfor3christmaspuddings · 04/12/2007 10:02

You should be able to go to any hospital of your choice though your GP will almost always book you into to the most local one unless you ask otherwise. Sometimes hospitals are full and have to close thier books to new maternity patients.

Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 14:25

mosschopps what hospital did you go to?

OP posts:
FioFio · 04/12/2007 14:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Sam100 · 04/12/2007 14:38

You don't have to have your baby at the local hospital but you might find it easier to have your ante-natal care somewhere that your GP is paired up with. Wait until you have had some experience of dealing with the hospital from the ante natal side of things before you get a fixed idea in your head. Also talk to your local midwife team during antenatal visits and see what their opinion is of different places.

At the end of the day - booking in with a hospital at the beginning of your pregnancy does not commit you to having your baby there. I moved house half way down the country at 28 weeks after all my scans and most of my ante natal check ups and had my baby in a completely different hospital from where we had booked in. The booking in process is just to give the hospital managers an idea of supply and demand. If you went into labour whilst away for the weekend you don't have to hot foot it home to your local hospital to have the baby - you just call the nearest maternity unit and ask if they can take you. Likewise even if you book in with a particular hospital that does not mean they can guarantee you will have the baby there - maternity units do get busy (particularly around full moon so they say) and popular units sometimes have to close temporarily while the rush dies down - in that event you would be directed to the next nearest maternity unit.

GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 16:05

mum2b1, I was told I had to go to St, Peters. Gp was an arse. You don't live in Sunbury, do you?

I changed GPs and went to Queen Charlotte. They were lovely.

Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 16:06

Thank you Sam100 I didnt know you could change ata later stage.

OP posts:
GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 16:09

Don't let your GP register anywhere you don't want to go. You have to refuse from the get go (or move house). Please please please don't let the GP bully you into inferior treatment because it's convenient for him.

My GP said he'd write a letter to Kingston. He never sent it (F'ing liar!).

GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 16:20

old thread on St. Peters

Note: I am Uwila.

Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 20:05

gloriaInEleusis - what GP were you with and where did you change to?
I do live in Sunbury and am registered with Sunbury Health Centre on Green St.

Help!!!

OP posts:
GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 20:16

That's the one! I bet it was doctor wanker pearce. Tell him I said "and a happy Fuck off to you!"

He was horrid. He made me cry... and I'm not the weepy sort. It pissed me off more.

Now listen carefully,
You do NOT have to go to St. Peters. He can't make you. Just refuse any and all contact. Don't register with the midwives. Don't show up for a blood test. Nothing.

Find a surgery in Hampton, register with the GP, and then tell you are pregnant and you don't want to go to St. Peters. Surgeries in HAmton are in the Twickenham and Richmond trust. Kingston can still refuse you, and they probably will. But, the GP will have to find a place for you. You will need to be flexible on where you are willing to go, but stand your ground on no St. Peters.

GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 20:19

You might have to be willing to travel to London if you refuse St. Peters. I was quite happy with this option. But some people wouldn't be.

Queen Charlotte is fab. I would also be happy with Kingston or West Middlesex.

Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 20:21

Thank you Gloria - I most certainly will do what you suggest.
What surgery in Hampton did you join?

OP posts:
daisynova · 04/12/2007 20:22

I hated Kingston hospital - never had such a bad time in a hospital ever! I have explained in the other thread about St Peters.

I think it just depends on who you end up with for a midwife.

Plus don't forget you only ever hear the bad stuff as not many people shout from the hilltops about good service - they only ever moan about bad service.

GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 20:24

mum2b1, I just tried to cat you but you aren't accepting CATs. Can you e-mail me on eleusis hotmail co uk

Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 20:35

sent you emails and have unblocked CATS

OP posts:
Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 20:38

my email to you didnt go through

my address is

nynovember at hotmail com

didnt know you have to pay for CAT

OP posts:
GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 20:58

So, are you new to mumsnet? Is this your first baby? And do you live anywhere near Kempton Park?

Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 21:07

Yes just off staines road east
yes new and yes first baby

OP posts:
GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 21:16

So you have the surgery information now, right? The receptionist is a tad snotty when she finds out you are in Subury. But the GP is nice, and the receptionist answers to the GP. I registered there 3 years ago so there's a chance they will be full now. But, if you manage to get into another surgery in HAmpton they should be able to help you.

Just stick to your guns and refuse St. Peters. The PCT has to find you a place. And not all GPs are jerks like Dr. Pearce.

GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 21:19

Do you have any idea what kind of birth you want? Home birth? Something more medicalised? QC was great because you could kind of have whatever you wanted (birth centre, consultant led labour ward, etc.). I had a planned section after having had an emergency section with DD, and I really thing the medical team in theatre was great. I can't praise them enough.