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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:
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Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 21:19

No surgery info. did you email it?

where are you going to have the baby?

OP posts:
GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 21:26

My experience is from a couple of years ago. I am so not pregnant (thank God). I have two kids, ages 4 and 2. DD (4) was born by emergency section in Epsom. DS is 2 and he was the pregnancy where I refused St. Peters. I had him at Queen Charlotte in Hammersmith.

Will resend surgery info...

Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 21:30

How did you know to refuse st peters?

where did you do all your reserach?

OP posts:
GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 21:33

I heard bad things about it. Posted a thred on here. And I'm a stroppy American who demands what she wants. And then when I told Dr.Pearce I didn't want to go there and he just made me feel about 2 milimeters tall, I just walked and thought right I'll show you.

Look at www.birthchoice.org.uk (or something like that?)

jura · 04/12/2007 21:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

susiecutiemincepies · 04/12/2007 21:41

Like someone else has said, people dont often shout from roof tops about good care... unless asked... personally, I htink it depends on who you have, and how busy the shift is the day you go in to have your baby.

I went to kingston, and it was fantastic. Cannot fault them. Had some blooming horrible MW on some shifts ( was in for weeks and weeks and weeks due to problems ante-natally) and other shifts they were brilliant. The actual labour was amazing.

Other people i have talked to also went there and had terrible terrble time. Problem with kingston is that is IS over subscribed, incredibly busy ALL the time. So can be really really hit and miss. Anti natal care fantastic too, however, i often had to wait for 2 hours for my appointments.

GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 21:48

www.birthchoiceuk.com/Frame.htm

Some people look at section rates and think oh that's a bad thing. But I think it's a good thing. It means the hospital acts to intervene when necessary. But some people think experiencing vaginal birth is really important and that's fine as well. It just depends on what you want.

But it is good if you have some idea of what kind of birth you want because then you can look for a hospital that tailors to what you want.

Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 21:55

I want as natural a birth as poss. was wanting a midwife led unit with the option of going through the labour in water then coming out for the birth.

I will be having a doula as well as i totally dont trust the nhs to do the right thing all the time.
Have had awful experiences with the nhs before with other medical problems.

OP posts:
GloriaInEleusis · 04/12/2007 22:23

Maybe you find a doula who could advise better than I can what hospitals would be good?

Hi Jura... ah the Warwick.

Original poster
mum2b1 · 04/12/2007 22:26

yes I think that is the plan.

Thanks for your help tonight.

Sleep well

OP posts:
LikerabbitsBX · 04/12/2007 22:45

Hi Mum2b1!

I couldn't belive what I was reading when I read your post!!!

It was like I was writing it!! I am registered with Sunbury Health centre off green street and had exactly the same conversation. I have no urge to go to St Peters at all!!! I asked GP to refer me to KIngston, she was really nice (DR Hodson) but she said the same thing about a referral letter and the fact I would be refused.

I am stressing alot about this as I went up there for a early scan this week and hated the place.....Believ me I have no desire or want to have my little one there!

I am 6+3 weeks with my second child. It is so nice to hear about local people in the same situation.

Perhaps we could chat and put togetehr a little plan to bombard Sunbury Health Unit!! lol

Let me know how you get on.

)))

LikerabbitsBX · 04/12/2007 22:49

Your post was like me talking!

I live in sunbury and go to the same doctors and was told Kingston will refuse me!

I am so upset as I really dont want to go to st peters.

We should bombard the surgery and protest! lol

Original poster
mum2b1 · 05/12/2007 07:17

Likerabbit - Dr Hodson was horrible to me about it. So aggressive in her statement that I wouldnt get in to Kingston.
Have they actually done the referral for you?

I am going to call a few other surgeries today to see if I can change Dr. If not I am taking my husband with me to demand they refer me somewhere else. Frimely Park looks ok on the website....

This is really upsetting the first few weeks of knowing about my pregnancy. I cant relax as I am thinking about this all the time!!
Bad thing this week as well as my husband is on a course all week in London so gets home late. If it was another week he would have been down there like a shot to complain!!

Good luck

where abouts in Sunbury are you?

OP posts:
NorthernLurkerwithastarontop · 05/12/2007 08:08

Frimley Park is where the Countess of Wessex had her first baby - true she didn't plan to go there but it's the only NHS hospital a descendant of Queen Victoria has been near in some time All the best finding somewhere you are comfortable with

GloriaInEleusis · 05/12/2007 08:13

Hey, we can start a Sunbury meet-up.

I can not stress enough, the thing you guys must do is flat out refuse to go to St. Peters. No way no how, don't talk to them and don't set foot in it.

The reason they won't refer you to another hospital is because it is outside the North Surrey PCT and therefore they will have to give money to the other PCT to take you. This is about Green Steer surgery's budget, not your health. Its outrageous and I am more than happy to help you both get into another hospital.

I'm no doctor, but I've been where you are now and I did manage to go to Queen Charlotte, which is lovely.

However, Kingston will probably refuse you. But it is the PCT's responsibility to find you a place. Changing GPs is the best way to go. I wonder how easy it is to lie about your address????? Because of course this is all about post code.

Good luck to both of you!

GloriaInEleusis · 05/12/2007 08:24

Try these GPs in Hampton (www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/ServiceResults.aspx?Place=Hampton,%20Greater%20London,%20TW12%20 2&Coords=1695,5136&ServiceType=GP). Don't tell them you are pregnant. Just say you are new to the area and want to register. Then, after you are registered, make an appointment to see the GP. Go in and see him/her and tell them you are pregnant and ask what your options are.

Make it clear you are not prepared to accept St. Peters but you will accept most anywhere else.

GloriaInEleusis · 05/12/2007 08:27

Oh, just noticed two of them are in East Molesey. They are probably also St. Peters catchment. So try for the ones in Hampton.

GloriaInEleusis · 05/12/2007 08:33

One more thing, then I promise to shut up and do some work. You might have to stand your ground refusing St. Peters until after you have passed the window for the nuchal test. So, if you want a nuchal test, I highly recommend getting on at the Fetal Medicine Centre in London on Harley Street. You will have to pay for it but they are absolutely fab. If you go there and at that point you are still not booked into a hospital of your liking, don't tell the MHS you've been. Let them think you are still waiting for NHS medical treatment. It is their job to get it for you and let the clock tick in your favour.

LikerabbitsBX · 05/12/2007 09:34

Hi Guys,

I am off windmill road in sunbury. How about you?

I have been in Sunbury for about 4 years now.

We might be moving to Twickenham early next year so I wonder if this would help??

Cx

LikerabbitsBX · 05/12/2007 09:55

Oh just thought I would add, hat I have just rang a surgery in Twickenham and mentioned we woudl be moving there soon, I mentioned tha we would be trying for a baby next year and antenatal care and hospital referral was very important. I asked what hospital they would normally refer to and he said, we are not joined it is freedom of choice and you could go to Kingston, West Middlesex or one of the London hospitals it would be up to you??

She was so nice on the phone. Is this the case do you think, as easy as that??

Cxx

Original poster
mum2b1 · 05/12/2007 10:04

just called 3 Dr Surgeries in Hampton and all said out of area!!

The one you gave me too Gloria

OP posts:
GloriaInEleusis · 05/12/2007 11:12

Bugger. What if you lie about your address?

You should write the GP a letter and see if she responds. Not the surgery manager, but the GP herself. The GP I mention in my e-mail is lovely. But her receptionist is... well... not always so lovely.

There is another option, but it is awfully risky. You could just show up somewhere like Queen Charlotte when you are in full labour. Tell them you are not booked into any hospital and have received no medical care.

I must have been really lucky to get into the surgery in Hampton.

I hate the NHS Fob off. It's so unfair. I should get a tax break if I have to settle for inferrior NHS services because of my post code. It's unbelievable. It makes me no supporter of socialised medicine.

Ah, Twickenham, a girl after my own heart. Just as soon as I get a big fat raise I'm off to Twickers myself. DD (4) is in reception in Twickenham. And DS will hopefully start nursery there in September.

NineBabiesDancing · 05/12/2007 12:11

What about talking to the PALS and Complaint department for your local PCT and see if there is anything they can do for you ?

LikerabbitsBX · 05/12/2007 13:08

My little girl of 8 goes to stanley already..so that is why we want to get back there.

How come yours go to twickenham when your in sunbury?

GloriaInEleusis · 05/12/2007 13:16

Because it's a lovely school and we go to the church it is connected to.

How on Earth did you get into Stanley if you live in Sunbury?

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