Changing hospitals at 33 weeks

[Northtosouth]

Hi everyone,
I’m wondering if anyone has any experience of changing hospitals in pregnancy?
I’m 33 weeks and due to a number of reasons I want to change to another hospital. Luckily I have 3 to choose from in my area.

Has anyone done this before and can offer any advice on what I need to do? Worrying about timings and getting it done in the next few weeks. Thanks

My only concern would be that potentially the other hospitals won't have access to your notes. We have access to two hospitals but are in two different counties. Neither systems talk to each other. My son was born at one hospital and we've had our miscarriage dealt with at the other. I have to keep repeating that I already have a child because they can't see my notes from the other hospital. It's crazy that the NHS doesn't have a country wide system that accesses everything but nope it's a mess!

When I was having mine, the hospitals only accepted a certain number of people as I guess there was a capacity limit for antenatal care. So you had to sign up quite quickly after you knew you were expecting.

But it was 15 years ago and a London hospital so may not be representative or still the case.

You have the right to birth wherever you choose, so yes you can change hospitals but speak to your midwife asap so they can transfer you.
If they are under the same trust it might be easier but still possible if not.

I transferred around 33 weeks as well, because home births opened back up after Covid and I needed to be under the trust that covered my area.

It was totally fine but I did have to do the booking appointment, bloods etc all over again so that I was on their system.

Also, don't ask your midwife, tell them! And check on the self referral form for your new chosen hospital if there's a box to tick that asks if you're transferring. Then if the midwife makes a fuss you could just self refer to the new hospital (that's what I would do anyway)

I did it. Wasn’t a huge problem but it took a couple of weeks to find out who my midwife was so I made a lot of phone calls. I moved from Trust A to Trust B but wanted to birth in Trust C (closest hospital) which may have caused the delay.