Harrogate maternity services - any experiences?

[Standingstill487]

My family and I relocated to border of West and North Yorks last year.
I have had a positive pregnancy test and started to look at closest maternity hospital which is Harrogate. They seem to have been downgraded in last quality review last year.

Does anyone have any recent experience there or advice? Does the care reflect the rating? Other options would be Leeds but thinking traffic could be bad
Thanks

Not personal experience, but if you can get to Leeds I'd probably choose to do that at the moment, unless things drastically improve

Hi OP, I am with Harrogate although a few weeks to go until baby is due. However I have been really impressed with the antenatal care so far, I'm consultant led so quite a few extra appointments, I've also been in for reduced movements and they were extremely thorough.
Obviously the CQC rating is important but this is likely in the context of more stringent reviews (as it should be) given maternity scandals in recent years. A lower rating usually triggers more reviews of processes/issues so another way to look at it is that it's potentially a safer time to access care.
I personally also like the fact that it is a smaller hospital, and I have had care there for other issues and been very happy.
I would try to find out a little about both options and just see what feels best for you, but definitely wouldn't see the rating as a reason to write it off :)

I have just moved to Harrogate from another hospital and all I can say is that it is night and day - the staff are friendly and professional - they talk with you rather than at you, all decisions seem to be made together and they support your preferences and plans. Have been to antenatal classes and they are really good. I have six weeks to go but am feeling really positive about having my baby there. Sorry if I seem gushing and Pollyanna but have had a good experience compared to my previous hospital - they just seem genuinely interested and to care and the community midwives seem the same.

I did read the CQC report - it seemed mostly to be due to training - the inspectors seemed happy that there was a plan in place to catch up and, whilst your can’t disregard it, I wasn’t overly concerned.

I would think about how long it would take to get to both places - traffic into Harrogate can be hellish at time and Leeds might be easier (but that can be equally awful!)

I live somewhere where Harrogate, Leeds and Airedale are all options. Most people happy with Harrogate and Airedale. Leeds a bit more of a mixed bag but usually it’s the traffic and parking rather than the care that’s moaned about. (And a lot of women that use it are higher risk pregnancies so that comes with it’s own stressors).

Thank you everyone, really helpful and appreciate the recent insight.
There are a couple of girls at work who went into Leeds but don't want to ask too many questions at this stage. We just want to get it right after a far from positive experience with our first child

Hi OP @Standingstill487 I was wondering what you decided and what your experience was? I'm in a similar situation now.
Thanks

Hi @Suzesnews I just had my little girl there on Wednesday and I found the maternity services great. The consultants are lovely (Dr Altanis is wonderful), the midwives I met (and I met LOADS from having reduced movements and staying overnight) are all wonderful, kind and knowledgable. The only part of the services that weren’t great was antenatal but ONLY because they are always running behind for appointments. The sonographers and staff are good, it’s purely the delays that are annoying.
I live equal distances from Leeds and Harrogate and I chose Harrogate for lots of reasons. If I had a high risk birth I would have moved to Leeds purely because they have better NICU and high dependency wards for babies, but otherwise I preferred the feel of Harrogate. It’s much quieter and calmer, no wreck heads hanging about the hospital and never crazy busy either.
If I was to have her again or a second baby I’d still pick Harrogate over Leeds/St James.
Hope that helps! If you aren’t sure go for a visit of all 3 😊