Which North East hospital would you recommend?

[redbee23]

I am currently under the care of Darlington hospital in the pre-conception clinic, due to being type 1 diabetic. However their maternity does not have good ratings. I am planning a pregnancy within the next year and researching hospitals. James cook isn’t too far from me and up until this year had a good rating.

other option is possibly Gateshead which I have heard good things about and is about a 30 min drive, RVI a little bit further.

I know I can’t be in a midwife led unit and would ideally be somewhere set up for ‘emergencies’ due to being diabetic.

Any experiences greatly appreciated!

James Cook left me with a burst appendix for 3 days, they ran out of surgeons.

Would avoid!

I had an excellent experience at the RVI.

I had a great experience at RVI and their NICU is also fantastic should you need it

I had all 3 of mine at the QE in Gateshead and couldn’t fault them for any of them.

I had our 3 at the RVI and they were excellent but have recently been badly criticised and found wanting by a professional body.

Certainly not Cramlington- it is shambolic and filthy.

RVI Newcastle - criticism
https://www.cqc.org.uk/press-release/cqc-rates-royal-victoria-infirmary-maternity-services-requires-improvement

RVI was fantastic and both births were complicated. Somebody told me you'll
Never be moved in the RVI as they have all the specialists there - that swung it for me.

I had my DD at Sunderland royal and had a brilliant experience. All private rooms with en-suite and dad allowed to stay for first night as well

It's pretty difficult I think for most hospitals to maintain good ratings with the CQC for maternity care mainly due to understaffing and therefore lack of safe staffing levels.

I would say RVI though regardless of criticism, they are a great hospital. Also consider James Cook as since the rating they have been doing a lot to improve and it's closer.

A midwife at Darlo told my friend to "quiet down and stop all that yelling" and was really nasty to her. I'd never go there to have a baby, it's shambolic and last I heard the showers up there on the maternity ward didn't work for months.

Thank you - one of the reasons I asked was because I’d read great things but then saw this! Quite serious faults too!

How awful. I’ve not heard good things about he hospital generally, but had about their maternity unit! Ideally I’d go to Northallerton but it’s just not an option with being diabetic.

Have you got any friends who have given birth recently? I’ve got family in the NE and they’ve all had their babies in James Cook (one as recently as a few weeks ago). I’d read the recent CQC report - it will be online. It will give you an indication as to why they’ve not got good - I.e. is it staffing? Or are their culture problems?
be ready and prep your birth partner to advocate for you regardless.