Reading based but midwife appt in Wokingham?

[NeatUser]

We recently moved to Reading. Earley, to be precise. I just got an invite to the first midwife appointment and it is in Wokingham - is this the closest midwifery unit???

When we lived in Arborfield we were sent to St Peters. Bloody trek that was.

I'd love to be sent to Wokingham, I'm being sent to Bracknell! But I'm going to have my baby at Frimley Park

Bracknell would've been closer for me, weird. Why would you have preferred Wokingham? Frimley Park seems too far away fir me. Is it a better hospital though?

A treck and a half!!!

Admittedly, I'd prefer it because I live in Wokingham! So I'm basically right in the middle distance wise between the two hospitals.

I was born at Frimley and my mum worked there happily for many years. RBH have rubbed me up the wrong way in the past and doesn't seem friendly unlike Frimley. My son was actually at RBH for a day before being transferred to John Radcliffe for surgery and the nurses were lovely but seem very stretched. I also despise heading to Reading in general because the traffic always seems bad.

Of course no good experience is guaranteed anywhere so you just need to do what works for you and what you are comfortable with!

Earley is part of Wokingham Borough, isn't it? That might be why your appointment is there.

You can absolutely choose where you give birth, regardless of where your midwife appointments are. I had my little boy at RBH in 2019 (appreciate it was a while ago) and it was a great experience.

I was given the choice of midwife appointments at Royal Berks or Wokingham. I chose Wokingham because of the traffic in central Reading, lack of parking and also having to pay to park. Wokingham is a small hospital but I was always seen on time and there is plenty of free parking.

I’d prefer Wokingham to be honest; easier travel and parking and only a little further for you surely?

Yes, as pp said, Earley is in the Borough of Wokingham so that'll be why they automatically assigned you there. You might be able to swap location if you ask, worth a go. My midwife was in caversham children's centre and was great, if you got switched there you'd miss the Reading traffic (if you go via Sonning).

Earley is on the border between Reading and Wokingham and some parts of Earley come under Wokingham borough council.

Who do you pay your council tax to? If it's Wokingham borough council that will be why.

Thank you all for the comments! It all makes sense, we are under Wokingham council, I was just a bit surprised as I did my self referral to RBH, purely because it is the nearest hospital. I will see how it goes with the first appointment and ask for change, if need be, afterwards. Thanks for sharing your experiences!