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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Greenwich hospital choice

10 replies

firsttimer08 · 16/09/2008 11:23

Does anyone know what hospitals fall in the Greenwich catchment area? i.e. what are the hospital choices? I'm currently booked at QEH and its really late now (35 weeks), but i'm v. v. unhappy with the service and want to know what my options are.

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america · 16/09/2008 11:50

I had very, very, very bad experience at QEH last year and I'm convinced that it was due to lack of staff and care thatn I ended up in an emergency section and with MRSA. Aftercare was a joke so if you end up there, try get out as soon as you can.

Now with my second definitively going to St Thomas. I've only heard good things about them (and at least their MRSA infection rate is lower than in Lewisham and in QEH). So far my antenatal appointments have been fantastic and I feel a lot more confident about both pregnancy and labour than I did last time around. Let me know if you want to know more.

CatIsSleepy · 16/09/2008 11:53

i had my dd at QEH
I would say they were absolutely brilliant during the birth

but afterwards wasn't so great- not enough staff really

not sure what your other options are really-I wasn't offered a choice. sorry not to be much help!

MrsKing · 16/09/2008 12:26

Hi, I lived in Deptford when DD1 was born in 2004 and I chose St Thomas'. Aftercare wasn't the best but whilst I was giving birth doctors/staff were very good. They are a very large and busy hospital but I got the impression that if anything had gone really wrong we would have been in good hands.

I don't think any hospital is very good at looking after Mums after they have given birth, too short staffed I guess?

Best of luck with the birth.

TheOriginalXENA · 16/09/2008 12:28

My closet hospital was QEH but I went to Queen Marys Sidcup for all 4 of mine and I always had fantastic care.

angel1976 · 16/09/2008 13:44

I had my DS at QEH and the experience was pretty terrible. They didn't believe I was in labour. I went into labour very quickly after my waters broke and they sent me home despite my contractions being 5 mins apart. Even after I went back 2.5 hours later and my contractions were really painful, they left me to shout in pain in the waiting room and repeatedly told me and hubby that 'first labour takes a long time, your wife / you have only been here 20 minutes'. When they finally got me into the delivery room (30 mins after I arrived), I was already 5cm dilated. They failed to give me ANY pain relief despite my repeated requests BUT when they realised my DS was in distress as his heart rate was dropping, they kept calm, got a locum and a paedetrician team in quick, they delivered DS very quickly and he was very healthy. If you care about the birth experience, go somewhere else. In an emergency though, they responded really well. And I have heard they have a very good pre-mature babies unit (in my tour, the tiny babies in there do look well taken care of!).

The after-care was pretty appalling as well... I won't even go into details there. Having said that though, because my labour was so quick for the first one, I don't think I dare go for a hospital further away as it's literally 5 minutes down the road for me... And like I said, all it comes down to in the end (for me) is a healthy baby.

Original poster

firsttimer08 · 17/09/2008 09:06

thanks for sharing your experiences.

yes that is what i fear, do i want to be stuck in blackwall tunnel during labour or would i rather be at QEH with the possibility of getting MRSA !

My experience with my midwives so far has been absolutely terrible. Also it seems asking for pain relief is not the 'done' thing and no matter what you do, they will not give you the epidural. i even called up the hospital about some pain relief sessions that they purportedly carry out every week - but they said they'd only let me attend if i had a medical problem requiring the epidural !

i guess i am so late anyway now, that st. thomas may not accept me. So will just have to keep my fingers crossed about QEH

OP posts:

Aubergenie · 17/09/2008 09:11

Don't necessarily give up hope of changing hospitals if that is what you decide to do, but do move fast. I'm 38 weeks and in the process of transferring between 2 London hospitals. Just hoping I get my booking-in appointment before my LO decides to make an appearance..!

helpivegottogivebirth · 08/10/2008 12:24

Firsttimer - have you had your baby yet? where?

I have been offered either Lewisham, QEH, Guys and St Thomas and I think he said Kings as well.

I never realised i had such a choice!
Interesting comments re QEH though on here....

shipsladyg · 01/02/2010 15:56

Oops. Have elected for QEH. Actually want a home birth and I gather if things go TU, then you get transferred to nearest anyway... so maybe all a bit academic. However, having seen the loos there, I shall be packing my own wipes and stuff and a pair of marigolds for DH!

monkeytennismum · 01/02/2010 16:10

TBH I think that aftercare in any London hospital is poor because they are so understaffed. If everything goes okay they'll try and get you out asap so you'll be home quickly anyway )

I had my first child in Lewisham and my second in QEH (and will have my 3rd there); both provided a good level of care during labour and delivery but I was pretty much left to my own devices afterwards. I have friends who have used all different hospitals in SE London including Kings, St Thomas' and Queen Marys and they all had very similar experiences to mine.

Saying that, if you don't feel comfortable with QEH then change as you don't need any negative feelings hanging around when Dday comes!

HTH

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