St Helier... Good, bad, ugly??

[designerbaby]

I'd hoped to go to Kingston, but as I'm transfering my care at 35 weeks it's looking unlikely that I'll get in... GP recomends St Helier as an alternative, but I know nothing, and only reviews i can find are quite old and pre their £3m apparent investment and new MW-led birth centre.

Wondered if anyone had any recent experience they'd mind sharing?

Thanks,
db
xx

Sounds like we're in similar parts of the world! I'm booked into Kingston but my GP offered Epsom as the next best alternative. I'm sure that's partnered with St Helier? If you want Kingston as your first choice, have you enquired there?

Oh and St Helier and Kingston are actually really far away from each other. I'm sure you dont fancy a long drive when you're in labour! Epsom is much closer.

Have you seen this
www.suttonguardian.co.uk/.../4101447.Maternity_ward_filthy__claims_patient/
?

Then again I think the refurbishment should have been completed this summer!

I had DS there on 2/1/09 and I have nothing but praise for them (well apart from the food!). We ended up staying in for 5 nights and I didn't see anything that worried me cleanliness wise. I'm pregnant again and booked in again. I think you can find bad reports on any hospital on the internet!

Plus they have plenty of parking space, a big advantage when you're in labour.

First 1 - I'm pretty much slap bang between Kingston and St Helier, so Epsom a bit more of a schlep... It does seem that the two are linked, but I've no idea how that works in practice.

My referral has gone to Kingston as a first choice, but GP's referral secretary seemed to think the chances of my getting booked there at this stage were slim - I also just met a lady at antenatal who had her first at Kingston, but when she tried to book there at 10 weeks they were already full - she's due the same week as me.

Mixed reviews so far, but quite excited by the brand spanking new midwife-led unit...

ande, I did read that and it gave me some pause... just hoping that things have improved post-refurb and that the bad press has made them buck up their ideas.

Chocolate - that's really good to hear... It's nice to hear some recent good reports as it may well end up being my only option!

Thanks for your responses - it's good to get an idea what I'm letting myself in for...

db
xx

I was born in St Helier, 31 years ago so not much use there. Sorry

Good luck