Maternity wards near wimbledon

[Sorcha01]

Hello all

DH and I have been offered the choice of Kingston, St Helier or St George´s Tooting. I´ve heard that Kingston may be closing its maternity unit (tho that is where DH was born!). Anyone got any experience of the other two (or know anything more about Kingston closing?)We haven´t heard particularly good reports about St Helier or St George´s but are worried about choosing Kingston in case we end up without a maternity unit at all or being shipped off somewhere completely miles from SW19.

Any advice?

Hi,
You can also go to Chelsea and Westminster from Merton PCT which I can recommend.
I had an uncomplicated pregnancy there last time and it was fine- but this time has been high risk with all sorts of problems and I have been really impressed with how quickly I have been seen by different specialists etc
It is quite easy to get to from Wimbledon on public transport for appointments and there is a car park at the hospital although we got a taxi last time on the 'big day'
I have heard horror stories from both St Helier and George's but I think there will always be horror stories wherever you choose (and one of those horror stories has elected to back to St Georges for her second)
Good luck

Kingston!! I will be heading there end of Sept,I was born there all my fam and Friends have had great pregnancies there and say that everyone there was welcoming and lovely ive heard glowing reports :-)
No news now of it closing down, My doctor recommeneded there two weeks so I wouldnt of thought nothing would be happening this year

ds1 was born in georges tooting and they were absolutely brilliant i loved it...i had a c section but they could not have been nicer there...however this was 10 years ago...god im old

x

I'm booked into Kingston this May with my first. Everyone has told me glowing reports and I've had to have several trips to day assessment there and the staff have been brill. With regard to the unit shutting, (and A&E so they say), this won't be happening for at least a year if not two. I've got two nurse friends who work in the hospital, one of whom works in A&E and they have been assured that no decision has been made, and even when one is, it will be a long process before anything gets finalised. Be rest assured!!

I had DD1 in St George's in January 2008. My birth experience was fantastic but I'm afraid antenatal and postnatal care pretty shocking. I've had 2 friends have their babies at Kingston and been looked after exceptionally well. I can't believe they're even considering closing Kingston maternity when it's so popular?!?!

i gave birth in st george's in oct 08 and during the birth i could not find one fault. i ended up having a c section but post natal care was awful but i think that is the case in most hospitals, it depends how busy they are etc. i am going back again to have my second there as i would rather be looked after during birth. post natally i have my busband and family to look after me!

I would choose Kingston over the other two any day - I had DS1 at St George's and it was the most horrendous experience with absolutely no postnatal care at all. I don't know whether you can go to Epsom, but that was fantastic when I had DD. Kingston was good for my one NCT friend who had her first there - the rest of us were St George's (3 of us), Chelsea and Westminster (2 - one good, one appalling experience), and one had a homebirth....

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for all your advice which is invaluable. On balance, I think I'm going to opt for Kingston (if I can get in!). I've decided not to worry about the possible closure because it sounds as though it won't happen for some time. It's very reassuring to know that others have had positive experiences at Kinston. I hope when my day comes, it will be the same.

Thanks all!

S.x

hi I am booked into kingston for arrival of dc3 aug 4th and had both dds there sept 07 and sept 08.

The care was fine- with dd2 it was quite crowded though not quite as positive an experience as with dd1.

Ante natal is fine but the waiting time for appointments can be very long- esp if you are waiting to see a consultant.

The closure thing has been in the local news but is apparently not imminent and is allegedly being used as political stirring tool.