Frimley Park Hospital or St Peter's

[boots28]

Hello,

I am booked to have my baby at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, but have heard bad reports. I decided to go for a tour at Frimley Park and thought it looked very good. Does anyone have any good/bad experiences of these two hospitals. Any comments/thougts would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Hi boots,

I too am booked for St. Peter's and have my worries about it. Will go for a tour at Frimley Park next week, as it sounds so much nicer.

So I'm interested in the answers you will get!

Can you say more about the bad reports you heard? I just saw the stuff on NHS choices, where only about 50% of people would recommend St. Peter's to friends, whereas over 90% would recommend Frimley Park. That raises questions, doesn't it? Unfortunately St. Peter's won't let us visit to ask those questions. The video they offer instead sort of raises more questions rather than answering them. It finishes by saying "if you have any questions, ask your MW". But MW never has time.

I did ask a MW about the bad reports, and she said things had improved massively "since then", as they had employed much more staff now.

The only real plusses I see about St. Peter's are:

• It's a bit closer to us
• Hopefully some continuity of care as not out-of-area (though I haven't been very impressed with the MW antenatal care so far)
• They have a large NICU (much larger than Frimley Park which apparently has only one intensive care cot, whereas St. Peter's has 8)

Hoping for many replies on this thread!

I cant comment on St Peters, but i can comment on Frimley Park, or at least what my experience was like when it was my local hospital. I didnt like it there one bit, and hated the drs i encoutered but i was not there for any antenatal and related things, so that much i cant comment on!!

good luck

Hi Meita,

The main bad things I have heard about St Peter's is the lack of midwives.

A good friend of mine recently gave birth there and the midwife left her when the babies head was half way out as she had to attend to another lady!

Another friend said that the staffing levels were awful (their baby was born a week ago) and to avoid it at all costs. She ended up having an emergency c-section and blood transfusion. They said that there were 5 midwives to 30 women.

I know they have improved things recently and updated the labour ward, but this won't compensate for the lack of midwives.

I actually pushed St Peter's to look around and they eventually agreed, so maybe you should do that.

Was very impressed by the midwives at Frimley.

I am currently 27 weeks pregnant and have an appointment with my doctor to see if I can transfer to Frimley....fingers crossed.

It only took me 20 to 25 mins to get to Frimley, so its not that much further than St Peter's. They have been rated as the best maternity ward in London and the South East.

When is your baby due?

Just to say, I had dd at St Peters (which wasn't my first choice) - had a wonderful birth & a fabulous supportive midwife ... but I was only 20 mins from entering labour room to giving birth, so they'd have had to work hard to cock it up . This was 4 years ago, and even then, it's reputation wasn't great, but of my mates, we had a mix of experiences - like anywhere.

If you do an archive search, there are a few threads about ST Peters - but obviously, they'll be historical.

I would really recommend paying for a private room though - the ward was noisy, overlit & not the best place for recovering with a newborn (or even better, get a 6 hours discharge)

Frimley Frimley Frimley Frimley. It was one of the top rated hospitals for maternity servces a while back, it is excellent - I have had 2 , soon 3 babies there. I had infection missed by Heatherwood and within 1/2 hour or walking in their doors DS and I were hooked up to drips etc. Obviously that's just one small story, but honestly I would not touch St. Peters with a bargepole. My mum does research into infant and maternal deaths etc. and St. Ps is a complete pit. Just mention the name to someone 'in the know' and they will suck their teeth and shake their heads. I would recommend Frimley over anywhere in 'my area' - Wexham/Heatherwood, Royal Berks, St. Ps, but I would put any of the others above St. Ps without a shadow of a doubt. St. Ps I think is only a midwife unit also (not 100% sure) - Frimley has the full care incase you need it. I love Frimley, I love it so much I was prepared to move house to have DS3 there because I am Heatherwood area and sometimes Frimley get abit funny about out of area people, but I would have sold and moved I feel that strongly.

Frimley Frimley Frimley Frimley. It was one of the top rated hospitals for maternity servces a while back, it is excellent - I have had 2 , soon 3 babies there. I had infection missed by Heatherwood and within 1/2 hour or walking in their doors DS and I were hooked up to drips etc. Obviously that's just one small story, but honestly I would not touch St. Peters with a bargepole. My mum does research into infant and maternal deaths etc. and St. Ps is a complete pit. Just mention the name to someone 'in the know' and they will suck their teeth and shake their heads. I would recommend Frimley over anywhere in 'my area' - Wexham/Heatherwood, Royal Berks, St. Ps, but I would put any of the others above St. Ps without a shadow of a doubt. St. Ps I think is only a midwife unit also (not 100% sure) - Frimley has the full care incase you need it. I love Frimley, I love it so much I was prepared to move house to have DS3 there because I am Heatherwood area and sometimes Frimley get abit funny about out of area people, but I would have sold and moved I feel that strongly.

Thanks everyone for your comments! You have reconfirmed me in my decision to at least check Frimley Park out - will probably be asking to be transferred there.

Boots, I'm now 31 weeks, due in mid-August. Should better start making my mind up about things!

Wherever I end up, chances are I'll get there before you do, will be happy to report afterwards!

bump

any other experiences/opinions?

I would choose Frimley. I have been under Miss Anne Deans through private and was refered to frimley for some tests. The midwives were brillant always happy to help and will call you at anytime of the night for results.
I had my first at St Peters and the experience was appauling. They broke my water while checking how dilated i was and told me to go home. When i refused i was told there was no bed to put me. I was told to wait until they sorted something out. They sent me to antenatal saying my husband cant stat with me. When i got down to antenatal the nurse was shocked why they sent me down. She was very helpful and got me some gas to ease the pain. She told my husband he could stay seeing the state i was. I only had one midwife to assist during labour. When i was ready i was sent back upstairs to the delivery ward. Midwife kept telling me to push even though baby was breached and i would've teared if the gyne didnt intervene.
So if you can move to Frimley please do so.
Am now pregnant and has chosen Frimley.

I live in Scotland now but most of my big life events have happened at Frimley Park.

Two of my children were born there & the care was fantastic. Though DS2 is nearly 12 now so quite a while ago.

I would recommend it to anyone.

I gave birth at St. Peters just under two weeks ago and had a really good experience there. The abbey wing has been refurbished recently and the room I had on the labour ward (actually a pool room though I didn't use it, no time!) was spotless and had a clean modern bathroom. The postnatal ward was also clean and comfortable. I was only in the ward for about half an hour before I gave birth and had a midwife and student with me the whole time. Granted it was not long though!

Havent read thread, but FGS dont go to St Peters, they nearly killed me and my DS.

Bastards.

Oh and I ended up with PTSD as a result of the horrendous care (lack of) that DS and I received. Lack of staff, leaving me to try to tend to a screaming baby (that had Group B Strep) while unable to move, being sick and being told by the anaesthetist that I wasnt to walk for 24 hours ... no, please dont do it.

I cant even start to tell you ALL the events that went on, DS and I were in for 2 weeks in total and my stomach churns thinking about it.

I have had babies at both SO feel qualified to tell you....

Frimley, all the way!

St Peters was AWFUL. My baby was in major distress, but it took my husband dragging a midwife into the room before anyone noticed. OK, it was first baby, but it was terrible experience. COuldnt even tell you the midwife's name, because she was just rude and uncaring and cold.

On the ward, I struggled to get BF established. By day 2 I had cracked, bleeding nipples and beginnings of mastitis. No-one would help me. I went to the feeding room and begged for help and a rough midwife just huffed at me and slammed DDs mouth against my boob.

That said, I did have one or two nice midwives - an aussie lady in particular was very kind.

We moved when DD was 2, and shortly afterwards I was pg...Needless to say, I was terrified of giving birth to No 2, especially as he was another big baby, but my experience couldnt have been better. I got to know all the midwives in our domino team. They all knew I was really scared, and one of them popped in the night I was being induced to say she had left instructions that if I went into labour that night, she would come in even tho she wasnt on duty.

As it happened, another one of the team was there the following morning, and was kind and calm and lovely. Baby 2 popped out without fuss. I cried the whole time. I had a student midwife present, who later went on to deliver Baby No 3! This time I was confident and i was woman, hear me roar. I believe that the fact that I was so relaxed and confident meant I delivered No 3 in under 2 hours.

The midwives on the ward were reassuring and good humoured, and it was good to see familiar faces when I went in second time.

My friends from antenatal group had very good bf support, post natal visits were easy and relaxed.

Also, when my DS2 became very ill, I needed to express breast milk for him in the antenatal ward. I was a midwife who came and cuddled me when I had a massive sobbing fearful shaky moment, and brought me a cuppa and some biscuits and helped my shaking hands get the suction sorted for the pump, put a screen around me and held my hand and listened to me fret.

So....Frimley!

Goodness, I'm only 7 weeks gone so lot's of time to figure out - but I had planned on using St Peter's - I'm having second thoughts now though.
I've been to St P's for various fertility tests and have also had to use the EPU a couple of times and they've always been great, but concerned to hear about what seems like chronic understaffing. Very interested to hear any other views...

It all depends on the day, and your particular problems in childbirth (or no problems of course!).

But I've had babies dragged out of me given birth twice at st peters. Would I do it again? Yes, as I'm very familiar with the hospital now, and the neonatal ward and children's wards are fab (disclaimer, the only way I'd ever do it again would be by elcs anyway!). But if it was my first time and I had no allegiance to any place, then no way, frimley park all the way.

Just noticed that the start of this thread is from a while ago, so would be interested to hear any other recent experiences of St P's

I have no experience other than going for scans and the odd trip to the midwife but I'm booked into Frimley Park.. I'm under Mr Elkington (?) as I'm having a C section and he seemed really lovey.. Kinda what you see is what you get type of bloke.. So far I'm impressed !!

haggis I was in and out of EPU a LOT when I was pregnant with DS and they were great, it is the maternity ward/delivery ward that is very short staffed and some of the midwives couldnt give a toss. I went through a few as we were in for a while, some very caring, but the final one we had was awful.

And very very short staffed and busy.

hatti we may have had the same midwife.

I have had both of my babies at St Peters. Neither were straightforward pregnancies but I cannot fault any of the staff I encountered. The midwife who looked after me in labour was amazing. The postnatal ward was busy(i was in for 4 days after birth) and there aren't as many midwives as there are on labour ward (for obvious reasons), also the discharge procedure can be quite drawn out. If you think you'll be out first thing you'll be disappointed. However, the staff all seem to work really hard and were very caring and helped me when I was having problems feeding my firstborn. I think it's been refurbished since I was last there. Wouldn't go anywhere else if I had another.

I had my DS at St Peters in Oct 09, I can definitely confirm they were understaffed at that point!
Fortunately my labour was straightforward but my lasting memory is that the midwives really weren't present for most of my labour and my husband would have to go and find them if we wanted anything, only to see them all gossiping and standing around the help desk.
I'm now in a bit of a stress as I saw a friend of a friend yesterday who had heard more recent stories (she had her baby 2 weeks ago) that imply its still a bit sh*t.
Just wondering if I can get rebooked to Frimley or even Royal Surrey so will have to do some research.
I had my DD at Kingston and the midwife there was lovely so I really just want to ensure I have a midwife who will stay with me while I labour and not bugger off for a cup of tea!!

Alternatively do I just put my concerns in my birth plan and kick up a fuss if we think we aren't getting enough attention??
Or should we reconsider a home birth as at least then we will get 2 midwives present??

You would have thought I'd have it sussed as its pregnancy number 3!
Would also recommend getting a private room if you have to stay in for any amount of time!

Busybee - glad you had a good experience!

I would definitely go for home birth! It's lovely pottering around at home in labour (until you get to the painful bit!).

I've heard Royal Surrey are over stretched as well. You could investigate Frimley?

A lot of it is just the luck of the day on how busy they are and what particular midwife you get though.

Frimley. I don't live down there any more but used to live in Surrey - closer to St Peter's than Frimley Park but would definitely choose Frimley if I were still there.

I had DD2 at St Peters 18 months ago.
Delivering midwife was AWFUL. She gave me zero support (and zero drugs, but that's another) story. I really was upset with the treatment. Because she was my second they pretty much left me alone for the 24hours I was in there.
After care was really good though.

thestring - my midwife here said that the hospital midwife shouldn't have left me once I was in confirmed labour so that really p*ssed me off, I was 4cm when i arrived about 10.30am and delivered about 6pm and for most of that it was just me and hubby in the home from home room and when he went off to get sandwiches no one came to sit with me. It was crap.

I just don't want to repeat that experience, will ask at my next mw appointment whether I can move. Frimley, like St Peters doesn't have a midwife led unit, and the one at Royal Surrey only has 2 rooms.

My DH is against home birth in case of complications and would rather be in hospital, however given its our third, and the first two were natural with just G&A and Tens I'm a bit more relaxed about the possibility of doing it at home.