Would you change your hospital this late in pregnancy?

[titnomatani]

Help needed please. I'm booked in to give birth to my second at a supposedly 'outstanding' hospital about an hour away from home. My first was born there and truth be told, I found the whole experience terrible- long delays in being seen by professionals, promises by consultants to follow-up procedures carried out but this not happening, being under the care of a professional, consultant-led virtual team but never once receiving a call to check up on me and my condition despite me chasing them, rushed appointments with midwives (not their fault), the emergency midwife line ALWAYS being busy, etc. I've a local hospital that's a 7 minute drive away which has had a horrible reputation in the past (high rates of maternal, child deaths due to lack of staff communicating with one another, poor hygiene, etc) but who have really turned themselves around in the past couple of years. I had a horrendous experience in labour last time and am petrified about giving birth this time around and was wondering if I should transfer my care to the hospital closest to me.

Pros:

Local- toddler and husband can pop home for meals and naps and bring me anything I might need if me and baby are kept in for longer than expected;

Plenty of places for food around if I fancy anything at the last minute (🙈);

Down to earth staff (mostly).

Cons:

My birthing medical history is known to the first hospital and this may not get passed onto the local, closer hospital if I change;

I had an EMCS last time and recovered well- I was told I had a beautiful procedure with a very nice cut (?!)- worried in case I'm butchered the second time around by a new surgeon at the local hospital who isn't as experienced? (I suffer from anxiety so I'm maybe going a bit OTT in things that could go wrong);

My babies will be born at different hospitals- I don't know why this bothers me but it does!

Can anyone help me decide what I should do? I'm currently approaching 35 weeks. I should also mention I've had several episodes of reduced movements and have been to the local hospital and 7 times out of 10, I've found the experience positive.

Have you/could you consider getting an independent midwife or a specialist doula to accompany you for the time in hospital (whichever hospital)? It would give you the security of someone you know has got your back and understands what is important for you.
The quality of surgery is likely to be very similar in 2 UK NHS hospitals as there are very strict competency checks.

An hour’s drive away? That’s too far. I’d choose the local hospital.

worried in case I'm butchered the second time around by a new surgeon at the local hospital who isn't as experienced?

That’s honestly ridiculous and offensive to the years and years surgeons spend at medical school and training as junior doctors. I understand you’re anxious and overthinking, but it’s crazy to assume that a “less good” hospital will have inexperienced surgeons.

Could you book a tour of the local hospital? That might help.

By the way, I should have inserted a because I was sort of amused by your “butcher” scenario.

Thanks for your input @Nanmumandmidwife- I hadn't even considered a private midwife/doula. Will have to look into this especially since me and Dh are completely on our own through this and I'd rather he's with my toddler for some familiarity and consistency.

@Haworthia I know it sounds silly 😔 but there are many internationally trained doctors at the second (closer) hospital than my current one. I can't help but feel their standards of surgery are going to be different to UK trained doctors. As a BME person myself, I hope that doesn't come across as racist/xenophobic.

Do you both think I should change hospitals at this late stage?

Why don’t you PM me & tell me which the 2 hospitals are?