Half of Wandsworth mums don't give birth at St George Post Reply

[Annabel (admin)]

From the Guardian...

Mothers opting to give birth outside of Wandsworth are costing the local health service thousands.

Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group (WCCG) forked out £185,000 last year to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, after 30 per cent of pregnant women from Wandsworth had their babies there.

http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/new ... ?ref=var_0

[papinian]

Annabel, it's a bit misleading to say that these mothers are generating a cost by giving birth other than at St George's. I appreciate that this is wording that you have taken from the article.

The NHS is paid for out of general taxation. If mothers give birth under the NHS then that cost is borne somewhere - whether that is at St George's or at another hospital.

Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group may have to pay C&W Hospital some amount, but if those women had given birth at St George's then there would have been a cost there.

[Annabel (admin)]

Hi
Apologies if it's misleading, I was simply cutting and pasting from the Wandsworth Guardian story and then adding in the link.

Wasn't commenting on the veracity of the story

Thanks for the note though

[nellie65]

Strangely have found St.George's paediatric A&E brilliant but actually discharged myself from an adult ward there because it was so horrific and my friend had her baby there and had a terrible ordeal.

[Goldhawk]

It must work the other way too though
People from outside Wandsworth giving birth at St George's & their healthcare trusts paying...

[Kittens77]

I find this very strange... When you visit your GP to tell them of your pregnancy, they give you the choice of 3 hospitals, st G's, Chelsea and W'Minster and Kingston. Why would they do that if it had cost implications if you choose somewhere other than st G's. I am currently expecting my 2nd and am due to give birth at St G's which I chose as its by far the closest, despite having a pretty horrific experience there with my first.

[AliOk]

Just for a bit of balance, I had a great experience having my daughter at St George's last summer and would definitely book in there again if we have a number two.

[sandraletitia]

Hi,

This really is a non-story which is a shame the local Guardian chose its headline as it did.

Women can choose to go ANYWHERE to have a baby - the trick is booking early enough to get in. In my NCT classes over the years I have had women who havn't been able to get in to their Hospital of choice.

St. George's is at the bottom end of the Borough and for many women in Streatham for example it is by far their nearest Hospital. Also women living in Putney are more likely to choose Chelsea and Westminster for ease of access.

Slightly off topic but if anyone is considering a Homebirth then it it is essential that you book with the local Hospital as Homebirth midwives don't cross boundaries.

[sandraletitia]

Just to add, to kittens77 and anyone else who has had what they describe as an "horrific experience" previously, DO ask to talk it through with a senior midwife. St. George's has a dedicated service enabling women to do just this and I am sure other maternity units will have a similar service.

[cocomama]

I know of lots of mums who used C&W instead of St G's even when they live right by St G's!

I've had two wonderful births at St G's (one in Carmen, one induction in delivery suite) and excellent maternity care even with a few complications involving lots of extra appointments. But wouldn't have considered travelling to one further away anyway.
When my partner realised there was a choice (after I had chosen St G's) he couldn't believe I didn't choose C&W because "that would look so much better on their passport as place of birth than Tooting"!!

That said, it is wonderful we do have the choice- even if we decide only based on which one sounds better!

[Mum2Alex]

Actually, Papanian, there is a grain of truth to this...

The NHS has effectively already been privatised with the government lying GPs directly per head of population. The GPs (over simplification) then commission services

So if a large number of women from Wandswortg eschew St G's in favour of C&W then the money goes to Chelsea rather than staying locally. Ultimately it could mean the worsening of services there or even closure if the trend continues.

Personally I delivered at Chelsea (live in Fulham) and had a horrible experience (despite being a doctor myself) so would urge mummies from south of the river to consider carefully - Chelsea does not have the staffing or capacity to take on all the work it does!

[joolia]

I had my first baby at C+W and my second at St George's after we moved closer to St George's. Both actual birth experiences were manged brilliantly. I found my antenatal care at St George's was far more flexible - Saturday and evening appointments and the midwives were always on time, whilst at C+W they were frequently an hour or two late for my appointments. I think being close to a good hopsital (and both are) is the most important thing - I know for sure whilst in labour having to try and cross the Thames in rush hour would be horrific.

[Bobby]

For what it's worth, I just wanted to say that st George's have seen me through two births with various complications (everything ok in the end though) plus a miscarriage. They were excellent at dealing with everything.

There will always be good and bad experiences at any hospital, but for any of you who are pregnant and under st George's care, please try not to let newspaper stories like this worry you.

[Nims]

I had my baby at C&W because it was the nearest hospital to where we live than St George's - I could only think of the traffic holding me up en route to St. Georges, whereas we can get to C&W fairly quickly from Clapham Junction (the only traffic build up is pretty much the bridge area).

Also, when I went to the doctors, they gave me a choice and C&W was at the top of their list, with St. Georges following closely second.

Gave birth in August 2012, and have to say C&W were absolutely fabulous. We ended up staying there a week, and ok it's not quite the Ritz hotel, but in terms of the NHS, it exceed my expectations. The team that helped me out were just lovely. Would definitely choose C&W again.

[LauraBrown]

I just wanted to add another voice of support for St George's!

I have had 3 children (2 in the hospital, 1 through the St G rainbow team homebirth midwives at home); one miscarriage with associated operation; had a child spend time in Paediatric Intensive Care; made various visits to Paediatric A&E (always being seen very quickly); had a child have a couple of ops and also enjoyed a few stays on different Paediatric wards and I can honestly say that I have never had a bad experience - excellent care all round.

Wow - written down like that, I've certainly been getting my money's worth from the NHS!! (and all children are perfectly healthy now )