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

[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 )

[Mum2Monkey]

I might be wrong - but as part of North West London's "shaping a healthier future", I believe the maternity unit at C&W will shut in the next year or so. The consultation went through judicial review and I thought it was fairly final - but could be wrong..... Those giving birth there are expected to go to St Georges, UCL and Charing X (??) From what I remember reading.

[Mum2Monkey]

Ok, I take it back, just googled it and it looks like it may be staying open - which is odd as it was a doctor who told me it was closing! So not too sure now!

[FraggleRocks]

C&W mat unit isn't closing - this is at least in part as a result of the outcomes of public consultation. There were several comments/threads on NVN about it if I remember correctly.

This is a non-story from the WW Guardian, who seem to struggle for 'news' (although I think they only have one, or possibly two, reporters so it must be hard for them to do anything 'investigative' rather than regurgitating press releases). If you're in the north of the borough you'll prob go to C&W, to the West then Kingston, to the South then St George's. Others go to different hospitals outside the borough due to needs for specialist care. I know of a number of Lambeth women who've given birth at George's and have friends in Teddington and around who were offered George's too, so it must be reciprocal.

As someone said before, there'll be bad stories of births at every hospital, and fabulous ones too. My understanding is that St George's is an excellent hospital, particularly if your baby needs attention post-birth. C&W also has an excellent reputation and deals with a lot of complicated births - takes high risk patients from other areas.

[anootka]

Having a choice of hospitals is good, I went to St.G when I was 6 weeks for emergency tests after 4 hours of waiting to get my bloods taken and then another hour to see a doctor, waiting in the general room with everyone I didn't get that warm and fuzzy feeling so went to C& W for both births, but that was my personal choice. However many of my friends had their babies at ST. G with both good and bad experiences, having a choice is good!

[Gillak]

Just to add my bit. I had my first baby at St George's in the Carmen Suite and had a reasonably good experience. However I opted for Kingston for my second baby as the month I gave birth in St George's they had had to close the maternity wing to new admissions a record number of times. I understand that this is because they allow a limitless amount of people to register to give birth there versus hospitals like Kingston which have a quota each month I think. I was pretty quick the first time and couldn't face being turned away which is why I opted for Kingston which at the time had never had to close its doors. Surely with this pressure on the hospital they would be glad of some women voluntarily chosing to go elsewhere? I also believe they receive a hefty fine every time they have to close so that has to be taken into account too.