St Georges to turn away pregnant mums? Post Reply

[Annabel (admin)]

According to article in the Wandsworth Guardian...

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

[moops]

To be honest I don't think this is such a bad idea. I was registered to have my Son at St Georges in 2007 and saw their Midwives throughout my pregnancy. When the time came to go to hospital when I was in labour they informed me that they were full and I would have to wait till a bed became available or get transferred to another Hospital.

I spent two hours in labour in the waiting room before I was finally seen, then I was left pushing for 6 hours and my Son nearly died as they were so busy.

I can't help thinking that if they did cap the number of women they admitted then they would be able to provide proper care and support for the ones that they do rather than put Mothers and babies at risk.

[shellbell83]

Moops, I totally agree.

Lots of my friends have had the same problem as u.
Theve waited hours, and personal care has been disgusting due to, to many patients and not enough staff.

Something has to be done

[sw11_]

I think it is sensible too. When i was pregnant i wanted to go to St Thomas's but when my GP tried to register me she told me they were full for my due date, and i could only choose from Chelsea or St Georges. I was initially put out, but having thought about it it seems much better that they anticipated any overcrowding and therefore reduced the risk of this affecting care standards. I ended up at Chelsea (who were very busy but had everything under control) and was happy with the standard of care.

[clio]

I arrived at st. Georges at the beginning of November to have my son and was told the unit was shut and that I had to go to May Day hopital in Croydon. Luckily a midwife saw me waiting at the lifts and saw that I was very close as my son was born 45 minutes after arriving!! The midwife said that she had worked there for 7 years and they had never had to use the storage room that I was given to givebirth in.To be honest I didnt care I was just so pleased to be staying where I was. The unit was then closed for 4 days on and off. Lovely for me as there was no room on the ward so I had to have a bed on the labour unit for two days. Apart from the screams around me it was much nicer than being on the ward. Apparently they usually have 350 babies born there on the average month but last october they had 700 babies booked in, hence the problem.

[sandraletitia]

Any London hospital has to occasionally turn away women by shutting the unit so hopefully capping will reduce the need to do this. 5000 plus births a year is a lot by any standards and St. George's have to ensure they have enough staff and rooms available to offer a safe service.
Even if all Hospitals capped their numbers there is no guarantee women will arrive in labour one after the other at a consistent rate!
This is really a non- story in that no-one should be panicking. Perhaps, considering the numbers have risen so dramatically in the last couple of years, it is more indicative of an increasing interest in the Hospital.
The Carmen Suite, St. George's Midwifery Led Unit, with its 2 pools, is very popular and about 55 - 60 women are giving birth there each month.
Sandra Bush
NCT Antenatal teacher and (voluntary) Service User rep, St. George's.

[Poppyseed]

Hi I am due to give birth there I'n few months and reading this thread doesnt help much. Did any of you who had given birth there went on maternity tour or asked how many women are due to give birth around the time of their due date? Really scared now and not sure if I should transfer to different hospital.