Selecting a hospital?!

[Paul_B]

Hi All,

My wife and I both had a really bad experience with the birth of our first baby at Bedford hospital, and have a very close friend who had a worse experience.

This time around we would like to chose a different hospital (preferably Addenbrookes in Cambridge) for the birth, and wondered if anyone knew what our rights are, and if anyone has done something similar?

Not sure if this is the right place for this, so please move it if neccessary.

thanks Paul

 

[Anna Marie]

Hi Paul,

Not sure what rights we have if any when it comes to choosing a hospital but its something to raise with your GP, if he/she is aware of the problems you had with Bedford they should support your decision and book you elsewhere.. if not then you may have to call NHS and enquire..

sorry if not much help.

 

[xSuzx]

Hi there

You have every right to chose which hospital you and your wife go to.

I didn't want to give birth in the hospital that the midwifes in my area automatic referre us to so ask for a different one and my midwife was happy to help.
My midwife sees me and if I need any blood test ect she just has a copy of the results to my consultant at the hospital I chose.

my advice would be to get your wife to speak to her midwife and/or gp and they should beable to help you, don't be fobbed off your wife has the right to pick where she goes after all it's HER's and YOUR babys health their looking after.

xSuzx

 

[Rachael]

You are well within your rights to choose the hospital you want to have your baby in...Besides if a woman went into labour away from home she could go to any local hospital and they cant turn you away! - I was given a choice of three hospitals when I had my booking appointment but could have chosen a different hospital if I wanted.

For anyone who has a choice to make about what hospital they have their baby at - You can check out any hospitals statistics (ie Natural Birth %, assisted birth %, is it a Consultant or Midwife led unit etc....)by locating the hospital on the map.
http://62.73.188.194/BirthChoiceUKFrame ... ls/151.htm

 

[kelsey]

Hi, with both of my children I chose a hospital which is not in the area, and I am doing it again this time. I see the community midwife who works for the hospital that I don't want to go to and she see's me in the local antenatal clinic. All my other appointments are with the hospital I chose.

Nikki

 

[Paul_B]

Thanks for all you replies.

Our booking in appt is tomorrow so hopefully I can update you on how successful we are tomorrow eve...

 

[Manda]

If you have enough time when she goes into labour you could always drive to the hospital where you want her to give birth and tell them you were on holiday/staying with friends they wont turn you away when you're in labour

 

Hi!! Sorry you had such a bad experience with Beds hospital - I was booked there for my son - I don't want to say too much as this is a publically viewed forum but I was transferred at the last minute to L&D as I was in premature labour and they had no cots in the SCBU.

You can choose wherever you want to go, BUT my best advice would be to have your booking in session, ring up the hospital(s) you are considering and book them for a tour of the hospital to find out a bit more about them. For the sake of things being easier during labour and for routine appointments, I would pick a hospital you are within half an hours/45min drive from (not sure how far cambs is from beds, I'm in Olney). But your other options are L&D (which I thought were absolutely fantastic!), MK, and Northants (which is also good). I went for a tour of beds, mk and northants and northants is also very good and lovely and clean.

Gimme a shout if you want more info on them though Or you wanna rant about Beds, I have PLENTY of experience of being in there (was transeferred back when my son was 2 days old, but spent 7 weeks on and off on Orchard ward )

And good luck! xx