thank you very much for the information - i think i will speak to my midwife - however they are all pro watford so i might just be talking to a brick wall
I can help out if you want to go to Luton & Dunstable instead. The other hospitals I don't know so much about, but I have the phone number of the L&D out of area maternity co-ordinator in my mobile ;-)
Things to remember if you want to change hospitals
1) It's NOT your midwife's permission you 'need'
Your midwife is part of a term attached to a hospital or sometimes group of hospitals by the time you're talking to a midwife you've almost certainly already been 'assigned' to a single hospital and your midwife can't send you anywhere else.
2) This does NOT mean it's too late to do anything about it!
We moved when I was pregnant with no. 2 and I didn't know that I didn't like the hospital until after I went on the tour which I wasn't allowed to do until after 32 weeks so I was a very last minute changer!
3) You 'need' to get your GP to refer you to the other hospital
I put 'need' in speech marks because as the out of area co-ordinator from Luton explained to me I'd made my decision and the paperwork was basically just squabbling about the bill. You go into labour you point your car at the hospital you want to go to, they'll sort out the bill afterwards if it comes to that!
Having said that I'd still advocate trying to sort out the paperwork. Just don't take the attitude that they're doing you a favour by co-operating - you're doing them a favour by letting them get the paperwork in order!
4) Be prepared
GP's vary when I changed at the last minute I had to wade through about a dozen bs reasons why it was impossible in 5 minutes! It helped a lot that I'd already been on the tour and spoken to the midwives and out of area co-ordinator!
They don't take people from here - yes they do
They used to but they don't any more - I spoke to the out of area co-ordinator this morning
It's too late there isn't time - you need to send them a fax, how long do you think that'll take?
We need to get permission from the PCT before we can send that fax - OK please do so then
They're all on holiday at this time of year - Really all of them for the whole 6 weeks? goodness they must get a lot of holiday - oh well please do your best.
You'll have to go to Luton for all your ante-natal care - OK (but I didn't have to)
etc. Looking back it seems funny but it wasn't at the time and it's easy to see how somebody would be bullied into just withdrawing the request
It was all sorted in less than a day
Well it's strict in as much as if you don't meet it you can't go there! But obviously lots of mums do get to go there, just out of curiosity were you in the delivery rooms or on the Midwife led floor?
oh well
