King?s or Guy?s & St T?

[Medusa]

My partner & I have a spring piglet due and it will have to be a consultant-led hospital birth. I was hoping to get some information that would help us decide where to go. King?s is more convenient for travelling, obviously, but logistics aside, does anyone have anything to offer that might help us make this decision? Either from a ?patient? or from people who work in either. There?s a possibility the baby may be sick & in need of immediate surgery, but we don?t know for certain yet. Thanks in advance!

[Soylent Green]

If there is a more than normal possibility that your baby may need to stay in hospital (and let's hope it does not), I would say the proximity of Kings is a big advantage as you will probably be visiting very regularly. They are all part of the same NHS Trust, so should be very similar?

[sunshine_sunshine]

Hi Medusa, I've sent you a pm

[maniana]

I think Leonie Penna is still the consultant (or a consultant) at Kings, and is one of the top obstetricians in the country. Incidentally she also saved my life when i was in labour :-)

The rooms and wards at Kings are not especially salubrious but i guess that?s par for the course on the nhs. You can pay for a private room if they have any rooms spare if you need to stay.

Oh and i had a baby in the ICU there which is also great. When he started to improve they let him sleep in a cot in my hospital room so i could feed him, and just brought him up to icu every few hours for meds and checkups etc. Really accommodating.

[SingingWilks]

Hi Medusa. Congratulations and sorry to hear that your baby may need surgery. I gave birth at King's so have no personal experience of St. Thomas' (but know people who have without complaint) but I would strongly consider St. Thomas' if there is a possibility that your baby could be sick as it is located right next door to the excellent Evelina childrens' hospital so proximity for the possibility of having to move your baby is something to take into consideration. I wish you all the best.

[Medusa]

Thanks for the responses & private messages.