reviews of Homerton and Whipps cross hospital?

I transferred from Whipps to Homerton around 20 weeks. Best decision ever. I’m sure others will agree. Team at Whipps were very judgemental, asking unnecessary questions. Never felt like you were cared for, just a number. Any concerns I had I always felt were downplayed. The complete opposite at Homerton.

Can't speak for whipps cross but homerton has been lovely.

Homerton for sure!

I live less than 5 minutes from Whipps Cross but went to Homerton to have both my babies. I really feel cared for there.

I’m very happy at Homerton and as other ladies have said, the rep seems to be much higher for homerton, check out the insta the Homerton team run, it’s lovely 🥰

thanks everyone. any recommendations i could find online or on this app previously suggested Homerton over Whipps.

On the whole I was happy with whipps. The delivery team were amazing and my experience was pretty good. The appointments up to delivery were okay, didn't feel particularly special but wasn't let down by them. Went in multiple times to egu then triage to be seen without an appointment. Was kept waiting quite a while but I expected that

I had an emergency c-section 3 weeks early at whipps cross and then had to go to ICU for one week, so my partner had to stay on the maternity ward with our newborn. We couldn’t fault the maternity ward and was absolutely amazing to my partner and myself. However when I went to the mulberry ward after five days I had a totally different experience with the midwife’s and hated the care I got (if any lol). I think it completely depends on the situation but I would go with where you feel reassured etc.

@Rachel a friend also said this about the post birth care

thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! really appreciate it. being pregnant for the first time and deciding on the delivery of my child is a huge responsibility. atm i have self referred myself to homerton and whipps cross as well. i would like to see first hand their practices and decide accordingly.

Of the 6 births of my NCT group the 4 Whipps couldn’t fault it and go so far as to say had very good experiences with the medical teams (and this was tested over a variety of births and emergencies so not just routine) and the 2 Homerton had really bad experiences. So I wouldn’t hesitate to go to Whipps again next time. They have great post birth visiting arrangements and care too which was also not the case at Homerton who were all but useless in helping with newborn feeding causing long term breastfeeding issues in one case. So I would make sure to take advice from those who have been through the whole birth process at each place rather than just the appointments. To me in hindsight the Labour and post birth care are by far the most important. Hope that helps

I gave birth at Whipps. The labour ward was clean, modern and staff were great. Nothing to fault. However, once I was transferred to the post natal ward things went down hill. I wouldn't go back to Whipps for two reasons. 1. The post natal ward is really dated but most importantly the shower facilities were unhygienic. The shower was mouldy and clearly hadn't been cleaned. I felt dirtier after I showered! 2. You can't have anyone stay with you overnight (you can if you use the birthing centre, but I wasn't able to use it). I really struggled during the night. I was the only one on my ward and was so sleep deprived. They were understaffed so I was barely seen and felt very vulnerable being alone for so long with a new born to care for. They also were unable to detect my baby's tongue tie (despite lots of checking). If I have another I'd go to Homerton.

@Rachel couldn't agree more. Like chalk and cheese

Whipps is 5 mins from my home but I gave birth at Homerton and they were wonderful.

I'm at Whipps Cross after 2 terrible experiences at Royal London which resulted in two miscarriages so I was super super cautious about which hospital to pick. I'm from the East End and growing up I only ever heard bad things about Homerton 1st hand and still till this day so that was an automatic no, no for me. Whipps Cross has been such a delight, but I'm under consultant care. I'm also a control freak so asked to see the labour ward and birthing centre and had a tour and took videos. I ended up on their Mulberry ward on Sunday because I went into triage for reduced movement (I'm 32wks) and even though the monitoring was perfect they said, because I didn't feel something was right they'll admit me to run the monitoring again every 8 hrs until I was happy. I agree that the post labour ward is dated but does the job. Every question I ask is answered or an answer is found. To be totally honest. You really have to be prepared no matter where you go to. Ask Q's, take notes, push back on things. Self advocate

@Laura really is! The labour ward couldn’t have been more supportive and helpful, they were so kind as we had a really traumatic birth. Then I went on the mulberry ward, my baby was in the baby icu and they put me on a ward with all the other babies when I didn’t have mine with me.. really impacted my mental health I ended up begging for a side room.

Awful experience after birth at Whipps Cross

I agree with you Laura, the post natal ward is awful and very understaffed

Homerton!! 100%

I’m wondering whether to transfer to Homerton too… my partner ended up in Whipps last week with hernia , the op had complications and care afterwards wasn’t great… he went today to change his dressing and was shouted and screamed at!! I don’t think I want to give birth there…

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. i just had my first antenatal visit at Whipps Cross today. I had a terrible experience. The front desk was being impolite to non-english speakers and the midwife fiddled with the computer for 40 min as it wouldn't switch on. Then she proceeded to quickly read through the medical history and tick all the boxes as quick as possible as the next patient was arriving. Other health care professionals kept on coming in and disturbing my visit. Overall it left me feeling miserable.

@Katie sorry to hear you didn’t have a good experience. Maybe see how the next couple of appointments go, and you will still have plenty of time to transfer if you want!

Homerton is great!

@Katie was that your booking appointment? That's in a different building to the rest of your appointments, that's if you have them in the antenatal unit at the hospital. I'm a massive fan of Whipps Cross. But I did bring up to the consultant midwife about the constant knocking on the door. Definitely see how your other appointments go.