Thoughts on Croydon University Hospital Midwifery care

I’m 39 weeks and going for my induction on Wednesday. I honestly cannot fault the care that I’ve had throughout my pregnancy. It is my first pregnancy so I don’t have anything to compare it to, however, every midwife I’ve met has been lovely. I also have not seen the same one twice but unfortunately that is normal these days. I have been to triage a couple of times for reduced movements and there care I received there was absolutely faultless in my opinion. I got diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 37 weeks and can also not fault the care and organisation of making sure I had all the knowledge I needed to manage the diabetes until baby is here. Unfortunately, and as I’m sure you can imagine, with an ever growing population, the nhs is short staffed and there are things that will suffer, but I can honestly say I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by my experience so far and I’m glad I’ve been able to form my own opinion instead of listening to others. Wishing you luck xx

Thank you for lovely response appreciated xx

I had my daughter 3 and a half years ago but had a great experience throughout. Back then Croydon was said in an article to be best in London for giving birth https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/croydon-best-place-london-mums-15761774 I didn't have a consistent midwife, but I don't know anyone that did; including people that gave birth at east Surrey, St helier, and pru. I went in to triage a few times for extra checks as a couple times I couldn't feel my daughter kick for a while and one time I had bleeding and had to stay overnight. I honestly couldn't fault it.

If it helps, the quality care commission has rated the maternity section in Croydon as good: https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/RJ611/inspection-summary#npimaternity

PRUH is currently requires improvement: https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/RJZ30

I had my first at East Surrey which was a good experience. I was a bit concerned about the reputation of Croydon when I moved. So far, I can’t fault it. I had a miscarriage in March and they were so supportive and caring. Since falling pregnant again (I’m 24 weeks), I can’t fault any part of their care or process. I know a few people that have use Croydon and the PRUH. Sadly, my friends have had not had good experiences at the PRUH but interestingly, good experiences at Croydon. Everyone is different so you will naturally hear different experiences. However, I do think that you should go with more current experiences and your own research rather than historical reputations as the quality of care can change quickly wherever you go. Hope that helps.

Thanks for all the thoughts helps to put my experiences in perspective alongside looking at the research. I think clinical settings in general give me the heebies and the current realities of how the nhs is stretched and impersonal wherever you go definitely adds to it Xx

I used Croydon University Hospital. My experience was amazing. I saw the same midwife until after birth. I didn’t experience cancelled appointments or anything. It was an overall amazing experience for me. The midwives, nurses and doctors were just great. I’m really surprised at the comments as i experienced the exact opposite.

CUH homebirth team is absolutely superb and completely different to the main hospital. I would really recommend thinking about homebirth if you're low risk. East Surrey homebirth team is also brilliant. If you look at their September stats, 100% of the women who opted to have their care with the homebirth team had a vaginal birth, zero transfers. Of the women that opted to give birth in the hospital, they have a 50% C-section rate. This is quite standard and aligns with national averages. When you opt for homebirth the care you receive is so much better, and the birthplace study shows that home is just as safe for the baby and safer than hospital for the mother SASH Homebirth stats: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2ZW_vRMl2M Vs SASH hospital stats: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAElQJTuo8X Croydon team is much smaller so have fewer births, but you're also more likely to see the same midwife throughout all of your appointments and receive more personalised care https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch-HWMTDT03

Who is your midwife @Elly ? I’m 16 weeks tomorrow and had some concerns about the midwife I had been assigned initially x

I really didn’t have a great experience at Croydon in 2022. Was told I needed to be induced immediately as baby was in distress and worried about her but then ended up having to wait 6 days on the ward for a bed in labour ward, but was also not allowed to go home as they wanted her out asap?😅 Two other women next to me in the ward were told to fast each day for their c sections, only to be cancelled each day as no staff and they were there 6 days too. We all kicked off then suddenly beds/staff were available. Gone with St Georges this time :)

@Amber I haven’t been assigned to one unless I’ve missed something?

I don’t know to be honest because when I had my booking app I was told it would be a specific person who filled in my notes but there was another there with her essentially talking her through it because she actually didn’t have a clue on what do to which made me feel super uneasy. I haven’t had another midwife app yet I’ve been told it’s her again. I’m just a bit worried as she is quite clearly new and whilst that’s not always a bad thing you know you just want some experience to feel comfortable…I wonder if we have seen the same one

@Amber yeah I had different ones at my booking and at 16 week midwife appointment at my local drs so not sure but totally emphasis/relate to your experience I did not leave with confidence. X

Is this first baby/are you low risk? For my first baby I was under the care of the birth centre at CUH and can’t fault them, the midwife themselves (I saw the same one) and the centre was super lovely and the only reason I didn’t end up having my little girl there was because she was breech so I had an unplanned csection (which is obviously up on labour ward) but my post care was also incredibly lovely. I felt so fragile after my csection and this amazing student midwife helped me to the toilet every time and gave me so much useful advice. This time around I can’t go to the birth centre so have community midwives at my local GP and can’t say I’ve been blown away by them, if this was my first baby I’d probably be a bit miffed as they always seem so rushed off their feet and it’s always a new person, but admittedly they do initially take their time to go through my notes and make sure we’re on the same page, just seems more rushed than for my first baby. I guess they are all stretched!!x

I’m having an amazing experience there so far and so are a few others I know. It’s has a stigma because it’s Croydon, but the midwives are so Lovely x

Hi! I gave birth at CUH in July and back in 2019. This time round maternity care was fine, great experience of giving birth it's self but the postnatal care was patchy. If I was going to have more kids I'd probably use Croydon again as the location is so convenient, rather than the care being amazing. Hope this helps!

I had a water birth at Croydon University Hospital in June 2023. The team I had were really lovely xx

Just had my baby at CUH on Saturday. I was in hospital for a total of 5 nights (3 nights before baby, 2 nights after baby was born by c section) and I honestly cannot fault the care I received at all. Everyone was so kind, friendly caring and thorough