I keep hearing references made to new NHS policies, that people can choose which hospital they go to. How does this work in practise? If you've been told to go to Jessops, do you have a choice?

When i saw my midwife for the first time with baby number 4, she said to me "I'll book you in for Jessops then" I said said no thanks, i want to go to Calow. So she booked me in there :) May be it depends on how far your choice of hospital is from you. It does annoy me that they just PRESUME you will go to Jessops, but i guess thats cos (I believe) it's the only maternity hospital in Sheffield now. Even tho i live in Sheffield, from this end of the city, Calow is probably about the same distance, but MUCH easier to park and far quicker to get to if you need to go during rush hour. I had my first baby in jessops, 2, 3 & 4 at Calow, and having number 5 at Calow. HTH

I too was "presummed" to be giving birth at Jessops but opted for Calow. So glad I did - they were excellent and the midwifes were fantastic. The hospital was clean and all the staff I met were friendly. Spent some time in SCBU - all the staff there were amazing and helped us thro a diffucult time. They work so hard to care for the little babies (and frantic parents!) and are a credit to the NHS. Will def opt for Calow again! :thumbsup:

I was meant to be giving birth at calow but will now be giving birth at jessops. :\ Can't say I'm happy about it but baby needs the extra care.. Hmph.

Is Jessops better equipped for extra care then? I only had 1 of mine at kessops, and it was the old building. I only noticed recently that Calow have SCBU, often wondered if we'd need to transfer if my babies needed special care, but thankfully none of them have.

I have nothing but good things to say about Jessops so I wouldn't worry too much about having to go there.

jessops is brilliant my daughter was prem and needed scbu and ALL the staff were fantastic

Personally I reckon an NHS hospital is as good as the next. Everyone has different experiences, some good, some bad but it doesn't mean that others will have the exact same experience so I don't think ,(IMO) that it's fair to judge a hospital on a "bad" experience when the good ones probably far outweigh it.

I didn't have a bad experience at jessops, other than it was falling apart (it was 12 years ago, in the old building) peeling paintwork, and looked scruffy. Also had a stroppy new qualified very young midwife who was quite vile to me during labour, but she went off shift, and the midwife who actually delivered my daughter was soooo lovely, as were the vast majority of the rest of the staff, and i was kept in for 6 days. I only chose Calow as it's nearer for me (or just seems nearer, I'm not sure which) and it's far easier to park than jessops. I've gone home as soon as possible after the births, so not stayed long enough to worry about whether I liked it or not lol. As long as they deliver my baby safely, and look after me and let me home asap I dont really mind where I am!

I too had babybonny at Jessops and never considered anywhere else as it was the most convenient at the time.

My daughter isn't booked in anywhere yet, when she moves to the S26 area in June she'll potentially have the choice of Jessops, Rotherham and Bassetlaw but I've suggested she opt for Rotherham as it's going to be the easiest go get to. Her baby is due 10 July so just hoping he doesn't decide to make an early appearance!

I know this may be deemed as off topic, as this is in the parenting section, but..
I had a conversation with my doctor yesterday about this as I need to see a surgeon. My doctor said that the new choice policy was not a choice at all and was just an expensive way to make patients believe they have a choice.
I suppose the fact that I can choose a hospital makes it choice but actually I would prefer to choose which specialist I see. This is where my doc claims it is actually letting patients down as there is no choice about specialist, just hospital.
Now, when I was given the options I could choose from Rotherham, Sheffield, or Calow. I know Calow do not even have a specialist for my particular need, not sure about Rotherham, but Sheffield do. Also Hallamshire was not an option.

Then called the number to book my appointment at Northern Gen. and they have not released any appointments so now have to wait approx. 14 days to be called back when they may have some appointments.

I think I'd rather the doc just referred me and I got a letter through the post with an appointment as it all seems a huge expense to the NHS for something that is just confusing. They could spend the money more wisely by employing more nurses and ensuring hospitals were clean.

I was down in Nottingham when I had my DD. I had the choice of Nottingham or Derby Hospitals. I decided to use a Derby Hospital because of their breast feeding award, it also helped that there were better parking facilities there as well.

Does anyone know much about Rotherham matrnity unit? I'm expecting my first child - not due until Oct. Most of my friends have had theirs at Calow and jessops and all had a mix of experiences. I dont know anyone who has had one at Rotherham. I live in S26 so Jessops is a little far - Rotherham is my expected hospital but I was thinkig about Calow.

For the time being I have gone with Rotherham, I had my first scan but they were too busy to show me around and I have arranged to be shown around the unit in a couple of weeks time but wondered if anyone had any opinions on Rotherham?