Likelihood of being turned away from Broomfield?

I haven’t heard this at all - surely they can’t just turn you away?! I’m due in November, first baby and under Broomfield so I hope not!

someone at my NCT class mentioned that they were at capacity for a few days when Basildon was shut for the gas and air repairs and that her friend got told to go to Cambridge 😭 another friend also mentioned she got the last delivery suite when she had her baby (albeit during covid so maybe they were stricter). Really hope it wouldn’t happen and if you were that bad they’d find room somehow but these couple of stories have worried me! (Also due in November and under Broomfield)

When I was induced they was super busy and delivery ward was packed!
They wasn’t expecting me to deliver so quick but they managed to get me a room , yes it’s was a proper delivery room all fancy, it has all the monitors , baby cot bed for me and bathroom! And had everything midwife needed but it was small room on the side!

If your in labour they will find you somewhere , they may tell you to stay at home longer if you can but once you phone they know to be expecting you soon. Xx

I was under Broomfield and I’ve never heard of anyone being turned away whilst in active labour, they’re the main hospital for births in the area. When I had my little girl in June I was only supposed to be being monitored and turned out I was in labour, was sent for a walk for an hour-hour n half then they found me a room on the labour ward. And as far as I was aware St Peter’s is still open? Well it was in June/July time. X

I did hear too about people being sent to Cambridge during active labour with the ambulance.

yes I mean I guess they must have some sort of full capacity level but I would be surprised if they sent you away. Even if it meant giving birth in a&e I would have thought they’d have to accommodate you somehow and they’d have a duty of care to do so if you was in real active labour. I think there can be a lot of scaremongering or stories told without any context (such as person wasn’t in active labour and advised to go elsewhere) but maybe I’m naive. May see you there in November good luck!! X

All hospitals have to have an emergency plan if they are full this isn’t something that is new, when my friend was in labour 10yrs ago in Southend they were full an she was told to go to Romford it was the closest hospital with space she couldn’t get there ambulance won’t go that far unless instructed by a hospital an she couldn’t afford the taxi so she went to a&e an had her baby in Southend the closest hospitals are Colchester an basildon there is also a community hospital in Braintree not sure if they are open for births or not as they keep closing it like the maldon one

Thanks for the replies everyone - hopefully won’t happen just wanted to be prepared in case hubby had to do a sudden longer drive to an unfamiliar hospital, was thinking of doing a couple of test drives just in case

sadly St Peter’s is closing in October sometime :(

I did hear WJC is opening again soon, not sure when but that’s like at peters but in Braintree x

really?!? How on earth they think one hospital can deal with most of the births in a such a big area is beyond me 😬😬

I questioned this when I had my little one in July and it was only when the other hospitals ran out of gas and air that it was happening apparently. As broomfield are the only hospital that it is plumbed in where as the other hospitals are on the canisters. They were taking women in labour from other hospitals when there was a shortage and from what they have said it is now sorted so it shouldn’t happen🤞

yeah it’s ridiculous, apparently will only do midwife appointments there from October onwards and then they’re going to ‘decide the future of the hospital’ :(

Exactly the same as Braintree birthing unit 😬

I was induced, on dau and 4cm dilated after my waters had broke, I had to ‘wait for a midwife’ - they had to call a community one.
Had to stay in theatre as they didn’t have a bed for me.
Then had to go back into labour as they didn’t have any postnatal beds.

They’re so understaffed, my midwife had 8 other mothers.

I went during the strike so was unstaffed but they still managed , hopefully it won’t come to that when it’s your time d