Princess Royal or Royal Sussex County hospital?

From my personal experience, when I had my son at princess royal 5 years ago it wasn’t the best, some midwife’s and nurses were lovely but had a lot of judgy people too. Then I had my daughter there 2022 and was much better experience but still some rude people working there. Think it just depends who you get, I was in for a week both times and found that generally was positive but always someone who’s grumpy or doesn’t want to help you. I’m having my third there in September as I find it is a lot calmer there and easier for people to come visit, as brighton is just so busy and the parking is horrible so I prefer the calmer experience. Hope this helps at all. But I haven’t had a baby at Brighton so can’t compare either xx

I had the most amazing care from PRH (Hayward Heath hospital) I also had two lovely midwife’s and they were just amazing, made me feel so at ease. I haven’t been to Brighton i just know it’s a huge hospital. Xx

Only used triage at PRH but couldn't fault them. Parking is much easier at PRH than RSCH and not as much of a pain to travel to for me, and that is pretty much the only reason I would choose princess royal!

Had my baby as PRS 9 weeks ago. I was there for a week and they were amazing. Could not fault them at all xx

I had my first at Royal Sussex and will be having my next there in September. My husband never had any issue parking (and even went for swim in the sea and got some thai food as my labour was taking its sweet time 😂). Midwives were all incredible! So nice and made the experience so good! I personally didn’t find it busy at all - I went a few times before labour during pregnancy with my first due to reduced movements/bloody tests etc and was a really chilled positive experience then as well. I ended up needing an episiotomy and again that was all such a positive experience - the midwives were explaining everything to me and my husband and what was going on and the lady that actually did it did a fantastic job as I never once afterwards had any awareness that I had had it done as it healed so quick and so well. Obviously everyone’s experience is different and I’m sure there are negative experiences from both hospitals but I personally couldn’t fault Brighton one bit.

Everyone will have their own experience! Having been at both in 2023 (gave birth at RSCH and was in for 9 days but was readmitted to Princess Royal on day 11) I would say people are amazing at both but RSCH felt a lot busier and a lot more understaffed. Also, HH has lights off on postnatal ward with lots of fairy lights, this included their breast feeding/expressing room, whereas, throughout the 9 days in Brighton I didn’t see the lights off on the main post natal ward once, and I kept having to turn the lights off in the pumping room to create more ambience. Also found it a lot harder to get help at Brighton due to understaffing - at one point I had to help a person mid-Labour get into the bath (I was post C-section and trying to wheel my baby along with us). I even had to go into the cleaners cupboard to get her a clean towel as we spent 10 minutes ringing the bell, going behind reception and into the different rooms to find someone to help us but couldn’t find anyone.

My whole antenatal group were HH based and they all agreed they had an amazing experience. The staff at RSCH were amazing, but just completely overwhelmed. There was a report out that they had failings in maternity care at RSCH, my mum sent it to me after a really traumatic experience there that I don’t think is fair to share here as it wasn’t to do with the midwives.

I was due to have my boy at haywards heath but due to needing a planned c section moved to brighton as they have set elective days! The team were great!

One last thing - when my friend was giving birth at HH she overheard them saying midwives/staff were needed down at Brighton urgently, so it was probably just bad luck that I was in when there were issues with staffing. I would certainly have any future babies at Brighton again (if I’m lucky enough to have another!). I was consultant led and didn’t have a choice over where to give birth. But my experience wouldn’t stop me going back there :)

I had both my babies at Royal Sussex and they were amazing. My first had to be in hospital for 5 days on antibiotics due to PRM and he was taken over to the baby unit at the Alex. With my second I was anxious to give birth at Royal Sussex due to it being a much larger hospital with a children’s hospital attached. But I did have massive babies (10lbs13oz) so did just feel safer being in a big hospital

I had my daughter at Brighton and the midwifes were lovely ! I ended up going to theatre and all the doctors were Amazing too X

Thank you so much to you all for taking the time to answer so thoroughly, I really appreciate it! This helps me think things over. And hope all goes well for any future babies being born! 💕

I don’t have personal experience but my friend suffered two ectopic pregnancies and has just gone on to have her baby boy through IVF And talks so highly of the care she received at the princess through it all!

@Heidi hi Heidi, are you able to let me know more about the c section? I would like a planned c section but am petrified of giving birth at Brighton due to the cqc reports. Did everything go well?