St Thomas’ Hospital Experience

I initially chose St Thomas with my first pregnancy because it was where I worked but I found them too slow with responses and went for Kings College instead.

thanks for your reply! I was considering KCH, but because their A&E waiting hours tend to be one of the longest in the countries, I wasn’t sure. Has your experience been better with them then?

I was with them throughout my pregnancy!

For me, I never had any issues with my care but I only ever had to go to the hospital for my scans as my midwife appointments were held in my local health centre (which I know isn’t the case for everyone)

I do remember waiting a bit for the self referral, I think I did it at around 2 weeks and had my first appointment around 10!

I know it’s rubbish and very very hard having to wait so sorry I can’t say more on that but as for the care in general, they were great and I had a very positive birth experience in the end! X

My pregnancy was high risk and St Thomas was amazing, I had weekly scans and a special team. The moment I was 36 weeks, and no longer at risk of delivering early, they sent me the standard path, which was way less fuss. I did hear from others that the care can vary, in my case I was very grateful for their care.

I’m 18 weeks now and have had my care with St. Thomas’ from the beginning. I self referred very early (I found out when I was 3 weeks) so I had got my first appointment around 10 weeks. Their waiting time to hear back can be quite long (I waited over 2 weeks) but I’ve had no issues with the care so far and have heard great things about the hospital☺️

Worth mentioning they also give priority to women who live in the catchment area for the hospital as well so if you’re outside of that it can take a bit longer!

I am also with St Thomas. It does take a couple of weeks for them to get back at you. But, over all it’s a good experience. The only downside I would say is that if you have an emergency non related to the baby they Will still out you in maternity assessment and it can take ages to get help as you Will be triage in the lowest priority of it does not involve baby’s health. I had a small problem and had to be two days al waiting for help.

I have literally just got a text from them and got my first midwife appointment on 29th January, on the day I will be 12 weeks. It sounds like I’m the unlucky odd one out - my appointment will be 7 weeks from the date I submitted my self-referral! :(

My first midwife appointment is also at one of their off-site clinics, so I doubt I will get my 12-week scan then. When did you guys get your first scan? And do you have to see a midwife first to get booked or does it get automatically booked?

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experiences with me! Super helpful to talk xxx

St Thomas’ the care was brilliant for me, but the comms wasn’t amazing! I never had a specific allocated midwife, just whoever was on duty for any specific appointments.

I also remembered it took a while for them to get in touch after I did the self-referral.

But they should hopefully be in touch with a booking appointment and scan date soon!

after they contact you it’s super fast. I had my first scan at almost week 14 (I found out about my pregnancy on week 10) but still had a scan and the Down syndrome testing. Midwife took a bit longer. Initially, I did everything at the hospital, but I think after December they are intending to move all the team to Walworth. So, after December I’ve been split between both places. After your first midwife appt. Many following appts are booked the same day. Same with scans.

I am biased because I too was born at KCH so wanted the same for my children.
Personally my antenatal experience was really good.
They got back to me very quickly with my first midwife appointment and scan date. All my scans were done at the Harris Birthright Centre which is lovely and new - and as it’s a research hospital there was a lot of time I felt taken with scans etc.

I didn’t enjoy my post-natal experience as it was busy and understaffed but I feel that’s a chronic issue all over.

Like I said I worked in St Thomas so it’s a good hospital / my only issues were congestion charge and parking. Getting into central London etc.

I am currently with them, so far the care has been good. Had two midwife appointments, 12 week and 20 week scan there.

Thank you so much for all your help, everyone! ♥️ xx

I’ve had both my babies at St Thomas and loved the experience. Great staff, felt very safe, had plenty of support during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

The only criticism is the bloody lifts.

those lifts irritate me everytime I go in, it’s impossible to get back downstairs 🤣

I found if you get on the LG you get a lift super fast and usually without many stops. Going down though is so annoying, I took the stairs a few times

the lifts were awful during Covid. Only 4 people allowed per lift and a queuing system run by security guards 🤦🏻‍♀️

I self referred at about 6 weeks. Everything has been booked on time so far. I’m 16 weeks and they didn’t mention a backlog. Good luck

I had my son at st Thomas 2 years ago. My experience was positive with the obstetrician through to birth and aftercare was all very good and attentive. My midwife visits were off site at gracefield gardens but didn’t get the same midwife. I had to visit MAU a few times and they were also good but it can be a few hours wait as it’s triage but once they see you very attentive and thorough. Admin and appointments can be frustrating I won’t lie. I’m also due in May and having this one at st Thomas too.

Do you guys remember how long it took between your first midwife appointment and your 12-week scan by any chance? Thanks! X

my midwife was on the 2nd dec and my scan was on the 12th !

Thanks for all the info and help, Ella!

in my case I had the 12 week ultrasound then my first midwife appt. 2 weeks later. Do not get scared by the backlog. I would say it is more important to get the scan and the blood test done than anything. This should be done if I’m not wrong btw 12-14 week. It is mostly cause that’s the right time to find defects like possible down syndrome or ectopic pregnancy that after w14 won’t be that accurate. The midwife is more for check ups. So, as long as you managed to get your first scan before W.14 it doesn’t really matter if they are taking a bit long. I would say once they call you the first time everything will be perfectly scheduled without issues 😊 hope that gives your reassurance.

Thanks so much, Sara! You’ve really calmed me down xxx

I had mine Oct 23. You might not see the same midwife twice. I did see some twice. But be warned they have separate teams. The midwives you see before birth (antenatal) will not be on the labour ward and the postnatal ward has their separate team of midwives. So there is no continuity of care. I had booking at 10 week and 12 week scan was at 12+5 or something. It was booked at the 10 week appointment so short notice but my partner still got time off work for it as far as I can remember! I thought the MAU/EPU was amazing which is why I chose St thomas as I was at the EPU with bleeding at 5 and 11 weeks they put me at ease. The postnatal was amazing but I had a traumatic birth experience for reasons maybe just bad luck, consultant and junior doctor strike on the same day but they said what happened regarding my care which made it traumatic was extremely rare and so v unlikely would happen again.

Thanks so much for being so candid and sharing your story, Alex x