"Giving Birth at the RLH"

My wife recently gave birth in the RLH. All be it a nice new hospital, but that doesn't help when it is dirty and the staff aren't very nice.

Labor Ward.

First of all there was old blood on the bed, the toilet had blood in the bath/shower on the labor ward. The staff don't knock when they come into the room, they just burst through the door. You are constantly disturbed being asked if a certain person is in your room, the midwives don't communicate so you are constantly asking to be seen or assisted.

Beeper alarm ignored for assistance. The majority of the staff aren't at all friendly or calming.

The midwife that took us into theater for the cesarean was very nice, and that was the last we saw of them. The doctors/anesthetist and theater staff are very nice and calming towards you.

Maternity Ward.

There were 5 including my wife on the ward, that she was moved to at 2300 after feeling settled into the half filled labor ward and after giving birth at 0930 in the morning. We was never told we would be moved and was under the impression that she could stay there. On the ward the staff aren't friendly, I came across one nice nurse, they helped us the most and saw our needs and complaints weren't unrealistic. They assisted us with leaving earlier as two nights on the ward would of been too much for wife, and that ward is enough to send you into a depression. I was there for 30 mins before I was getting annoyed with people and staff. They don't adhere to the policy of 3 people and no children due to infections being passed both ways. The staff are noisy at night keeping babies and mother awake.

In all the experience wasn't very nice, I would definitely not recommend on giving birth there. Stay well clear and head way out of London!