"Very poor service - totally avoid"

The worst experience by a mile in any hospital across the globe. My wife and I looked at both Queen Elizabeth and Lewisham as options to deliver our first baby. We opted for Lewisham as at first look ot looked good with new birth centre.

On the due daye the water broke, we went to the birth centre they confirmed and sent us back as there were no contractions. We were told that the contractions come up for most women in 12-24 hours otherwise they try to induce artificially after 24 hours. We went once more in the night as we felt it was time and had contractions every 3-4 minute but were sent back as there was no dialation.

After 24 hours we went directly to Delivery Centre. They admitted us and an Intern came and started doing basic examinations. This was 9:00 am the intern made some notings, put a kids heart rate monitor and said they will be back in 30 min. They never came back and was seen working elsewhere. The midwife came after 90 min and then re-did all the monitoring. It took them another hour for it to be redone. After that a doctor came and prescribed gel to be used for induction and told them they will start soon. They left.

For next 3 hours there was no news. When I went to ask another intern came and put the baby monitor on for no reason and left. They told mid-wives are busy because of the load. We could understand it was a tactic to keep us engaged. Again after an hour I went to the front desk. This time the lead mid wife told me that they have large volumes and can not induce as no midwife is free.

Nor next five hours they kept repeating the same. I went to atleast 3-4 midwives asking if something could be done while my wife was having contractions and no one had a clue.

At around 5:00 pm the lead doctor came in and informed that they dont have midwives as the volumes are high and the induction/augmentation requires a dedicated midwife. It will be morning before the midwife can be arranged. They went on to suggest that we should go to queen elizabeth hospital QEH. This after 8 hours wait in the delivery centre. Which was well staffed when we came in.

What comes next was surprising. Another midwife came and asked if we have our own car to go to QEH or we needed transport. I did not have my car and opted for transport. I thought that there was an ambulance to take us. It appeared that they were calling a cab company to take my wife who was having contractions. Nevertheless We waited and waited and it took the car 1 full hour to come. I told the hospitamitnwould have been better for me to book an Uber instead had they told me earlier.

the midwife took us downstairs to say see us off assuming the car was there and me and my wife were left stranded on the road for next 15 minutes while they figured where the car was.

All in all a very poor experience. No ownership of the patient from staff. They lack planning abilities when things start to go wrong or the volumes are out of control. Very slow needs severe improvements.