"Exceptional services provided by Maternity Unit..."

I wish to praise all staff members that we have come across during our stay in Maternity Unit at Croydon University Hospital. During my outpatients appointment in ante-natal clinic, due to my medical condition, it was decided to induce my labour and I was sent straight to Hope Ward. I was anxious and did not know what to expect (first pregnancy). On the ward we were greeted by lovely midwife, who was expecting us. We then had a pleasure of meeting Maternity Matron, who recognised my anxiety and spent great amount of time, making sure, all our questions were answered and despite her busy schedule, she stayed with us until me and my husband calmed down and felt reassured. We met various healthcare professionals and all of them treated us with kindness, patience, empathy, compassion. After few hours we were transferred onto Labour Ward, where we have met more professional, kind and very helpful members of staff, nothing was too much to ask. Labour was challenging, but I was kept informed throughout by the nicest midwife and student midwife (on day shift 2/11/18). We ended up having an emergency C-section and I cannot recall it all, however I do remember that midwife and student midwife, who was by my side all the time, even in theatre and in recovery room. After giving birth to our beautiful baby boy and once I recovered, we were transferred onto Mary Ward. Yet again, all members of staff that we have met there were exceptionally kind and helpful. My pain was kept under control, our baby was regularly checked, food was good too. Overall we received an exceptionally good service.

From the very bottom of our hearts we would like to thank all members of staff that we have met during our stay in Maternity Unity, especially Matron, Midwife in charge on day duty (2/11/18), Midwife and Student Midwife on duty (2/11/18) in Labour Ward, Midwife on night duty on Mary Ward (3-4/11/18) and very special thanks to Breastfeeding Support Worker, who went an extra mile to help me go through an ordeal of breastfeeding. I was not planning to breastfeed, but thanks to you I am, and I am very happy about it. You have all exceeded my expectation and made this experience a beautiful one.

The only negative comment I would make is the fact that the Trust decided to remove parking spaces right outside Maternity Unit (it use to be Pick Up point and now spaces are reserved for disable patients). My husband could not find space anywhere else, so I was forced to walk a distance and after having a C-section it was not nice.