Barts and The London Maternity Service | For women and families | Choosing Barts and The London
Choosing Barts and The London
Booking your first appointment
You can book to have your baby with us by:
- Completing the self referral form
- Through your GP
- Through a health care professional
- If you have a ‘choose and book’ number you can reserve your first appointment electronically
Transferring your care to us
If you have booked to have your baby at another unit but wish to transfer your care to us, complete the self referral form and return to the address provided as soon as possible. We will endeavour to see you within 1 week of receiving this form.
Tours of the maternity unit
You are welcome to visit us at The Royal London Hospital before you decide whether to receive care from us.
Visits take place every Thursday at 5.30pm.
A midwife will meet you at the main entrance and take you round the maternity unit. There is no need to book but please phone Parent Education Office on 020 7377 7402 a few days before to ensure the tour is still going ahead.
Bengali-speaking tours are available on the first Monday of each month at 10.30am. Please call the health advocates office on 020 7377 7402 a few days before to confirm the tour is still going ahead.
Tours of the Barkantine birth centre take place on a Wednesday evening and a Saturday morning. These can be booked by calling 020 7791 8300
Home birth and other options
We want you to have as much choice as possible. You could decide to have your baby at The Royal London Hospital, at home, or at the Barkantine Birth Centre, In addition your care before and after your birth could take place in the hospital, at your GP surgery or at the Barkantine Birth Centre depending on your circumstances. The team will ensure that you feel safe, confident and totally involved in all aspects of your care, whatever your background, culture or religious belief.
A Home Birth Support Group has been established for women and their partners who wish to discuss home births with other women who have had or are considering home births. If you are interested in having your baby at home, please discuss this with your midwife.
Contact Claire Davis on tel 020 8980 9580 for dates and times of meetings.
The three choices of care
We can help you choose the right care package. When you first meet a midwife, she will work with you to assess whether your pregnancy has special considerations called risk factors. This lets us offer the best care package(s) for you and your baby.
Community Care/Midwifery led care
Low risk women are booked under a team of Midwives. Antenatal care is provided by community clinics/health centres by Community Midwives. Scans are at the hospital. You may need to see an obstetrician if there are any problems or concerns from yourself or your midwife. You will have choice of place of birth (at home, at the Barkantine Birth Centre, or at the Royal London). To find out more about the Barkantine Birth Centre please click here.
Shared care between midwife and GP
This package is also designed for low risk women. The midwife will generally be your lead professional and an agreed schedule of care will be planned. Care is provided as above with input from your GP. Women attend the hospital for scans. You may need to see an obstetrician if there are any problems or concerns from yourself / your midwife/ your GP. You will have choice of place of birth (at home, at the Barkantine Birth Centre, or at The Royal London).
Consultant led shared care
This package is designed for high risk women. Depending on the specific risk factors your care is led by a named obstetrician and you appointments will be either with the obstetrician at the hospital or with your GP / midwife in the community. Scans take place at the hospital. Usually you will give birth at the Royal London.
