Centre for Womens Health - Exeter

Selim Yaman

My wife recently had a C-section here, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We stayed for a few days after the surgery, and the care we received was top-notch. The doctors during the operation were incredible—my wife was really anxious about something going wrong, but they were so professional and calm that they helped put her at ease. The maternity social workers and midwives were always around, making sure we were comfortable and taking care of everything we needed. A special shoutout to the midwives who were amazing with breastfeeding support—they were patient, encouraging, and really helped us feel more confident. The breastfeeding supervisor also made a big difference with her practical advice and hands-on support.

Our room was clean and comfortable, and the kitchen staff were great about accommodating (rather complicated) dietary restrictions - which we really appreciated. The newborn unit staff were also wonderful with our baby. We’re so thankful to have been in such a supportive environment during this special time. Huge thanks to everyone—the doctors, maternity social workers, midwives—for their exceptional care and kindness!

Sophie Prince

I had the best experience from the first moment I stepped through the doors to the birth and recovery. I cannot thank Katie Groome enough she was amazing so supportive and caring and helped me to deliver my new years baby to the world safely I'm so grateful. All the staff are friendly caring and can tell they love what they do
Thank you again.

LinneaSjöstrand

I can't thank the staff here enough. From the scanning unit all the way to the recovery ward. I was in and out of maternity triage for weeks before my labour. I was always met with respect and kindness. My labour was very long and ended up in theatre. Every single one of you took such great care of me and my baby. I honestly can't thank you all enough, I'm forever grateful.

louise clark

The only reason I give 2 stars is for the amazing care from 1 midwife who was amazing and the care from the surgical team.
The first night was great and the care from one of the midwifes was amazing but the 2nd day was dreadful.
The only reason I stayed the 2nd night was because I was told I might be able to have the catheter removed but was then told this isn't going to happen and I shouldn't have been told that.

During the day I kept asking for someone to empty the catheter bag as it was very full, a midwife said she will be straight back but after 2 hrs no one returned. So my partner took me to the toilet and emptied it.
This happened again in the evening when my partner was at home, so I had to go to the toilet and empty it myself!

I was left for 7hrs with no pain relief after repeating asking for some, being told they are doing the rounds, take some paracetamol, someone will be around soon.
Someone came into the room and saw I was upset and all they said was do you want the light off!!.

The amazing midwife from the night before came in to see me at about 1am and gave me some pain relief and apologied for everything. At this point I just wanted to go home. She offered to take my baby into the staff room for a few hours so I could get some rest which was very much needed.

This was the 3rd baby I had here and by far the worst experience.

Samantha Harris

Absolutely shocking treatment by all midwives. Can't even justify the 1 star.
The midwives on the pre-natal ward when in early labour were extremely dismissive, rude and and don't care about your birthing wishes or you at all for that matter. Telling me 'It's not that bad, you're overreacting, you're only 3cm it can't hurt that much, if you think this is bad you're not going to handle real labour.' whilst laughing. I was in labour for 43 hours and was denied a cervical check and any pain relief for 22 hours!! As they didn't believe that I was in established labour, despite the fact I had been howling for 6 hours at this point and had repeatedly asked to be checked so that I could be moved over the the labour ward and get some pain relief. When I finally got moved to the labour ward due to me constantly pressing the button and refusing to stop until something was done, they finally checked me and I was 8cm!
The treatment I received was absolutely disgusting and dehumanising. None of the midwives that saw to me should be in this job at all, and certainly should not not be looking after babies.
The whole experience left me not wanting to have any more children, and robbed me of enjoying the Newborn bubble as I was so traumatised by it all.
I absolutely would not choose to give birth here again and certainly would not recommend it to anyone who wants the best care for themselves and their baby.

Molly Court

The only reason I am giving one star is because of the theatre team who delivered our baby via emergency c-section.
The rest of my experiences on the labour/postnatal wards were shockingly poor. My pain was not managed, baby and I were not monitored even though I went in through triage with reduced movements. I was very vocal about the pain I was in, a midwife offered a TENS machine and never returned, leaving me in agony and alone and very stressed. The majority of midwife’s in my care were dismissive, lacked empathy and should not be working in healthcare.
I stayed in hospital for 7 nights postnatally and not once was I offered clean sheets or a room clean. Poor breastfeeding support, no help with baby even though I could barely get out of bed. I wish I had of known how terrible the Exeter maternity services were before choosing to give birth there. Many other new Mums I have spoken to have unfortunately had a very similar experience.

Rachel Bustin

I went into labour unexpectedly when visiting my in laws and we were taken here. When I say 5 stars isn’t enough to express how well I was looked after I truly mean it. As first time parents my husband and I didn’t know what to expect but they kept us completely calm throughout the whole Labour experience, was smooth transitions when handing over to new midwives, my baby girl was born perfect and extremely well looked after during the birth and even more after! They showed me some good tips and tricks for when we went home. Being a nervous wreck they say with me in times I felt lonely in the night, they helped me kick start my recovery, and was in as much awe of my baby girl as I was. The two midwives that helped deliver my baby girl Steph and Danielle from the Labour ward didn’t take a break until the end of their shift or when she was born and that must have been hard for them. They are trained for these scenarios but they are not praised enough! Thank you to Steph and Danielle and every midwife and nurse and doctor and support staff that helped me from start to finish during my time here.

Dorothy Heard

The theatre team who delivered our baby via emergency c-section were fantastic and the only reason I can give one star. The rest of my experiences on the pre-labour and postnatal wards were incredibly poor - lack of compassion, care and respect from several members of staff during my stay. Declined pain medication when I asked for it on the pre-labour ward on several occasions. Short staffed on both wards during our stay unfortunately. A really poor experience apart from my time in theatre which was the only positive time for us. Wish I had heard more people's experiences before giving birth as ultimately I would have chosen a different hospital to give birth in.