East Dulwich Hospital Maternity Ward/s?

[O1kric]

Hello,

I was born at East Dulwich in the late 1950s - Is there any way I can find out exactly *where* in this hospital please? I recently had to go back there for some treatment, I noticed that some of the wards had been demolished, so wondered if the building where I was born still survived or not?

Thanks,

O1

[Pugwash]

The maternity wards were in the main building and were there until mid - late 70s

[rememberwhen]

My niece was born there in December 1979

[vicki08]

The maternity wards were still there in 1985 my friends daughter was born there and also still there in dec 88

[O1kric]

Many thanks to all, I wonder if there is a plan of the hospital when it still had the maternity wards - it looks like those wards would still be there if they were in the main building?

O1

[steveo]

My two were born there in the late 80s. The maternity ward was then in the sadly demolished wing

[lilolil]

My son was born there in 1990. I think the ward was called Faraday. There were two maternity wards there. That part of the hospital has now been demolished

[puwetter]

My son was born in dulwich hospital in 1984 the ward he was born in has been demolished

[maritap]

My daughter was born there in 1983... It was a lovely maternity wing

[O1kric]

Thanks. Oh dear, it sounds like the ward was knocked down :( Does anyone know where it was in relation to the parts of the hospital which are still standing please? The only bit I really know well (ish) is the main entrance, because I had to check in there recently.

O1

[lilolil]

You went in the main entrance and then turned right. The maternity wards were on the first floor. I think they were up the second staircase along.

I know one was called Faraday and I think the other may have been called Dekker.

[steveo]

What I would like to know is why it was demolished. Even if it was an unhygienic maternity wing, it was a great building

[tallulah71]

My bro was born there in the 70's, and it is the best memory I'll ever have because the cleaner outside my mum's room was Irish, as is my family, and she went to me and my Dad, "do you want to go inside?"....Anyway, I was allowed to hold my new born bro before he was even washed off and that, when I was 6. I will take that with me always.

That's my memory anyway...

[steveo]

Like

[O1kric]

Thanks and that's ironic Lilolil, I walked down that ground floor corridor after my appointment - went right down to where the surviving hospital ends. Beyond that wall is now a wasteland, and outside you can see boarded up windows. There was indeed an upstairs, with a staircase leading to it, I didn't investigate further though, it looked 'off limits'.

[jj55]

My Dad was born there in 1939, we're trying to find out the same (as the maternity wards may have moved over the years) if we have any luck I'll let you know.

[Otta]

My sister and I were both born there (74 & 78 respectively). My mum tells stories of women al lined up in beds labouring with little privacy.

[O1kric]

Thanks jj55,

I'm surprised there aren't more photos of the hospital in its heyday - there doesn't seem to be much on the Internet; maybe there's a photo of the maternity wards somewhere?

[duchessofdulwich]

Born there in 1983

[nunheadbelle]

puwetter Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My son was born in dulwich hospital in 1984 the

> ward he was born in has been demolished

My daughter was born there in 1984 too. I spent a little time in the maternity ward and remember we were well fed, the tea trolley came round in the evenings with milky drinks and drinking chocolate before bed.

It's all gone now but I showed her where the rest of the building used to be.

[Aileen R]

Hello, I'm new on this Forum, and I don't even live in Dulwich any more, but I just wanted to add to this thread as my first child was born at Dulwich in 1989. At the time, I was "low risk" under GP care (Dr Peter Roseveare). Of my ante-natal friends from Paxton Green, I was the only one who didn't go to Kings - we were all 30+. I thought Dulwich Hospital looked pretty and seemed more baby-friendly.

Before Baby was born, I had two days on newly decorated pink and peach Dekker Ward; just me and a Japanese lady. I ended up having a Caesarean in Theatre One two fairly young doctors, David and Adam delivered baby; the Anaesthetist was a lady and she had a lovely string of pearls on under her theatre gown, fortunately, she was still on the ward and hadn't gone back to Kings.

I was taken back to Dekker with my gorgeous new Baby until after lunch on Day Two when to my horror I was wheeled up to Faraday Ward which was a pea-soup green colour and I was told was the old male renal unit; grim is not the word - it was noisy and hot and there weren't enough cot mattresses - the cleaning was "relaxed" (and I'm being generous) and I don't know why I bothered ordering my meals because not once did I get the right one. Ms Linda Cardozo was one of the Consultants - I remember her doing the rounds.

I feel sad that they closed the unit - I suppose everyone has to go to Kings now.

[Pugwash]

I had both of my daughters at Kings as I refused to go to Dulwich. My best friend had both of her boys there - first son was recalled as it was found one of the staff had TB and all babies born around that time had to be monitored. The next baby a few years later was rushed into intensive care at a week old and discovered to have meningitis thought to have caught it whilst in Dulwich. Both boys are fine now and have children of their own.

I worked in Dulwich Hospital around 1996 onwards and hated the wards so dingy and ancient, toilets and bathrooms were not nice and clean as too old to keep spotless.