Surely the hospital-postcode-lottery shouldn't be surprising. I have to admit I live in South Ken and my daughter was born in the Chelsea & Westminster hosp. I truly think it's one of the best in the country although once my husband was taken to St. Thomas' and I found the staff there incredibly nice and professional. I work in the City and a few years ago I broke my ankle stumbling down a staircase. I was taken to the Royal London and I have to say I was shocked. I think the people working there were really top but the whole athmosphere and what was going on in the waiting room made me physically sick. Patients there were abusive, shouting, arguing with each other and wasting nursing staff's time with their trivial complaints. Additional to that I lived in Austria for several years and know what it's like in other European countries. What's going on in London regarding NHS facilities and services is disgraceful, it's the same with GPs. Go to one in the East End and afterwards pop down the surgery in Putney (SW) for example, the difference is incredible, but then: different borough different taxes. More wealthy people = more contributions and also they expect something for all the NI money that's taken from their salaries month by month. I'm one of the "lucky" ones which means 40%(!) of my earnings I see going into our lovely (cranky) state system of equal-rights-service and the NHS. If you see what health service you can get in other parts of Europe (e.g. Germany, Holland and Scandinavia) you wouldn't believe it, but if you don't know better.. what's the problem ;-)