Hi. I am new to mumsnet. I am 10 weeks pregnant with my first child and hope some one can share their experience of private hospitals in London. I am considering the Portland Hospital but after having a tour this week, I have heard that they have a bad reputation. Do anyone have any experience. Any other recommendations are very welcome. Really confused after hearing about the bad reputation. Any advise very much appreciate. Thanks in advance.

I went to St John & St Elizabeth. Very happy experience. I think it depends what you want. J&L was fantastic for the natural birth I wanted - I had no drugs, water birth using self-hypnosis and homeopathy. Of course for some people that would be their idea of a birth from hell!

Thank you very much for sharing your experience. I have heard that J&L is good but I am in SE London and think that J&L might be a bit far away.

Have you thought about private ward at NHS hospital? Lansdell suite at St Thomas's might be best placed for you - Know a couple of people been very happy there with Mr Kelleher - one for two births. You get the care and private facilities but with NHS backup. Think they also do a midwifery led scheme if you prefer that. Usually a bit cheaper.

Yes, it probably is. I had a ridiculously quick labour (under 3 hrs), so was glad J&L is just 15 minutes away! Good luck, hope you find somewhere that's right for you.

PS I know what you mean about Portland (it put me off) but I also know a couple of people who've been happy there and returned for #2 - don't know anyone who didn't go back.

THanks for your comments. Yes I have looked at Lansdell Suite BUT I have a friend that have now had 2 bad experiences at St. Thomas but not on the private ward. Went to visit her both times and found it filthy and dirty. It might be different on the private ward.

Hello, and congratulations!

I am 6 months pregnant and using the Portland (midwife-led, not consultant-led care)- and I feel that I have had excellent care so far eg appointments when they suit me and with flexibility, as much time as I need to ask silly questions (first pregnancy!), lots of tests and scans (apparently more than the NHS give but I have not checked the difference) etc, lengthy scans and full explanations of things, good medical advice etc. Not that I am saying that you dont get that in the NHS too, but as this is my first baby I have nothing to compare it to, so I'm just saying it how I see it! I was happy with the tour, what I saw etc and I feel "safe" enough there. I know there were the semi-recent deaths (Laura Touche and another woman?)and someone on here once posted about knowing a couple who had lost a baby there, as well as them not having emergency facilities on site for mothers who may encounter serious problems with the birth, but I am still happier there than opting for the care I would get at our local nearest hospital (Northwick Park).

Good luck with wherever you choose!

other option is the lindo at st marys

It will be different on the private ward. My friend is American and very fussy. She didn't want to leave! People pay around £10k for consultant-led care in these places, so they wouldn't do so if it were filthy. But if you want 100% private facility it is not for you, although correspondingly you lack the backup.

Are you too far from Queen Charlotte? Their private ward is quite good and my consultant was wonderful. Plus you'd have back-up if needed, their neo-natal facilities are first rate.

Again thank you everyone for sharing your experince and knowledge.

Slinkiemalinki, you are absolutely right. If you are paying that sort of money you would expect it to be good. As you might have guessed, I am very fussy as well

Deb1972, Thanks for your comments. I am pleased to hear that you have had a positive and happy experience so far. I had a positive tour and felt comfortable with Portland but then heard about the bad reputation.

TheBlonde and Anagram. I have had a quick look at the webpages for St Mary and Queen Charlotte and they look like a good option. I think I will go for tour. Queen Charlotte might be a bit too far away. Have to think about getting there when it all happens.

I had my baby at the Portland and was very happy. Both my care and that of my baby was excellent (e.g. he had minor trouble with his breathing at first - not enough for intensive care or oxygen, but still not perfect - and a pedeatrician monitored him for 3 hours until completely settled, checking on him every half an hour herself and having midwives update her in the meantime). Also, they do have an intensive care for babies now (but if mom serious problems you'll still need to be transferred to NHS). Midwives were available all the time - at first they checked extremely regularly (and was monitored anyway), but later they asked if I wanted to be left alone with my husband and baby, in which case they only came with medication or for checks (or immediately when called). I've got nothing to compare this against as he was my fist, but for what it's worth, I was very happy. And it was lovely that my husband could sleep over.

i went to lindo and didn't want to leave! still feel nostalgic for it swven months later. but they don't have birthing pools so no good if you after water birth...

without wanting to scaremonger, a friend who had baby a month before me was discharged from portland without them trealising she was anaemic and more seriously had bit of placenta left inside. awful infection resulted. also felt extremely weak. she not impressed azt all by that!

sprry awful one handed typing as bfing.

It can get confusing, can't it!

I have had extra blood tests for iron deficiency at the Portland as they were checking for anaemia with me after my general blood test results came back, and apparently I have an extra "lobe" of placenta in my womb which needs to come out after the 'main' placenta comes out, which they picked up at my last scan and noted in my records etc, so I will be making sure that the extra bit comes out (yuk) etc before I am sent home!

Yes, I am VERY happy too that my husband can sleep in my room and stay with me the whole time!

it would have to be the lindo, because of access to the facilities at a big teaching hospital like st mary's

oh, and husband with me all time at lindo. lovely midwives, nurses. brilliant b reastfeeding help which prob why still doing it at 7 mthswhen really didn't fancy it much when preg and thought would do bare 3mth minimum...

Sal22, Thanks for sharing your very positive experience from Portland and I am pleased to hear that they now have an intensive care for babies which have been one of my concerns.

Tallis, Thanks for recommending Lindo. It seems they get a lot of good recommendations. I will definitely go and check it. Also thanks for your "scary" story from your friend. One of my friends experienced the same but it was a NHS hospital outside of London. Not a good experience.

Deb1972, Yes very confusing. There are both positive and negative stories but is seems that they got you under very good control, just make sure you get that extra placenta out when times come. Tell your husband to keep control of it, just in case.

Bundle, thanks for your recommendation. again, I have only heard positive experiences from Lindo.

Pleasure - good luck with your search, kaboju. I'm sure everywhere's got their good and bad points. For example, the best scan I had was at our NHS hospital (before I found out I had to have cs, at which point I went private - because I'm a whimp and wanted the extra help ;-) ). The technician was just brilliant, he spent a lot of time explaining all the bits and pieces to us, was a lovely experience. Had some private ones after that, but all in all he stood out. So you never know. Have a look at a couple, then go with what feels right for you.

Thanks Sal22. It has been very helpful with all the comments. I think it very often comes down to the individual person that takes care of you. I have plenty of time so I think I will look at a few before making a decision.

Hello again Kaboju - now able to type a bit more efficiently as dd asleep!

You mention that you have "plenty of time" - well, not as much as you might think. To get into the Lindo, at least, (I don't know if the Portland is the same) you have to get onto a consultant's books. Because they have to offer such a high level of care to each of their mums-to-be, they only take on a limited number and get full up fast. I think I secured my lovely consultant when I was 12weeks and then only then by pleading. Just to let you know...

Forgive me for asking why private? If you don't want to say don't but would you be hapy with private room in NHS? Lewisham has some nice private rooms and very cheap compared to others.
Someone will be along to tell you if Kings does private care have you looked it up at all, I'd be surprised if it doesn't.If you do choose NHS in the end and you are out of area buth Kings and Tommies could well turn you down if you wait much longer.
They are all running out of space to accommodate the people they have to never mind out of area ones.

Tallis is right - you may not have as much time as you think, friends have booked their private care at 6 weeks!

Just to add that we were told at the Portland that they only take 18 women per month, and of those 18, only 9 can be first time mums, so as you are already 10 weeks time might be ticking - wherever you choose! I think I booked in at about 10 weeks - that was in January, and they were already full for May and June at that time.

We had a look at Watford General before we plumped for the Portland, and asked about getting a private room there, but were told it was pretty unlikely in any guaranteed sense, because mothers on a private helath scheme, caesarian mothers and mothers of twins all had priority before we could be given one - so it would be a case of crossing fingers and hoping that none of these occurred on whichever day we went in. They said they could also ask us to move out of a private room if we were given one and then someone with a more pressing need for it arrived - which I dont have a major problem with, but I preferred the guarantee of KNOWING that I would have a room for myself if I went private.

Choices, choices! Good luck wherever you decide to go!

Tallis, who did you have at the Lindo? I am nearly twelve weeks and have just managed to get Ms Lakasing, but it was very tough. What about the nurses and midwives, are they all nice there? What are the rooms like? (I know these are very minor queries, I'm just interested).

Oh my god thanks for your advise. I better get on the case then. Portland didn't mention this to me. It sounded more like it was not a problem. Meant to book Portland this week but then heard about the bad reputation.

1dilemma, Why private. My experience with NHS has not been too good and therefore private. Hopefully you get what you pay for. I am more concerned about the quality of the hospital/service than money.

I agree w Tallis, think you must find your consultant soon, they do book up quickly... I had ds at the Lindo (after having had dd at St Marys NHS) and thoroughly loved the experience... though know lots of people think the Lindo isn't nearly "smart" enough (it is a bit tired in places, but think it is getting an overhaul at the moment...). I think having a consultant on board who you feel comfortable with is paramount myself.

Would also advise you go to private wing at nhs hospital (Lindo at St Marys or Landsell at St Thomas's, also C&W and Q.Charlottes....). Feel there is better back up should you need it (plenty would disagree w me, just my opinion!)

Hi LadyThompson. Did you not go for a tour at Lido? Just called them to arrange but are waiting for a return call as they only do tours in the weekend. Trying to arrange for a weekday.

I so agree with Orangina

If I had been in a private hospital I would prob be dead now

DH is a medical lawyer he says he wouldn't go to a private hospital for any operation

They don't have proper staffing levels
~They only have to have an RMO (responsible medical officer) on call at night. One of our friends recently went back to doctoring after a 12 year break (had been lawyer in interim) and was instantly an RMO. They are often newly qualifieds from overseas

not what you want in a medical emergency

Hi Kaboju. It's been such a saga trying to get a consultant there that I haven't really had time for the tour yet. I figure that I am not going to care (too much) what it looks like, and I am hoping (gambling!) that the nursing care is good; main thing for me was getting a decent consultant at the hospital of my choice, which is the private wing of a well thought of teaching hospital.

Hi Orangina. Thanks for sharing your experience. Who was your consultant.

I have started to feel that a private wing on a NHS hospital is the option after considering this a bit the last couple of days. Do prefer to have the back up.

Hi CountessDracula. Also thanks for sharing your knowledge. Which hospital did you go to? Scary story about friend going back after 12 years.

LadyThompson, I completely understand where you are coming from. I wasn't aware that it is such a struggle to get a consultant this early. It was definitely not the feeling I got from Portland.

Chelsea and Westminster

~Awful in many ways
but they did save my life

Why do you want to go private out of interest?

I worked in the NHS for 10 years and would not go to a private hospital, for the same reason as the others, no experienced medical cover, no ITU or HDU facilities.

Much better to go to the private wing of an NHS hospital where there are all the facilities to hand.

Or do what I did and get together with a doctor, then you will get private care for free! With my previous pregnancy they wouldn't leave us alone, we had medical staff crawling all over us. The only perk of the job, but I feel that everyone should get that level of care on the NHS. Sad really that you have to pay them with your taxes and again privately to get the care you should get.

Just my opinion though.

I was looked after by Mr Miskry at the Lindo, who was fantastic. All nurses and midwives I came across while at Lindo were lovely, had no complaints at all. Didn't do the Lindo tour at all, just signed up with Mr M, and the first time I saw a labour room was.... in labour. Clean, lovely, en suite bathroom, clean towels. Total bliss compared to nhs post natal ward (shudder).

There was another thread here withint the last few days by someone who was 16 weeks pg, who couldn't get a consultant at the Lindo.... so I would move on if I were you......

Yes I have heard of Chelsea & Westminster from a friend with a 1 year old baby. She never wants to go there again. Glad they saved your life.

I have a few too many bad experiences with NHS. I have got misdiagnosed (luckily nothing serious). My husband went to A&E and was told they couldn't do anything for him as it was too late in the evening BUT he was very higly recommended to see an eyespecialist asap as he had risk of loosing his sight. Went to Lister Hospital and got it sorted straight away. A good friend have had 2 bad experiences with childbirth at St. Thomas.

Yes, the thread was by someone called Irina only yesterday - she is 16 weeks and the Lindo is booked up for Oct/Nov. Glad to hear of your experience there, Orangina. Did you have your first dc on the NHS ward there? And did your dh stay with you on the Lindo?

Had 1st dc nhs, yes. Labour experience was fine (haha! in as much as a 1st labour can be fine!), and had no complaints w midwives (who was wonderful) and room at that stage. Post natal was TOTALLY GRIM. Ante natal care on nhs was so miserable as I set off on pg #2, that I jumped ship to private care (relatively late actually, I was extremely lucky to get consultant etc) for a bit of continuity and understanding really. Had a miserable time in pregnancy, found labour the 1st time round rather traumatic, and felt that needed to be addressed as I was getting myself into a real state.
Dh could stay/visit whenever he wanted (no official visiting hours) but it wasn't set up for partners to stay (no double beds like Portland or J&El)....

Thanks orangina, that's interesting because on the new price list they say partner accommodation is £79 inc breakfast, but maybe that's elsewhere in the hospital.

Well, the last time I went to the Lindo for an appointment (not pg, but to see gynae), there was a lot of refurb work going on, so perhaps that's possible now (ds born 15 months ago).

Hi. I have now decided to go for St. Mary as you all recommend it so highly. Just called to book and are waiting for an email with details of the consultants etc.

On their web page it is mention that a new "state of art" birtcentre es due to open in april so might explain that partner accommodation.

Great, good luck with that and let me know how you get on...

Thanks and the same to you. I might go and have a look next week as I am planning to take a day off but I am still waiting for them to call me back. I will keep you informed.

Hope everything is going well with your pregnancy.

I'm fine - just sore boobs and ravenous all the time! And you? They're a bit lackadaisical with sending out the info - if you haven't had it by tomorrow I could email you what they sent me (which is not very detailed info: a price list, a list of consultants and phone numbers and a letter saying you have to book your consultant before you can book in at the actual hospital).

trust your instinct when you choose you consultant. If you go and meet someone and it doesn't feel right for whatever reason, don't ignore it. It's a lot of money and so important, who is going to look after you and deliver your baby. Also, imo, some are quite cs keen and others less so, so that might be worth bearing in mind.... (go armed with list of questions). Good luck, hope you get on well!

I've just worked with a client who had her baby at St John and St Elizabeth (due to previous experience and health issues). I think her consultant was Mr. Okara. Was very happy with the outcome.

where is the portland?

The Portland is in W1

Another vote here for the Lindo . .booked it when I was 8 weeks though. Had absolutely fantastic care, wonderful midwives and brilliant consultant! In fact I spent my first few weeks at home wishing I was back there being looked after 24/7!

Had my second baby at the Portland and just visited a friend a couple of weeks ago at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's.

Whenever this subject comes up you get:

1. The women who wouldnt dream of using a private hospital, the NHS is fine (really??)

2. Women who have 'heard' stories regarding the Portland etc. All NHS hospitals are full of cases that are waiting to go to court over care, medical mistakes etc. That is just life.

3. The Portland was fab. You have already experienced the way they work. Why would they be any different when you were in labour?

4. The Lindo wing is run down and really quite shocking when you go there. There is building work everywhere. However my friend had excellent care and couldnt fault it.

Having experienced the NHS first time around (horrible, not enough staff and the place needed a good clean) I wouldnt hestitate to use the Portland.

What do you mean, 'run down'? And the building work is because they are building a new fancy birth centre.

I am sure the building will be improved once it has been finished but purely commenting on the surroundings I was very surprised they had allowed it to get into this state. You are paying 1000's of pounds for this.

Some will comment that the care is the most important thing and it is but my friend felt ripped off when she saw the rooms. Sadly she hadnt got around to seeing them until a month before the birth. By that time it was too late to change. Her consultant Mr Wright delivers at both the Portland and St Mary's and he also delivered my son.

Someone else on here said the rooms were nice! Anyway, I'm paying thousands of pounds for the (hopefully!) top notch care for me and the babe, and personally I just wanted the reassurance of being attached to an NHS hospital. I'm sure the Portland's lovely, but it's my first baby and I am 36 (and considered an old giffer by the medical profession!) and I feel I want the backup.

I am always surprised by people who are fussed about the rooms! The rooms at the Lindo were just fine really, not luxurious but OK. But believe me, you won't really care what they look like when you're there for real. What matters is the fact that you're getting fantastic 24/7 consultant care during your pregnancy and birth, and afterwards 24/7 devoted, supportive midwife care and consultant follow-up. This made the birth of my first baby and the nerve-wracking time afterwards just a wonderful experience. I felt so happy and secure. That's why we paid the £ not for gold-plated taps!

I just thought I would add that I had my baby very recently at John & Lizzies. There were some complications in the middle of the night and although I was midwife led care the consultant got out of bed at 3am and then again at 5am to come and see me along with a consultant anaesthetist. I was midwife led care - so wasn't "his patient". Despite there being complications, the care was second to none. In the end I had to have an emergency caesarian and the consultant spent time with me explaining the situation and did the operation. I totally feel this was money well spent.

You are likely too late to book at C&W. I was when i rang to book when 6 weeks PG!
I wouldn't go to the portland because of the back up issue, agree with the others that private wing of NHS hospital is wiser.
I had a TERRIBLE experience chelsea and westminster NHS and will be booking an elective CS either at tommies or st mary's if we have another. (great view from tommies BTW)

Poor Suey2 but glad it hasn't put you off. What happened (if you want to talk about it). I must admit I've been a bit shocked about some of the terrible times people have had. It makes me so sad. Is it mainly due to the NHS being so overstretched?

thanks for asking.
I was 2 weeks over and ent into spontaneous labour the day before my induction was booked. Contractions died out after 6 hours but not before my waters broke.
the next afternoon, they advised the syntocinon drip as i had a temp and they were worried about the baby. I asked for an epidural first which was given. I could feel the contractions which got steadily more painful. After 5 hours i told the midwife i was finding it really pretty painful. She didn't believe me and told me it was my fault for not using the top ups. It got steadily worse, even with topping up. After another couple of hours, still 1cm dilated, she broke my fore waters. Pain much, much worse and 3 contractions every 10 minutes. 5 HOURS later with every contraction giving me screaming pain they resited the epidural and within 30 secs i had no pain.I had had the drip for 11 hours with absolutely no pain relief in which time the baby had turned back to back and i was STILL only 1 cm dilated.
I then insisted on a CS. Which, i have to say, was totally brilliant and i had no complications.
Must write that letter of complaint.....

aftercare was sh*t too.

I have one thing to say, if it were not for the fantastic and diligent pre natal care i recieved at the Portland my son would have died and possibly me as well. Would remortgage my house if i had to to have no 2 there. The fancy rooms etc are just a bonus but i will say that having dh to stay helped a great deal with us bonding as a family.

I went private at C&W first time round, going back for #2, will have brand new private maternity ward by the time I am due in September. They are increasing it from 6 beds to 16 as it is massively popular and oversubscribed. I did book my doctor before I was 4 weeks pregnant though! Glad you are happy having chosen the Lindo - you're right it's not about the rooms, but personally I was so appalled by the state of St Mary's when I went there for a blood test once that it wasn't for me. Also we can park our car on the street in the general area of C&W which is a small point but made our life easier on various occasions. Personally I would find it far more important to book a doctor I was happy with than picking a maternity ward/hospital by the decor and size of the rooms. I should also say I have never heard a bad thing about the Portland from friends who've actually been.

Catching up again with this thread - LadyThompson, I'd be glad to answer any questions you have about Lindo. And well done, Kaboju, for booking. I agree with slinkiemalikni that you need to get on with your doctor: that should be of upmost importance. When I first went into the Lindo i was a bit startled: it certainly wasn't spanking shiny new. Cantankerous old lifts, pretty ancient-looking carpets on ground floor, plain painted walls etc.

But the staff - they were brilliant. Well worth every penny of however many thousands we put on our mortgage! I too had Mr Miskry, who was calm, lovely, non-pompous. Dry sense of humour, young enough not to be an old buffer but old enough to make you feel you were in v experienced hands.

My room - well i gather it wasn't as lovely as Princess Di's - she had a pish-posh corner one, apparently. Mine didn't have a great view but did have a/c - tbh, was so happy lying in bed with my new baby being waited on hand-and-foot that i didn't much go in forstaring out of window.

The room wasn't amazingly big but it was spotlessly clean and comfortable. It had its own shiny white shower-room with spiffy little Lindo sponge bag and bubble bathy things. Enough space for a nice-enough camp bed to be put up for my dh and still to be able to open the wardrobes! Enough space that two days after my CS I had seven guests in at once and that was OK by the hospital (I was on morphine that day, so was somewhere happily in orbit and didn't really notice how many people were there ).

What it did have, which was what really mattered, was a constant stream of experienced, gentle, encouraging, fantastic midwives (I still remember a particularly terrific one called Agnes...) coming in and out with painkillers, jugs of water, topping up my epidural, sorting out my bf latch, spiriting my dd awayfor 40 mins to the nursery when I needed a bit of sleep, showing me how to give her a bath (yes, am first-time mum), coming to ask if I needed anything rather than waiting for me to ring the bell. Oh, it really was heaven. Lovely woman anaesthetist[gets all nostalgic again]. I'd almost go there for a mini-break.

Only downside I'd say were the traffic wardens outside. Theywere complete buggers. They lurk and pounce. There are quite a few pay and display bays thereabouts so just start hoarding pound coins from now until you give birth and then you should be OK! It's just outside the congestion zone, by the way, if you make sure you approach from the west,north or east.

Since Ken Livingstone extended the congestion charge zone last Feb, I'm afraid that St Mary's is now well within it. Great post otherwise Tallis

SlinkieM, it's not! It's not! I had my baby in October. There's a weird kind of con charge loop and St Mary's falls within it. Without getting too technical for those unfamiliar with the western A40 approach you can come off the slip road, take the first left at the lights (Bishops Brdge Road), take the second right down past Paddington Station (Eastbourne Terrace) turn left at the lights onto Praed St, turn left again into Wharf Road and bob's your uncle...the zone only starts south of there. It's difficult to make out on a map, but it's definitely ok. here. You can also approach from the east, coming off Marylebone Road and doing a jiggle across top end of Edgware Rd. And from the south, as long as you stick to edgware rd as it's a free through-road.

Hello? Hello? Have I sent you all to sleep? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

haha tallis! You were a walking west london a to z just there!

Tallis swatted up clearly

suey2 generally you won't get the view with CS at Tommies and the aftercare is shite there too, I've come to the conclusion it's a general (London) thing rather than particular to one hospital.

kaboju if you don't have health insurance might be worth baring in mind Moorfields has an eye A&E (although hopefully you won't need to know that!)

Although I should ad I havn't tried them all out

Although I should ad I havn't tried them all out

I
need
to
get
a
life

Well blow me down, I stand corrected! I thought it was only Edgware Rd and Marylebone Rd that were OK. Gosh you learn something every day

idilemma- i was thinking of the private wing- my SIL had her 2 there and said there was a lovely view of the houses of parliament.
Agree that the reports of NHS aftercare are not good in general

thought the private wing was round at the side? (on the left looking at the HOP) it seemed to be aleft turn going throught the door whereas the HOP is to the right.

Maybe I should go on a tour to see?

Hello everyone. Sorry I have been busy and away for the weekend. Thanks for all your comments. I think it is really great to hear all your experiences

I have managed to get Charles Wright booked. I had him very higly recommended from a very good friend's friend. I am seeing him next week.

As far as I can understand the St. Mary is having a new "State of the art" birtcenter which should have opened here in April but I guess as with many other things, it has been delayed. Well I am not due until December so I hope that all the building work will be done by then. Still planning to have a tour at some point but will not manage this week as planned.

If Charles Wright is a consultant for both St. Mary and Portland, I will ask for his opinion when I see him next week but I still feel that the quality of the consultant/midwife is more important than the nice room, even that I am very fuss about these things.

LadyThompson, Thanks for asking. I am fine as well but as you say sore boobs and ravenous all the time. Best to eat every 3rd hour to keep the nausea away....NOT good for the weight

I received the info the next morning but thanks for your offer to send it. Yes I got the same message about seeing the consultant before the hospital could be booked.

1dilemma, Thanks for letting me know about the A&E at Moorfield. I know them very well. I sat in the A&E for 6 hours once and was then misdiagnosed. Not sure I would be too happy to end up there.

When I saw my eye doctor in Denmark he was absolutely shocked when I described the equipment used. We have to keep in mind that Morfield got the reputation of being the best eye hospital in Europe

I don't know why you are worrying about paying £8 for congestion charge when you are spending thousands on private care!

building work is on-going at st marys they are not doing up the maternity ward just the recpetion area. Can be quite noisey at times.

cw is been extended to 18 beds which will make it less cosy and more like a 'normal' ward.

it always amazes me how diffrrent the mums are on each ward, the private mums tend to buzz for the midwive even if a nappy needs changing!

They also tend to think they will be top of the list, when it comes to things such as the hearing screen, when this is a nhs funded screen so they are not paying for it.

building work at St Marys suppose to finish in mid June...

Me23, you seem a bit chippy about private patients. Why? Surely it's not good to generalise?

Agree ME23 - are you a M/W that has experience or these dreadful private patients.

I had my second child at John and Lizzies and it was one of the best experiences of my life. At no time did I buzz a m/w to change a nappy but I did love the one on one m/w care and the fact that they took DS for me for a hour or so so I could sleep. The bottom line is that all antenatal and postnatal care should be like this - its such a shame that it's only available to those who can afford to pay or who have very generous insurance policies.

Hi,

I've just had my first child at The Portland.

I've only read the OP, not the discussion, but would happily recommend The Portland.

I found the care top notch and the support I was given throughout was just wonderful.

Just for the record, I had an El. CS and got my ideal birth experience.

I would also recommend the lansdell suite at St. Thomas' - but it's a smaller private wing and can be busy.

Good luck with your pregnancy and birth.

I do have experience of these patients everyday at work so I am in the postion to have formed an opinion over the years.

I also think it is such a shame that patients cannot get as much one to one care on the nhs, however I know of some star nhs midwives who do a fantastic job.

st john and lizzies is fab for it's holistic perspective and promoting normality, which is unusual for a private hosptial.

If you hoping for a normal birth please be aware that 90% of patients who book with the portland end up having a c-section! apart from st john and lizzies, private care has a high rate of c-sections.
I wish you all the best and hope you all have the births you wish for

Hi ME23 I certainly agree with you that there are lots of amazing NHS mws - the problem is not their skill or devotion, rather how they are resourced, overworked etc.

Private care has a high rate of sections because a number of people go privately when they have had a horrendous, poorly managed birth first time round - and they opt for an elective second time round. There is also a proportion of people who want an elective from the word go, and if they have the means they will go privately too. This makes the rates you are citing (if they are actually correct) meaningless! Everyone I know who's been to the Portland had a natural birth and was happy with it. I don't know anyone who's not gone back for their second when they had their first there! It isn't my hospital of choice but feel you are being rather blinkered here!

If I was going private in London, I'd go to the Lindo Wing of Queen Mary's Paddington. Private facilities but inside an NHS hospital.

Private care has a high rate of C-sections because health insurance pay for c-sections.

Unfortunately, my insurance company is one of the few that doesn't.....

Where insurance companies cover c sections, it is because it is medically required. They require quite a lot of information before deciding if they will pay out

just had my second baby at j &l after a first at uch (not horrendous but far from ideal and awful postnatal)

i loved every minute of the antenatal care, te birth was wonderful and postnatal is great. i did feel v guilty about going private (we are well off but not loaded) but this is everything the nhs should be and it has made a huge difference o how i have felt about the birth and how well i am recovering.

would recomend j&l to absolutely everyone.

Hi spottedandstriped - Not in the case of my insurance company, its policy states "no payments will be made in relation to claims regarding pregnancy." Full stop, end of argument!

Unfortunately, I did not know this before I took out the policy....and I am now pregnant and having a c-section for medical reasons, which they will not cover.

Minnie - yes most are like this I think - exclude childbirth in their entirety. Some though will allow c sections only if they were medically necessary.

Minnie - yes most are like this I think - exclude childbirth in their entirety. Some though will allow c sections only if they were medically necessary.

actually I have done a bit of research this area, and there is a lot of politics surrounding the politics of c-sections, just read sheila kitzinger or rosemary mander, soo downe, ina may gaskin, denis walsh plus numerous others,if a woman has had a traumatic vaginal delivery an obstetrition suggesting elective section is not addressing the issues or anxieties of the woman, but is making their job a lot more convenient! more money, can plan when baby is born etc.. anyway this isn't the place for this discussion!
good luck with your choices, wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy and birth