knutsford suite watford anyone?

[thirty8]

hi , does anyone have any experience of knutsford suite watford?Can anyone recommend a consultant there? Any info would be most appreciated !

[BagofHolly]

I'm looking at having my next delivery there and am hoping to have Richard Sheridan. We're still wrangling with our insurer but once that's sorted, Mr. Sheridan at Watford seems the best bet. I was told off the record that he's the one everyone wants.

[thirty8]

thanks for that BagofHolly had been looking at the london hospitals but as watford is closer to me thought would look into it.Mr Sheridan was the consultant that i had been thinking of booking a consultation with 2. Had a look around the knutsford suite other day and it certainly looks great altho its the care thats most important. I did question wether the staff would disappear if they were needed on the nhs wards but was reassured you would have a buzzer and they would attend you. Sorry to hear you got problems with insurer thats all you need, best of luck

[lovingpickles]

I did not stay on the knutsford suite but did have Mr Sheridan as my consultant obs and he was excellent. Can highly recommend him.

[thirty8]

I have just seen a couple of news articles about him from 2005 where a baby suffered brain damage. Very confused now as he does seem to have a have very good reputation

[lovingpickles]

All I can say is that he saved both my life and that of my baby's earlier this year. He took control of a crisis situation and even managed to turn the extremely anxious atmosphere in the delivery room into a relaxed and happy one with his easy going style. I have made a full recovery from the episiotomy he performed. The midwife who saw me after the birth told me I was very lucky to have had him do the stitching.

[Chathappy]

I stayed on the knutsford suite after my c section in 2005 but had nhs care before. Think it was something like £350 a night but it was well worth it in my opinion. 6 rooms with ensuite and I think there was only me and one other lady in another room plus our 'ward' had 3 midwives dedicated just to that part so needless to say the care was excellent.

[thirty8]

Thanks a lot that has reassured me i was having boubts after seeing those news articles. Glad to hear you r ok lovingpickles.

[BagofHolly]

Have you made a decision to go to Watford? It was on another thread that the visiting hours are very restrictive and that the nurses are expected to care for both NHS and private patients at the same time. We've finally had the ok from our insurer today that they'll cover my c section so I need to look into this further.

[thirty8]

hi have finally decided on queen charlotte and booked it all yesterday, i have been driving myself crazy trying 2 decide. Incidently queen charlotte is supposed to be one of the best hospitals for multiple births(i think you said you are having twins).They had quads there a couple of weeks ago. It is a bit of a trek though. Glad you finally sorted the insuance!

[BagofHolly]

It's so hard to make a decision, isn't it? Queen Charlotte's is too far for us, but they do look very good. Have you found a consultant yet?

We've partially sorted the insurance - the trustees have agreed to pay for my c section and associated costs but there was an exclusion on for our babies as they were conceived by ICSI, and the policy doesn't cover babies born of assisted conception for the first 90 days, so if they needed to go into SCBU/NICU or see a specialist, we'd have to pay. So for the moment we're restricted to the hospitals which have a private unit/ward and nhs scbu, and that rules out The Portland where I had my son. We should hear finally where we stand, but at £4k a night for scbu we really need it sorting out!

[thirty8]

Yes i originally started out with the portland in mind but the risk of scbu costs ruled that out for me.Yes got a consultant at queen charlotte mr kumar who i have met and really liked and respected straight away.St thomas also looks excellent with nhs scbu and great consultants i hear but it would have been a nightmare for us to get to. probably same for you i guess?.I really hope you finally sort it all out it must be really weighing on your mind, i know i couldnt think of much else when i was trying to decide.

[Anu3]

Can anyone recommend Mr Richard Sheridan at The Knutsford Suite Watford please? The hospitals in the city are a bit far out for me as i live up in North London so have been looking at private care at the Knutsford Suite but have read a few articles in the BBC news about Dr Richard Sheridan when he had a court case against him in 2005. Im a bit apprehensive now and want some help!

[Maya6]

Hi there, I am thinking of having my baby at Watford knutsford and Dr Sheridan seems to be highly recommeded however all the threads on here are like 2007 and 2010 - has anyone had a recent experience at watford on the private ward and who would they also recommend.

thank you

[Minstrelsaremarvellous]

My girlfriend had Mr Sheridan during labour and said he was fantastic. I've just been to see him for amniocentesis and consult and he was reassuring, not at all patronising and I like his humour (may sound daft but I needed it!). He was efficient and I found him thoughtful. I've also seen Miss Coker and liked her very much too - quite brisk but I work in a medical background and want facts not fuss. I'd go with either - and I'm going back to see Miss Coker but would be happy with either!

[Katiebeau]

I am under Mr Sheridan after a 1st birth elsewhere on the NHS which I just wanted to die during....

He is such a breath of fresh air. He explained everything that we had with DD previously (scary brain scans etc) and we understand so much more now. I feel confident he doesn't live by "protocols" only what he sees in front of him. If he thinks you/baby needs help, he'll say and explain. I was shaking when we went for the 20 week scan after last time. He told me he would immediately check for the same issue. He did and it wasn't there. He shouted out numbers for the records to the sonographer and immediately told us what they meant.

I could't recommend him highly enough. I feel much more confident that I won't be left without pain relief and sobbing because the arse Dr doesn't believe me that the epidural is totally failed!!

[Fashiongirl11]

Katiebeau, I just wondered How your birth went with dr Sheridan as I am thinking about having him for an elective c section in september. Any info would be very much appreciated. Thanks

[zaran]

I would not recommend either the hospital or the consultant who delivered me privately - Mr Anthony Boret. We had lots of issues with him, including informing us just over 1 week before the delivery that he is on holidays. When he did deliver me (was 1 week late, by which stage he returned and we also opted for the cesarian) - my specific request was not instrumental delivery if possible. He ended up using forceps (yes, with cesarian!), apparently he uses them routinely, something he failed to mention. I was so upset when I found a bruize on my daughters face and was told that it must have been forceps tht Mr Boret uses. Overall, really did not like the hospital and the atmosphere there, also ended up having a rather awful midwife (not all midwifes were like that there, so it depends on whom you get) - but she was really unpleasant, did not allow for breastfeeding for about 45min, left me there shaking without explaining that this were the effects of epidural. All in all, if going private - go for Portland, do not go for Watford - I will not if we get a chance to have our third.

[Fiveweeksandcounting]

I went with Mr Sheridan a couple of years ago and couldn't recommend him highly enough. His care was second to none, he discussed my birth plan in great detail and followed it to the letter. I could not have asked for better care, it was truly outstanding. The star of the show however is Sarah Denning his midwife who is guaranteed to be with you unless she is on holiday in which case you have a named alternative who is also excellent. You do not have a midwife from the NHS ward.

Aftercare was excellent, I was visited every 2 hours day and night without fail and had huge breastfeeding support. I could not recommend it enough and after experiencing 2 NHS deliveries the experience was like night and day.

I have however, had less than good care with Tony Boret in the past and agree with the previous poster that he would not be my consultant of choice. I made it clear to Mr Sheridan that I would want an alternative to Mr Boret as a back up in his absence and he agreed. I understand that the lady consultants there are very good.

[HannahBerry]

Mr Sheridan was my consultant at Watford too. Although I never saw him once antenatally, during the birth (1.5 lt PPH, 2nd degree tear etc) or postnatally. I guess thats because I was an NHS patient...

[Ihsan32]

Last week I had my baby at Watford hospital, and Dr Boret was my consultant. I found him a professional doctor and highly dedicated. I had a difficult labour, I was induced early in morning and until 2:30 am next day I had my baby. He was basically in my room from 10 pm checking up on me and the baby heart rate along with the midwife. He didn t go home or anything, he was there just for me and he told me he will stay with me til the last minute to have a natural labour and if there is a slight risk for the baby he will take me to the theatre for a C section. Believe me, not all doctors have this patience. And next morning around 9 am he came to check how I was. so I don t see how some people described him as arrogant cuz there is a big difference between self confidence and arrogance. He is a self confident doctor and it s his right cuz he knows what he is doing and very honest towards his duties. So thumbs u to this doctor and would recommend him to any lady who wanna have her baby privately.

[FatimaAli]

Anyone had any recent childbirth experience at Knutsford Suites under Dr Sheridan?

I am thinking of booking a private room at Knutsford under care of Dr. Shriden but am very anxious so any suggestions and reviews would be highly appreciated. Thanks

Fatima

[Angdenap]

He delivered my daughter 11 years ago and to this day I think of him with lovely memories. He was amazing. He couldn't have been more attentive and reassuring. I had complications and he kept me in the picture all the way and I couldn't have asked for more. He also has a wonderful sense of humour. If I could recommend him to anyone I would do so in a blink.

[CrispyFB]

I had my baby at Watford (NHS) and transferred to the Knutsford Suite last week. Can't recommend it more, worth every penny. Admittedly they weren't busy (one other woman in I think?) but it was almost surreal having midwives able to stand around chatting for long periods of time to you about anything and everything, and effectively being waited on hand and foot. And so much more privacy and comfort. A different world, it really was. Priceless!

[NewMummy999]

I chose to go to Watford rather than the portland purely due to the fact it was closer to home. I met with Dr Gentry and Dr Tony Boret. In the end we decided to go with Dr Boret as he is a smooth talker and he is the senior guy with more experience. Although Dr Gentry was very well qualified.

Going with Dr Tony Boret was the worst decision we ever met. Whilst his initial consultation he puts you at ease and makes you trust him, the reality is, he is too busy to care.

Pre-natal appointment he turned up 90 minutes late with no apology or explanation. He has no appreciation for anyones time.

He plans your birth around the convenience of his social calender. He will induce everyone and mechanically get you to give birth rather than promoting a natural delivery. Inducing substantially increases the chances of needing a c-section - i'll let you guess what happened to me.

Whilst in labour he came twice and was left with a mid-wife who was "agency" NHS staff. Every time we asked for him, we were told he is too busy.

Post natal care - he comes at his convenience. You never know if he will come or not. His manner was extremely agressive and simply to get on with things even though i was in crazy amount of pain.

The guy is clearly smart and very talented. But he doesn't offer Private care. He will not give you the time of day and will not help put your mind at rest.

I would go with Dr Sheirdan or anyone else but him. We spoke to some of the others who used Dr Sheirdan who has a 80% track record of natural delivery, highly trained midwives and Dr Sheirdan saw his patients every single day whilst they were in hospital. Dr Boret didn't offer even a quater of what he promised or what other consultants would do.

[lrb1982]

Hi I had my 3rd baby at Watford on wed. I had nhs c section with Mr Sanu who is amazing. He oversaw me during my vbac attempt with my 2nd and was also incredibly supportive about my wish to have a vbac but also very gentle when explaining that I needed an emergency section when baby was distressed. I don't know if he accepts private patients tho.
This time I stayed on the Knutsford post natally and I can't rate it highly enough. I was the only patient both nights and had a midwife and health care assistant to myself. It is definitely worth every penny.