Hospitals in London - St Thomas's vs Kings vs C&W

[Mirry71]

Hello I have just discovered I'm pregnant for the first time and very excited - but also completely clueless....
I am slapbang in the middle of these three trusts and wondered if anyone had any experience of these three? Would really appreciate it!

[talilac]

I don't know but am bumping for you..

Good luck!

[Mirry71]

thank you!

[eandz]

i checked out st thomas and then chelsea and westminster... i'm delivering at c&w.

but i toured the private wings since i have to deliver privately.

[poppy34]

am delivering privately at st thomas - friend had her 2 there in nhs ward and no complaints

[eandz]

i liked the look of st thomas and their special early labor area..the consultants there are really nice too, the only issue i had was that it's kinda far from where i am.

[PerkinWarbeck]

King's really are v.g. if you are having an NHS birth.

Dr. Kypros Nicolaides is based there, if the big name thing floats your boat.

[shreddies]

I had a good experience at St Thomas's. The home from home unit is really lovely, although I had an epidural in the end, so had to move to the more medical section

[Catmando]

good and attentive expereince at st thomas

[eandz]

Nicolaides is supposedly amazing. i booked a scan with him once but was told that i might be kept waiting for over 4 hours...i opted to go for someone else...

i know this thread is about private care at st thomas, kings or cw, but i'm wondering if anyone has had any experiences with dr hazem al rafey at cw in the kensington wing? i'm booked with him so far but everytime i see him he suggests that i should really consider an elective c section (he's given me medical reasoning)...and am wondering if he says this to all his patients or if he's being genuine.

[eandz]

Nicolaides is supposedly amazing. i booked a scan with him once but was told that i might be kept waiting for over 4 hours...i opted to go for someone else...

i know this thread is about private care at st thomas, kings or cw, but i'm wondering if anyone has had any experiences with dr hazem al rafey at cw in the kensington wing? i'm booked with him so far but everytime i see him he suggests that i should really consider an elective c section (he's given me medical reasoning)...and am wondering if he says this to all his patients or if he's being genuine.

[poppy34]

you can go to the Fetal medical centre which is private charity nicolaides heads up - he has a special team there who are fantastic .. used them for my scans so you don't necessarily have to be at kings to benefit from his fantastic knowledge

[twosofar]

I had both of my boys at Kings (2006 and 2007). As someone said Kypros Nicolaides runs the Harris Birthright unit there so you really do have confience. I gave birth in the same room to both DS1 and 2 (Room 12 with the big pool!) and it was a 100% positive experience

[Mirry71]

thanks everyone, actually i am looking at an nhs birth (doesn't a private cost thousands? please tell me if not!) and had heard good things about kings but then looked up the healthcare commission report which gave st thomas's better reviews. so was just a little confused. I wasn't sure if Nicolaides was involved if you are just a common or garden NHS patient as well. MAybe both are great?

[eandz]

Most our family members (my aunt and husbands cousins) that are all consultants here in London mostly go to Chelsea and Westminster to deliver on the NHS. One or two hav used St Thomas (also on NHS). I'm american and have american health insurance so private maternity care for me is covered. although it it wasn't i'd be using the NHS as well.

my aunt delivered at c&w even though her husband is a consultant at kings...but to be fair i think it was only because she lived closer to chelsea and westminster.