Private Antenatal Care and Birth

[JennyB86]

Hello! I recently moved from the US to wonderful London (I'm American) and am newly pregnant with our second child. I'm trying to navigate the healthcare system here and am a bit confused as to how NHS vs. private care works. I'd like to deliver in a private ward of an NHS hospital but am open to NHS antenatal care. Is it possible and/or practical to go through NHS for antenatal care (assuming a routine pregnancy, fingers crossed) and then deliver the baby with a private consultant in one of the private wings of an NHS hospital? If so, how do you determine who will deliver the baby? Or is it more common to see a private consultant throughout the entire pregnancy and then deliver wherever that doctor has rights?

I'm considering the Sir Stanley Clayton Ward, Lindo Wing, and Kensington Wing. I live in Chiswick. Any recommendations between these three, and any recommendations for private consultants that are affiliated with any of these wings? Thank you so much in advance for any insight!

[KittyKK]

I've just done this background search myself to find out about private maternity care. I've chosen the Kensington Wing. All of the Consultants are listed on the KW website. Depending how far along you are, you may want to contact their secretaries to confirm availability of the Consultants, as well as the hospital...that might reduce your options, as they get booked up quickly!

You may not be entitled to NHS care if you are new to the UK. Perhaps check with your GP. From what I've seen, most of the Consultants have comprehensive packages that cover from booking appointment right through to postnatal. I'm not sure how much you would save to do NHS antenatal with private delivery.

Good luck!

[LesPins]

Choose your doctor based on the private wing closest to you or within distance that you feel most comfortable in. In your situation it makes most sense just to sign up for the whole package and see just that OB throughout and for delivery, absent a holiday/weekend off. You can meet and greet a few if you like before you decide.
Kensington wing would be a great choice where you live.

[JennyB86]

Thanks!! Think I will be going for the kensington wing as well. Appreciate your input :)

[cheeriosatdawn]

Hello! I have a lot of friends who went with Kensington, and thought of it myself. But in the end, I went with the Lindo. It's an outstanding place. The staff are great. So are the consultants. And St. Mary's, the NHS hospital it's affiliated with, has one of the best neonatal units in Europe. And I know that there are some patients who combine NHS antenatal care with private delivery. Just FYI. Good luck!

[Positivevibe]

Hi Jenny,
You might find this ebook useful. I know it's for first time mums but think it's good for people who don't know the system.
Preparing to give birth for the first time
<a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0713Q795Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505503812&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Preparing%20to%20give%20birth%20for%20the%20first%20time&dpPl=1&dpID=41ol2vM04nL&ref=plSrch&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0713Q795Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505503812&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Preparing%20to%20give%20birth%20for%20the%20first%20time&dpPl=1&dpID=41ol2vM04nL&ref=plSrch&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[JennyB86]

Thanks for the input, everyone!