private room on NHS

[giodi]

I am looking at options to give birth (considering UCLH in London) but I would like to have my own room after the birth. I am willing to pay a price for it but not willing to pay 10k just for the room. Do you know what my best options are? Is there a way to get a room in a hospital outside of the private wing? thanks

[jimijack]

I'm not sure that this possible. Unfortunately hospitals are jam packed to the rafters at the moment.
I think it's the luck of the draw, I got private rooms with both of mine, but not by choice, they were the only beds free.

[jimijack]

Are you having a section?
It's just that I believe that for a vaginal birth if everything is straight forward, you could be home the same day, I was only in for 48 hours with my section.

[TweetTweetTweet]

Yes you can get a private room. Just ask in maternity, the rooms are usually within the maternity department for a small fee, last time I checked I think it was for about £40 but that was a a few good yrs ago, the only thing with the private room is, it can be boring. There’s no one else to have a quick chat with I also found that you can be the last one they attend to as they’re busy running round seeing to all those on the main ward.
The best part is your baby doesn’t get woken up by all the other new screaming babies in the night.

[ladypie21]

At my NHS hospital they had a couple of private maternity rooms that were there for mums who had very traumatic births or very ill babies. If they were not in use you could ask to stay in them for a fee. Think it was £80ish when I did it about 5yrs ago. It was well worth it for the peace and quiet after a 24hr labour, even if it was only for one night. Worth asking your midwife if your local hospitals can offer this although I don't think they advertise it much.

[LexieLulu]

Surely it depends on your hospital? Could you not contact them and ask?

I'm very lucky, our local NHS hospital is private rooms after birth. I couldn't imagine a shared ward

[Cannotwillnot]

I had a private room at UCH. I think it was £1000 a night but you can’t prebook.

[AlwaysDancing1234]

After a horrible experience on the postnatal Ward first time round I booked a private room for after DC2 birth.
Just booked it when I got there so no guarantee of availability but they said there’s usually one available.
It’s a large NHS hospital in London.
I had DD in birthing suite then short walk (well in wheelchair) down the corridor to private room. Meant I had a large bed, quiet room and most important of all for me ensuite toilet and shower. Cost £150 I think

[PaperdollCartoon]

Royal Surrey it’s about £50 a night for a private room, but they’re no guaranteed. Ask them, I think it’s different everywhere

[giodi]

thanks everyone. I am (hoping) having a vaginal birth.The thing that terrifies me is that if for some silly reason I need to stay longer than 24h I would like my husband to be able to stay over night with me. Also I would love to have visits all day other than just visiting hours. It just seems insane to be having to pay 8-10k to have such small privileges. I will ask the UCLH but I wasn't able to find any useful info online and today I am just panicking! I think they won't be able to guarantee you will get one as of course mums who had a traumatic birth will be given priority.

[MaverickSnoopy]

It's likely that all hospitals do this for a fee. I was able to at ours and it was about £150. If you ask your midwife they'll be able to give you the relevant info and if not then ask at the hospital or look on their website.

[AlwaysDancing1234]

giodi all the best for the birth and don’t worry! It’s worth it I promise

[Jenpug]

I had a private room for the 5 nights I was in pre-birth and the 3 after but I was having twins so I think They room pity on me, there was no charge.
My sister is a social worker and one of her service users was on the same ward so she got a room too but it was £50 a night.

[Jenpug]

Just to add my hospital didn't like dads staying overnight even with a private room.

[Wolfiefan]

I'm not sure a private room will allow DH to stay over or slow you to have visitors all day.

[badg3r]

Doesn't exactly fit what you are asking, but I had DCs at St Thomas' in the home from home. I gave birth and stayed in the same private room afterwards, including overnight and there was a sofa bed for DH in the room. It was a massive room with en suite and view of Big Ben! I didn't want visitors but others did. Or was all free, that just seemed to be the standard procedure.

Of course all of this is based on there being space, no complications etc but it might be worth checking what the UCLH equivalent is.

[venellopevonschweetz]

My local hospital tend to use private rooms for mums who have had a difficult or traumatic birth, but they still don’t allow visitors on the ward outside visiting hours even in private rooms.

The only exception were the dads who could come and go on the ward as they pleased, but were still not allowed to stay overnight.

[Rockandrollwithit]

I was moved into a private room at 2am after the birth of DS2 as he had been blue lighted to another hospital for surgery. Whoever was in the room previously was moved out.

No harm in asking but I wouldn't count on in happening, it will depend on the circumstances of the other women in the ward.

[EssentialHummus]

I had DD at Lewisham and stayed overnight with DH in the birth centre. There were also private rooms available to book, can’t remember the fee.

[Amatree]

You'll have to ask your local hospital, it varies everywhere. I was in a massive regional hospital and couldn't get a private room despite being more than happy to pay as they were booked up. I won't lie, it was awful on the postnatal ward-constant screaming from a read kitted baby whose mother was insisting on breastfeeding when it clearly wasn't working so the poor mite was starving...it was quite distressing to hear. I slept two broken hours in two nights and was seeing stars by the time I got out. I would have paid literally anything for my own room I agree it's a shame there doesn't seem to be a more pared down cheaper 'private recovery' option or something!

[Amatree]

Read knitted?! Should say readmitted!

[LexieLulu]

Dad's are allowed to stay overnight in my hospital (I'm not London) so ask your mw

[FuzzyOwl]

Be aware that if you have a private room and someone comes in with a greater need for it, you will be moved to a ward and that could be at any time of the day or night and even if you have paid for it.

[MamaPhoneHome]

I paid £40 got a private room in NHS hospital in manchester. This was 13 years ago though

[FormerlyFrikadela01]

Just ring and ask. In my hospital dad's were allowed to stay on the ward overnight. You could pay for a private room however it was made abundantly clear that should someone come in with a greater clinical need you would be moved whether you've paid or not. All other rules of the ward still applied too so visiting times were the same.
There was no availability anyway when I went in so I was just on the ward.

[washingmachinefastwash]

I was offered a private room because my son was in NiCU and everyone else in my room had their babies with them.

I declined the offer, I preferred to have company.