Chelsea Westminster Hospital - private wing

[heron22]

Hi,
has anyone given birth at Chelsea Westminster hospital and stayed at their private wing?
Just wondering how the service was? were you happy with the postnatal care? how about the food? etc?

Many thanks

[slinkiemalinki]

Yup - in May 2006 and currently there for my second - have you seen it? They have just opened the brand new wing - it's fantastic, spanking new.
I had midwifery care first time round - the day time midwives (during labour and after) were absolutely fantastic. I wasn't as keen about the two who delivered me at night, but I had a straightforward and well-managed birth and they were perfectly competent if not exactly lovely, but very OB-led. This makes sense as most ladies there have a consultant I think - which I am doing now.
The food was fine, although I was in a couple of days (my DD "needed" ABs as my waters broke early) - I tended to send my husband to Carluccios or Pizza Express as I am really fussy!
Feel free to ask any more questions

[heron22]

hi slinkiemalinki, thank you for your reply. do you know if the nurses/midwives who look after you after you have given birth are dedicated to the private wing? or is it shared between the non-private and private wing?

How about the birthing room? was there one dedicated for private patients only?

i am asking because i know how busy the maternity unit get. and i am looking for somewhere not so busy

[heron22]

also, how much did it cost per night? and was there a nursery for your baby, in case you might want some rest?

thanks

[slinkiemalinki]

Yes they are an entirely separate staff of midwives and the maternity ward is entirely separate to the NHS part.
Unless you need a section or a particularly complicated instrumental delivery you will labour, birth and stay in the same room throughout. Own bathroom etc obviously. On the old (small) private ward I don't remember seeing or hearing any other mothers while I was there (bet they heard me though ) so it is not sociable like NHS wards can be!
It is £850/night after your first night's stay which is included in the antenatal (if you have a section it is £950/night). If you have the MWs I think it costs about £6,000 for antenatal. Hospital fees if you have a consultant are £3,000 with the OB's fees £5-6K on top.
Yes, the MWs will take your baby to a nursery within the private ward if you need some rest, and they will bring her back if she seems to need feeding.

[heron22]

hi slinkie, thanks for all that info. i think i will call them and see if i can come and have a look around the private wing.

i had my DS at portland and was very happy with the service. i am now 13 weeks with my 2nd one and just looking around really.

[whampsteadgirl]

Hi Slinkiemalinki - thanks for sharing your experience. I've also got questions about C&W private - if you can help that would be great! 1st, did you feel like you had continunity of care with the midwives? I'd like to build a relationship with my carers, rather than having a new one each time. 2nd, did you ever feel any pressure to schedule your delivery to fit around other schedules? i've heard that can be a risk when going private in an NHS hospital. Thanks!

[eandz]

Hi Heron!

I'm having my first there in a few weeks, but i was there yesterday because i had a false alarm (terrible bh's) and it was great (the three hours that i spent there).

the only problem i personally had was that they didn't have ac, but they quickly brought me in a fan, opened a window and got me ice to make me comfortable... the bathrooms in each room are wonderful and the towels and robes are great too.

the staff and consultant i dealt with yesterday were great. i'm seeing a consultant by the name of hazem al raefy and he's great but yesterday saw keith duncan because hazem is away on holiday. the doctors who deliver at the kensington wing are great and the nurses, food staff and midwifes are awesome! made me feel at home and were totally helpful. i can't praise the place enough.

[heron22]

hi eandz, i am glad you posted cos yours is a recent experience. good to hear thatyou were impressed with it all

how much does it cost per night? how about the delivery? and the consultant fee? i hope you do not mind me asking. i am shopping around and it would really help me make a decision. thanks!

[slinkiemalinki]

Heron - mine is recent info. I am 31 weeks pg with my second baby and have returned to C&W. The description of delivery/MW care was based on my first baby - the costs are what I am paying now for my second.
WHampsteadgirl, when I had MW care you just saw whoever was on shift, I had met one of the MWs who delivered me before the night I delivered, but the unit is now 16 beds instead of 6 so with a bigger staff they may have changed the way they operate - worth calling them to ask perhaps. I am now under Keith Duncan for this pregnancy, he is fantastic, and he does all my scans as well as antenatal appointments and delivery so I have seen nobody else at all this pregnancy. The continuity of care is much better if you opt for a doctor than the MWs.

[heron22]

hi slinkie, sorry i thought you had your baby awhile ago.

how is your pregnancy going? and do you know the sex of your baby?

[slinkiemalinki]

No trouble heron22 - really well thank you - and yes boy this time - couldn't wait to find out and KD was able to tell us at 12 weeks so we weren't in suspense for long!

Sorry WHampsteadgirl, I forgot your second question - I had a natural delivery so scheduling was out of the question! I did not have any problems about being rushed or pushed around at Chelsea, I was very pleased with it.

[heron22]

slinkie, i am having a boy as well. did you have CVS done? cos i had CVS done and was able to find out the sex of my baby.

[eandz]

heron,
as far as the prices go it's about the same as slinkie said. 3,000 for private mat room/care for delivery and my consultant is charging 5,000 for the delivery (he charges a flat fee for both vaginal and c section)...these fees we've paid upfront but, will be reimbursed for in a few days.

to be honest i'm not sure how much extra nights are since the health insurance i'm using actually covers everything.

slinkie always knows more because i think she lives in the area as well as has her mid wife appointments there...i live in st johns wood so i only go to c&w for emergencies/big tests and thai food.

...when i do go over there i know i'm going to want spicy food to help with labor (if i'm not doing a c section) i'll be odering take away from addies thai; they have the best red beef curry and pad thai ever.

[slinkiemalinki]

Congrats heron! No, I haven't had a CVS - the doctor could tell from the nuchal scan. Hope it all went well for you. eandz is having a boy as well.
I live in Notting Hill so not far from the hospital but can park there easily as I live in K&C which helps us. I don't actually have MW appointments - I just see my obstetrician for everything (goes back to the point about continuity of care). Although I will see MWs in early labour and for monitoring antenatally if there are any problems.
hanaflower is right about that deli - I always get a croissant after a morning antenatal - I live near a Paul and a Maison Blanc but this place knocks spots off both!

[eandz]

i think i want to try some of those pastries now. i haven't even seen the french deli you guys are talking about, but it's probably because i'm always late and running to my appointments.

[heron22]

hi slinkie, i live at queens club gardens, w14. i had my DS at portland and was very happy with the experience. but the traffic is quite bad most times getting there.

the prices at both portland and C&W is quite similar.

some days i just dont feel pregnant, like today. i dont have any discomforts other than slightly tender boobs. then i see myself in the mirror and then it hits me! i am getting bigger! i am really excited about being pregnant again. trying not to do any shopping for baby yet...but i definitely need some new clothes
i still have 2 pair of smart trousers i got from seraphine when i was pregnant with DS and they still look new!

how about you? have you been shopping?

[eandz]

heron, when are you due?

slinkie and i are due around the same week i think.

[mears]

Can I ask whether the obstetrician is present thoughout your labour or will he just be there at the very end for the delivery?

[slinkiemalinki]

Sure mears - the obstetrician aims to arrive for the active labour phase. Not just to catch the baby!

[slinkiemalinki]

I am huge this time heron - I have a pic of me at full term with my daughter and am the same size, but now have 2 months to go! I have lived in some seraphine work trousers and a formes skirt, but Gap maternity (which I didn't have last time) has been great for days off. And Isabella Oliver for tops.
No I have not done any baby shopping except a couple of grobags and a packet of newborn babygros! I really need to soon... I knew my DD would be a girl too so all her stuff is no good.

[slinkiemalinki]

eandz it is on the corner of Hollywood Road, opposite Carluccios!

[heron22]

hi eandz, i am due 30th Jan 09.

hi hana! hmmmm, you might know me for sure are you in the M&Y's ?

hi slinkie, so you're going to have one of each, that is very nice

[mears]

slinkiemalinki - are you sure about that part? I have never known a consultant obstetrician to deliver any care in labour - it is just usually the delivery they appear for.