Best IVF Clinic London?

[MrsDay14]

We're currently trying to choose the right clinic for us. I'm 30 with PCO, ttc 4 years no success so referred straight to IVF by NHS.

Any recommendations or places to avoid?

Our options are:

Create Fertility
CRGH
The Bridge Centre
Guy's Hospital ACU

Any advice will be great, thanks xxx

[AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered]

Guys and St Thomas without a doubt.

[horiz0n]

Hi,

why would you avoid Guys? will hopefully be starting with them soon. Just found out we have to go down the IVF route...never even considered it.

[Annalongcross]

Don't go to Guy's! They are a very arrogant 'one treatment protocol fits all' kind of place. No individual treatment, tend to try and cut corners. Explains their worrying success rates compared to other NHS clinics. Better to go somewhere they actually carefully monitor you and you are an individual. Sad that some people don't have the choice of where to go, Guy's relies on its steady stream of local NHS patients and uses NHS funding very badly.

[DirtyDancing]

I had a good experience with Guys. They were very clear in their approach. Diagnosed my PCOS for the first time; located and removed (quickly) a polyp on my uterus; and gave me clomid which I successfully conceived on and now have my darling 3 year old son. They tested my husband as well and did everything very quickly and efficiently

[ImNotChangingMyUsernameAgain]

I had an excellent experience at Guys although I was a private patient so I expect the treatment was a little more personal than on the NHS.

State of the art facilities that opened during my treatment.

I have twin DC.

[Annalongcross]

I think you absolutely right about the difference between Guy's NHS and Private, from what I understand there is a very big difference in the amount of time and effort between the two approaches. Their guaranteed NHS stream of patients just aren't seen as a priority for them, as they know they'll get the funding anyway. Barely any monitoring scans and no blood tests whatsoever.
DirtyDancing I think your experience doesn't really help here as you were not going though IVF, it's a very very different thing. I recognise you went through a very tough time too but it's a bit insensitive to compare a course of Chlomid to IVF.

[Annalongcross]

*clomid

[bibiLondon2017]

Hello MrsDay14, I am new to the forum and just came across this post as we are also considering ACU at Guy's for IVF. I was just wondering which clinic you chose in the end, and if it was guys how your experience was? Thanks so much.

[laurelstar]

We've had excellent care at the Bridge with the One By One team.

[sparechange]

I had a few rounds at Create and had an overall positive experience.

The downside with them is the admin/finance team, but if you are NHS funded, you won't have to deal with those horrors!

They frequently run late, so expect to be waiting past your allotted appointment slot, but the plus side of that is that they don't rush appointments and will answer any questions you have

You'll also been seen by a doctor for every appointment, where they will scan you and adjust your meds if required.
I also had rounds at Lister and C&W where I didn't see a doctor for the entire cycle, and I hated it. It felt really impersonal and part of a production line, so I wouldn't want to go to a nurse/sonographer-led clinic, even if they tell you that a doctor is reviewing your notes at the end of each day

Good luck

[Isthismummy]

Another one adding to the negativity regarding Guys.

I had my NHS cycle cancelled there in March due to sky high FSH and being told I have POF. They hadn't done a single blood test in the preceding five months running up to our treatment.

Nothing is explained properly. The day we went in for injection training the nurse ran through it in about five minutes. Then when I expressed a fear of injecting myself was told I would "just have to get on with it"

In my follow up consultation I expressed how hard it was coming to terms with needing DE. The consultants reply was that he could think of a million things worse than needing DE Then I was told he wasn't a counsellor and not there to discuss such things. This was the head of the unit I should add!

I've been offered an NHS ED cycle with them now, and I'm m still not sure even though I have a friend offering to be my donor. That's how little faith I have. I feel I'd be better off going abroad and paying!

[bibiLondon2017]

Is it just me or is there a big discrepancy in treatment between NHS funded and self-funded ivf patients? It's appalling really. The positive reviews I read are mostly from privately funded patients...We will need to go down the self-funded route due to the delightful NHS eligibility criteria. Have started the paper work with Guys ACU, will report how we get on.

[Nicky2468]

I know it's not on your list but the Lister was fantastic.

[sparechange]

Where as I absolutely hated everything about my treatment at the Lister and would tell others to avoid it like the plague..!
nicky did you see or speak to a doctor for any time during your treatment other than the initial consultation, and egg collection/transfer?

[Nicky2468]

I was treated at the Spire Clinic in Slough which is one of the Listers satellite clinics. So no I only had my initial consultation and egg collection and transfer there.

[Leontine2018]

Can anyone recommend a good fertility clinic in London for IVF where the patient sees the same fertility specialist during the whole treatment?

[RubyBoots7]

We were NHS funded at crgh. Had a really positive experience with them. Did not feel that we were treated differently to privately paying patients. Occasionally there were some communication issues with admin type stuff but not insurmountable and every clinician and other member of staff we saw was always lovely.
We had the same consultant for each round but didn't need to see them very often as most of the work is with other medics or nurses doing the scans, blood tests and meds. When our first round didn't work, they we're very responsive to changing the protocol and also we had things like scratches that the consultant decided would be helpful to try and were included under our treatment.

Have heard a criticism that it can feel a bit conveyor belt. We didn't find that at all. It is quite business like and busy but think that's a reflection of its popularity due to stats.
To make a decision I rang all the ones on our approved list and got a feel for them. Plus we went by the outcome stats and crgh were the best of our options on both counts.

[RubyBoots7]

Also some of the other clinics on your list were on our list. We discounted Guys because I could never ever get through to them on my ringing around to get a feel. I tried a lot!

Create seemed nice and I know people who have been with them and had a positive and successful experience. I think their stats weren't as good as crgh when we were looking but obviously haven't researched since.

[RubyBoots7]

I've just realised this is a zombie thread. 😡

[Janju123]

I have had two IVF cycles at Zita West and have been very happy with them on both occasions. I got pregnant both times - first time with my daughter who is now 2.5 and second time recently where I miscarried.

Prior to Zita West we had one unsuccessful round on the NHS and had unexplained infertility. When I went to Zita West they recommended I had the full range of blood tests which showed I had a blood clotting disorder and high levels of natural killer cells (so was treated for both of these things during the cycles).

The staff are lovely at Zita West and the clinic is calm and friendly. They have expanded their team recently and now have three doctors - the medical director and two others. I think you see the medical director Dr Ndukwe for the initial consultation then will be allocated one of the other doctors.

[Leontine2018]

Thank you for all replies. Does anyone have experience with Boston Place? Does the patient see the same fertility specialist for all appointments, scans and egg collection?

[tenbob]

Leon
You're unlikely to find anywhere where you can see the same one person throughout your treatment, because it will be a 2-week window of daily or near daily appointments, and no clinic is going to make a doctor work 14 days back to back

You'll probably see the same 2 or 3 people throughout the treatment depending on the Clinic and their methods but all clinics make detailed notes during each appointment so there wouldn't be any issue with seeing more than one doctor

[Lozza41]

Any more recommendations please? Had just done a round at Hammersmith but miscarried at 10 weeks. Consultant good but hardly saw him. Says as I got pregnant would do same protocol but do PGS before transfer this time. Does not support immune testing but cannot help feeling this might explain both my miscarriages. One ivf and one natural pregnancy.

[Bunbunbunny]

I’ve just had my first appointment with Imperial this weeks at Queen Charlotte. Who was your consultant Lozza41?

[Mookie81]

Care Fertility London any good?