NHS or Private

I recently had a 12 week scan and nuchal fold test on the NHS. I could opt for NHS CVS or Amnio if I wanted at the very best clinic in the whole of the UK (and possibly the world) for this sort of thing - that Harris Birthright at Kings in South London. So your GP is talking rubbish.
NHS hospitals can be grim places structurally, but private care seems a hell of a lot of money for not much IMO. Better to pay for a doula or independent midwife IMO if you want a natural birth. Friends have had good experiences in NHS birth centres and say they are better than ordinary maternity wards.

NewYorktoLondon: I just wrote you a v. long response on the thread you started under "pregnancy." Do give that a look--it's an opinion in favor of private, just to confuse you more!

Agree with bundle, 12-week scans and appointments were standard part of my NHS care as well (UCH in London). In fact I think they now do them at 11 weeks and offer you a nuchal fold scan too, tho' I didn't go for this option.

The way into NHS hospital care is to go to your GP and get him/her to refer you. There will probably be two or three local hospitals that they refer to, and the GP may have useful opinions regarding the choice. You can opt for mainly hospital care, in which case all your appts will be at the hospital, or so-called 'shared care' in which your scans and a couple of main appts are at the hospital, and the routine checks in between carried out at your GP surgery. The latter seems to be the most common option, as long as you get on with your GP and aren't high-risk.

Hospitals should also offer you a choice of consultant or midwife-led care, again assuming you're not high-risk. Some NHS hospitals (UCH again) have a midwife-only birthing unit (in addition to the standard labour ward) for more homely and holistic care in straightforward deliveries.

that's rubbish, I saw my midwife for a booking at 11/12 weeks and had a scan (wanted a nuchal fold measurement and got my gp to refer specifically for this though as i was 38). please don't be put off by the fabric of some nhs hospitals, mine was particularly grotty but had a better obstetric reputation than some of the newer units.

Not an answer to your question NewYorktoLondon, as you'll be in London, but private isn't an option in Scotland as there is NO private maternity provision here!

Can't fault the state system though - my experience was excellent (food excepted!). I did end up in a single room though, because ds needed phototherapy, which was much better than the the 4 bed ward I started in.

I would echo what others have said about needing the back-up of the NHS for emergencies. CountessDracula has that name for a reason, so she would know!

As a midwife in the NHS, I would say that I have never seen the need for private care when having a baby except for the fact you might get a nice single room. If you have a high risk pregnancy requiring medical care you will automatically be seen by a consultant. However, if you have a normal pregnancy the best carer for you is a midwife. There are some fabulous schemes of how midwifery care is delivered in the NHS. If you wanted to be guatanteed of one midwife throughout labour and birth then I would consider an Independent Midwife.
If anyone is in need of high tech specialised care then the place to be, without a doubt, is the NHS.

I had my dd on the NHS and i really can't fault them either.
I'm in the NorthEast so guess it would differ in different areas.
My midwives were fantastic and the hospital was lovely!
Good luck and Congratulations++++

I had the same dilemma, but following an anomalous scan which was dealt with by the Harris clinic at Kings, I didn't want to be anywhere other than in the NHS system. I was worried that private clinics, unless directly attached to a hospital, are not equipped for emergencies. And in any event, the consultant who dealt with me on the big day was the same who had looked after a friend who'd gone privately and spent thousands for the privilege...

Yes the wards weren't fabulous, and nor was the food etc, but dh was great at bringing in food parcels and everything went quickly (despite the fact I ended up being in hospital for nearly 2 weeks). The wards at Kings were new anyway, so they were much nicer than I'd imagined (I'd heard the old wards were dreadful). Paying for a private room after the birth may be a good compromise, although if all goes smoothly, you might be in and out the same day, and prefer to have help at home instead. HTH

had my first on the NHS and can't fault the care I had ( but not at any of those hospitals) Am expecting a second and will also be on the NHS. Private isn't an option for lots of women here because of the cost....

I'm also an ex-pat and was really anxious about what route to go down when we were expecting our first - no friends had babies at that point and all of my family were overseas. Was in the same boat as yourself. Have been exptremely impressed with the entire midwife care before and after ( midwifery is still seen as a 'fringe' thing - but growing more mainstream I think - in Canada)

Good luck with your decisions and CONGRATULATIONS!!

Yes I would read that thread. NHS is safest option really. Portland has a bad recent history.

I had my dd at Chelsea, the care before and during labour was great, the aftercare was awful. You can go NHS for the birth and move to a private room afterwards (if one is available) but to be honest it is £600 per night for very little. If everything goes ok you won't be in there for long anyway, and if it doesn't and you have to stay longer you will probably be glad you had been in the NHS for other reasons!

Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy!

Useful recent thread here