Private birth- NHS postnatal

[Goldleaf76]

AIBU to expect the NHS postnatal care (midwives and health visitors at home) if I'm having a private elective c section? My understanding is that I will have to pay for the visits (around £1200) but it does not sound fair as I only wanted to have a section and my baby should still receive free health checks as all other babies do. My antenatal has been under the NHS in the same hospital. Has anyone done this?

If you're you go private, you go private for the entire episode, the NHS doesn't allow you to pick and choose.

That doesn’t sound right to me op, though I’ve no personal experience.

Who said you’d have to pay?

Is it maybe in case the private team fuck up, the NHS don’t want to be liable?

Hmm it seems unfair that your baby isn't entitled to the nhs checks just because you have elected to go private... the post natal checks also include checks for yourself though, not just the baby.

I thought you paid for the well baby check after birth - two hundred pounds, but following discharge you were treated and cared for under the NHS.

I actually agree that someone should go private for the whole bit.

Is it maybe in case the private team fuck up, the NHS don’t want to be liable?

As in, if the private team fuck up and then something goes wrong while you are in their aftercare. Maybe then there’d be a horrible mess where the NHS had to prove it was the private team who fucked up.

Doesn't sound right to me either, I have an independent midwife and plan a home birth, I still should receive all NHS help should I require and want it. As it happens I hopefully won't, but going private shouldn't change anything.

I don’t know if the “if you go private you have to go fully private” is right though. I had an independent midwife, but gave birth in hospital (as per plan). I had the independent and an nhs midwife.

X post with @hippy!

Had my son privately over 16 years ago now at the Portland. They notified the local health authority and I had the full complement of midwife checks (useful) and Health Visitor visits (intrusive and irritating) without having to pay.

I had a private birth but once I was discharged from hospital the NHS midwife and health visitor checks kicked in (hospital faces all that's needed over to your GP). I came out of hospital on the Saturday and the midwife came to check them on the Sunday. I still had my 6 week check with the private consultant as that was part of the package.

Check with your consultant.

This makes it pretty clear. www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2572.aspx?CategoryID=96

The Department of Health has said women who have an independent midwife are still officially under NHS care so entitled to use that. It is different with a private hospital birth where you are not officially under NHS care.

This doesn't sound correct to me.
Call your local NHS midwifery team (community) or GP for clarification (if you haven't already).
It might be different for midwives, and in postnatal care, but I know NHS community nurses see patients who've only had private surgery (for instance). They get a referral from either the patient's NHS GP or the private hospital, where they had treatment.

I have had 2 private c sections at an Nhs hospital in London.

They transfer you to Nhs care once you have been discharged from hospital for HV checks.

I went private for the birth
Then nhs afterward
No issue whatsoever

I was told this today by one of the NHS consultants. This is my first baby so obviously I will do whatever I have to just that anything to do with the baby should not depend on my choice of labour. I know that if the baby needs urgent care after the birth it will be under the NHS. Anyway, it is what it is and thanks for replying.

I went private. They baby was an NHS patient so if needed would have had NHS special care and had NHS paed checks before discharge. After we were discharged we were both seen by the NHS midwives and HV’s. That is standard although I think you can pay for private post natal home midwife visits if you like.

Minniem0use I am in Chelsea & Westminster. Good to know that, will double check with them.

I'm having a private c section. We are staying 3 nights after and that's private care but after that it's all NHS. I've been told it's not a problem.
Also people saying you can't pick and chose! Sod off. I'm saving the NHS a hefty sum of money paying for my C section! I pay taxes, I'm allowed post natal NHS care! How rude.

Out of interest, why is it you are going private for the section?

And who is providing your antenatal care?

I can’t see an issue here OP. Of course you and your baby should still be entitled to NHS, assuming you would usually be eligible of course. I original saw my neurologist privately, I am now on his NHS list, what’s the difference? Good luck.

This is simply not true. I am going private this year for antenatal care including the birth. I will then be transferred to local nhs midwives for postnatal Care as I did with my other child.

You are saving the NHS thousands.