The Portland Hospital

[Lovesprideandprejudice]

Apologies for posting here for traffic but my DC has a minor issue that may require a minor op with a general anaesthetic. We are considering using the Portland hospital. Has anyone got positive or otherwise comments to make? I’d be grateful for any advice.
Thank you.

I had my baby at The Portland as I was low risk. Anything, even minor, if it required a GA I’d look at St Mary’s for though - it’s attached to an NHS hospital so you can be there in minutes if anything goes wrong.

DH had an op (broken bone reassembly) at the Portland earlier this year.
DD2 had an op (tonsillectomy) at the BUPA Cromwell this year.
DD1 had an MRI under general at the Portland a few years back.
All good experiences, with our choice of specialist consultant surgeon, with virtually no wait time.

On the NHS the latter two of these would not have happened. DH’s would have happened but not necessarily done by someone quite as experienced/specialised in that area.

My DS had to have a minor operation that the NHS wouldn’t do under general anaesthetic. He had it done privately with a surgeon, but in a NHS hospital on a normal NHS ward.

My DP had an operation that the NHS wouldn’t do. We’re not in London, but had very good patient experience at a private Nuffield hospital. I’m sure the Portland will be great. Minor operation, with a GA shouldn’t bee much to worry about presumably?

It'll be fine there.

As soon as anything goes wrong, they'll dial 999 and send the patient to Chelsea and Westminster hospital. Just remember that they'll charge up until the ambulance is loaded.

Portland is a great hospital and does offer emergency care for adults and children. They also have a good relationship with GOSH and many kids beyond their expertise are either transferred there by private ambulance (often at no extra charge) or the expertise is brought in from GOSH.

I think in the U.K. there are lots of myths about private hospitals.

I think it depends on the hospital and the procedure. I have a couple of friends who get private healthcare through their husbands. The surgeons that have carried out/will carry out their operations are NHS doctors, one of whom carried out life saving surgey on DH in an NHS hospital. Generally these doctors operate late afternon/evening in the private hospitals after operating in the NHS hospital during the day.

One of my friends had post op complications after being sent home from hospital and was blue lighted to an NHS hospital for treatment. She said that her treatment at the NHS hospital was better than at the private hospital.

We are not in London.

I paid for my son to have his tonsils lasers off at a private hospital and it was brilliant.

We’re avid supporters of the NHS usually but he didn’t meet the threshold for removal so felt I had no choice.

For a child, a specialist children's hospital is preferable unless it's something like a sports injury in which case a specialist centre is best

But then what happens if, god forbid, something happens and you need the support of a crash team? Does the NHS turn round and say no? I hope not.

No. The good old NHS rectifies, at great cost to the taxpayer, the fuck ups made at private hospitals.

My kids have had procedures under GA at the Portland and also in the private wing at Great Ormand Street. Both were fine. The Portland does have an ICU as others have said. My kids were around 3 for GOSH and 10 for the Portland if that makes a difference.

Disagree with PP that surgeons will be operating late, after a full day in the NHS hospital. All the surgeons I know who do private operations put aside a regular surgery day at private hopitals

My post is only anecdotal from the experience of two people. I guess it also depends on the type of operation.

Thank you all for your advice. It is very much appreciated. We are really hoping to avoid the op but the surgeon who has been very highly recommended is at the Portland. Thank you again.

AFAIK the Portland does have a crash team . It did on 2004 which is the last time I did agent there.

You're wrong Debee I've worked in theatre with many surgeons and anaesthetists who operate well into the night after working a full shift for the NHS. I can only remember one who had an allocated day and it was Saturday.

Sorry Derbee

All my antenatal care was done during normal working hours by a consultant who also works on the NHS. There were no Saturdays or late nights. That's just tosh.

My daughter had grommets fitted at the Portman 3 years ago. can't fault them

to the people saying what is wrong with the NHS - this was a 20 month old just on the cusp of talking with severe glue ear, we had the op at the portman in December, 2 weeks after the initial hearing test.

the NHS referral came for late February, and that would still tell us if they thought she needed a hearing test and then we would have to wait further for the op...

my DH's work health insurance paid for this, so yes, we went private...

It’s an excellent hospital with some of the best paediatric doctors in the country working there. It’s a fully staffed private hospital who can deal with emergencies and they have a paediatric ICU.

I have used it for my children as have most of my friends. It’s an excellent choice and one of the only private paediatric facilities in London. I use private paeds for my kids as preference for non emergencies as in my experiences it far exceeds NHS so not sure why you wouldn’t

Pipstelle it's not tosh.
I wasn't talking about antenatal care.
I was talking about elective surgery which is what the OP is asking about.
I was there as a theatre sister, and I can assure you I regularly worked late into the night and Saturdays.

I had my first ever op under GA there, my surgeon was excellent as was the anaesthesiologist who took the time to allay my fear about GA. nurses also all great. Had a peek at the children’s floor when u was getting wheeled around and it looked very nice

Hope your dc’s op goes smoothly, if the surgeon cones well recommended I’m sure it will. Best of luck

I’ve only visited the Portland when considering antenatal care there and they seemed lovely. I was too concerned about the lack of a level 3 baby nicu and went work St Mary’s instead. If your surgeon is well recommended I’d follow their lead on where best to go. We were also paying fully privately and not via insurance and so St Mary’s was better suited for us since we had access to the NHS NICU if needed. But we are British and otherwise eligible for the NHS.

Beware that this thread will descend into defenders of the NHS raging against private hospitals. FWIW I’m a labour voter and a big supporter of the NHS but an underfunded over extended busy north London hospital’s mistakes cost me the life of my first born and there’s no way I could go back to the NHS after that experience.

Minor procedure in 2011, was a great experience and was well looked after.

If the surgeon is at the Portland I would also hope they practise in the NHS - I would avoid any surgeon that doesn't.