Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The Portland Hospital

77 replies

Lovesprideandprejudice · 08/12/2019 19:28

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.

OP posts:
BlaueLagune · 09/12/2019 10:41

In my experience the surgeons work outside their NHS hours too. The one time I've had an operation it was done at 6pm, after he'd worked his NHS hours.

OP could you use the private wing of an NHS hospital? If you are in south west London I'd be inclined to look at Frimley Park hospital as it's only down the M3.

Elementary00 · 09/12/2019 10:42

Why isn't the NHS an option?

Dontdisturbmenow · 09/12/2019 10:47

Is the surgeon only practicing there? No nhs practice? What I would consider is how often a month for she carry out these procedures.

There have been cases of supposedly prestigious surgeons carry out massive blunders in private practice. Prestige doesn't mean better care.

SlothMama · 09/12/2019 11:06

It's a fantastic hospital, for anyone saying why not use the NHS I'm a firm believer that if you can afford to go private you should. The NHS is in crisis and it means one less patient on an already fit to burst service.

PeggySuehadababy · 09/12/2019 11:43

For a minor issue I'm sure they will be fine.

Not sure what the point is of asking OP why she's not going to use the NHS. There are plenty of posts from people who have super long waiting lists on the NHS for surgery and one of the first things asked is :"Can you afford to go private OP?".

PeggySuehadababy · 09/12/2019 11:44

And blunders happen in the NHS too, look at Morecambe Bay.

Derbee · 09/12/2019 13:15

@stonebrambleboy I am not wrong. Consultations often take place in the evenings, but absolutely not surgery.

My DP had an operation a few months ago at the Nuffield private hospital. His surgeon works for the NHS, but sets aside Mondays as his surgery day at the Nuffield.

I have also been under the care of a surgeon privately. They’re not normally very flexible for surgical appointments, as they only operate one day a week.

I’m sure you’re trying to be helpful, but you are wrong, and likely to cause unnecessary worry for the OP

Answerthequestion · 09/12/2019 13:16

Seriously, I can’t get over posters asking why you wouldn’t use the NHS

  • privately you choose your doctor. You get operated on by them and not their team
-continuity of care, you only see them, you don’t have to have someone who has never met you reading your notes time and again
  • you generally get in and out for appointments much more quickly so waste less time waiting around.
  • tests can happen the same or next day avoiding multiple appointments
-no waiting lists so you can book in an operation at a time to suit
  • the doctors are almost always NHS too, usually v senior. Those who aren’t tend to be on the wind down to retirement

-the hospitals are adequately staffed and you don’t have to be on a ward but get a nice room and privacy.

There are not that many hospitals which will operate on children privately. On every level it makes sense to go privately if they offer the care and you can afford it or have cover. Obviously some things need to be done NHS but things like tonsils. Adenoids, grommets, orthopaedics etc are the bread and butter of The Portland and they do it excellently.

Londongirl86 · 09/12/2019 13:17

Is this the one near Weymouth. X

Derbee · 09/12/2019 13:21

@stonebrambleboy just to add, I’m sure you will have anecdotal evidence that evening surgeries happen. All I’m saying, is that it’s not a given. It’s misleading to imply all private surgery is carried out by tired doctors late at night etc

Also, as far as using the NHS, I don’t understand why people keep asking. There are many many elective surgeries that the NHS will not fund. The only option is pay privately, or live with whatever medical complaint you have. Of course if you can afford it, you go private in those circumstances

stonebrambleboy · 09/12/2019 14:18

Derbee I am not implying that private surgery is carried out by tired doctors late at night. (Though I guess it's not unreasonable to assume one would be rather fatigued after working a full NHS shift).
I am stating a fact that many doctors go straight from their NHS place of work to their private hospital place of work and perform surgery after 5pm until late. I know because I worked with them in theatre.
Yes some doctors have allocated 'private work' days but many do not.

AlexaAmbidextra · 09/12/2019 16:26

I am not wrong. Consultations often take place in the evenings, but absolutely not surgery.

Derbee. You are wrong. You can’t speak for every surgeon doing private work. Some will undertake private surgery in the evening. I know as I had planned gall-bladder surgery at 7pm.

raisinseverywhere · 09/12/2019 17:24

I’ve had private surgery at night too. I wouldn’t recommend it, as I was then left in my room overnight afterwards very unwell with hardly any care from the night shift nurses.

thetreeisstressingmeout · 09/12/2019 17:28

Brilliant pre care - play therapists before surgery, teddy bears, play therapy after. My dd was well looked after and we had no complaints

recededpronunciation · 09/12/2019 18:04

One of my children had a procedure there recently under general anaesthetic. The whole experience and care received was excellent.

AuntSpiker · 09/12/2019 18:26

I am not wrong. Consultations often take place in the evenings, but absolutely not surgery

I'm afraid that simply isn't true. Of course private surgery takes place in the evenings. Mind you I used to work with one consultant years ago who would do the first one or two cases on his NHS list them bugger off to the private hospital down the road, leaving the registrar to do the rest of his NHS list. Hopefully that wouldn't be allowed now!

When a surgeon operates privately, the timing of his or her private lists will depend on the number of PAs they are contracted for in the NHS. Many do operate privately in the evenings.

BlaueLagune · 09/12/2019 18:30

I am not wrong. Consultations often take place in the evenings, but absolutely not surgery

So I apparently dreamt the fact that I went into a private hospital for surgery in the evening. Admittedly it was a minor procedure and didn't take very long, but it was definitely "out of hours".

There are many many elective surgeries that the NHS will not fund

In some cases, with very good reason. Or they will fund it, but not for ages, as people have pointed out, so you pay to go privately or claim on the insurance to avoid the waiting list (or in my case, as it was a gynae thing I was able to name the date and avoid any issues of being on my period at the time).

Derbee · 09/12/2019 22:20

@AlexaAmbidextra @AuntSpiker @BlaueLagune as I’ve said upthread, I’m sure people have anecdotal evidence that surgeries can take place in the evening.

My experience is that surgeons put aside a day for private operations, and spend the full day at a private hospital.

To say that it’s a given that surgeries will take place in the evening after a long day at work is not correct. Some might, others won’t.

Also @Blaue my comment wasn’t a criticism - of course there are some elective surgeries that the NHS won’t fund, and rightly so. I was just explaining, when so many PPs were asking the OP why she didn’t use the NHS. Just pointing out that sometimes it isn’t an option.

AlexaAmbidextra · 09/12/2019 23:18

Derbee. Yes, but you said ‘absolutely’. People are merely pointing out that your experience is not correct in every circumstance.

Derbee · 09/12/2019 23:48

@Alexa and then subsequently acknowledged that the PP may well have experienced operations taking place in the evening? I just pointed out the it wasn’t a given, and it has never happened in my experience.

runoutofnamechanges · 10/12/2019 00:24

@minipie Your DH was operated on at the Portland? I thought it only provided in patient care for women and children.

@Lovesprideandprejudice DC and I have only ever been outpatients at the Portland (and it was great) but when I had surgery I was advised (well not so much advised as told) by the consultant to have the operation as a private patient in an NHS hospital as the availability of expertise in an emergency is better.

minipie · 10/12/2019 22:42

runoutofnamechanges yes he was, for a broken bone. He stayed one night so I guess that makes him an inpatient? Never heard that about women and children.

HotWaterBottleAndABottleOfWine · 10/12/2019 22:44

Of the NHS is not an option it's because ..

a) you don't have the legal right to use it

b) You r a celeb and the security would not be possible ... Are you royalty? An A Lister?

... so intrigued!!

Lasvegas · 10/12/2019 22:54

I’ve had 3 daycare gynae ops there and several out patients tests and consultations.

The Nurses, doctors, room service and standard of rooms are great. The admin people generally slow and dozy.

Katrinawaves · 10/12/2019 23:18

@minipie. The Portland is definitely just for women and children and has been for st least 20 years. There are other hospitals in the same group though. Maybe your DH was at one of those?