Does anyone know how private nuchal screening may differ from Nhs

[Handbagsonnhold]

In my prev pregnancy 4yrs ago I had a private nuchal screening ....bloods/scan etc...as it wasn't offered at my hospital at that time. Now it is and I recently had an early scan at the private clinic who said although nuchal is now offered by Nhs their testing is based on far more up to date info and more accurate...just wondered if any wise MNetters out there have any info...or could it be just a sales ploy by clinic. Many thanks in advance.

It entirely depends on the clinic! For instance, the Fetal Medicine Centre in London would do a superior scan to the NHS. Not necessarily a better NT screening (nuchal measurements and bloods should be the same wherever you go) but they look at the baby in more detail and use soft markers that the NHS doesn't use. These include things like the nasal bone (measurement or lack of) the flow of blood in a particular place etc to improve the accuracy. They also check a lot of things that an NHS scan wouldn't, such as what they can see of the heart at this stage, which can provide extra reassurance or give you a heads-up on potential future issues.

Some clinics will just offer the same as the NHS. Maybe ask them for specifics? The NHS will (usually, some hospitals especially research ones will do more) usually only check the NT measurement, the bloodwork, and a very general overview of the baby e.g. organs present, size of baby. Nothing more.

Thank you very much for reply Crispy yes, I seem to remember the prev one I had at clinic certainly did all those measurements and we were there quite a long time. What you have said totally makes sense as to the differences there may/may not be.

Hi, it depends on the hospital as well. I had my NHS scan at UCLH in London. They did the nuchal measurement, looked at all soft markers, processed the blood results within an hour, and we walked away from the appointment with our risk results. I believe Kings (and perhaps other tertiary hospitals in London) will also do this.

I also had a private scan at the FMC on Harley St and the process was exactly the same.

The other thing about the FMC, from their website, is that all profits from the centre are donated to the Fetal Medicine Foundation.

When I was looking at options, I liked that the FMC was the least commercial.

I agree. And that your scan information will go into research to help in the future too.

UCLH and Kings and St Thomas' (I think?) are all excellent hospitals that go above and beyond what you'd normally get on the NHS. I had a scan at Queen Elizabeth in Woolwich in London and that was bog standard NHS. Most hospitals outside of London are likely to be bog standard as well, with a few exceptions maybe.

well, they would say that wouldn't they?

they want your money!

UCLH and Kings have links to the same professor who set up FMC (he is a pioneer in the ante natal testing field). I believe this is why the scans there are more detailed.

I was scanned at St Georges, also a big London hospital, and got none of the detail that I got at the FMC.

One other big difference is that the FMC also gave me risk ratios for Edwards and Patau syndromes (chromosomal disorders which are usually incompatible with life) whereas St Georges only gave me a risk for Downs. As it happened my Edwards and Patau risks were much higher than my Downs risk, which I would never have known had I only had the NHS tests. that said I believe some hospitals do give you risks for all three syndromes.

I doubt most private scans are as detailed as the FMC ones however.

I had my scan at MUMS in Solihull and it sounds much like the FMC one, they looked at more makers than the NHS equipment is capable of and the appointment was quite long and very detailed. The midwives I showed the results to at my next appointment were very interested in the difference in detail etc, and quick to agree that a private scan was a good option for my circumstances (ivf and over 40). They also gave Edwards and Pataus risks.

Hi all and thanks so much for all the valuable info....have decided to go ahead with the private clinic as last time....seems to make sense to me at this time for many reasons you have listed. Thanks again x