Private maternity wings....

[Ferdie]

Hi all

I know this is a subject much discussed on numerous threads, but I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on the following:

• The Knutsford suite at Watford General. Seems very tempting from price point of view, but is anyone able to share their experience?

• The Lindo wing. I had thought that they would not be taking new bookings as being refurbished shortly, but I have just spoken to them, and they tell me that they are relocating during the refurbishment to the Clarence Wing (which I think is the main NHS maternity wing). Anybody have any thoughts on what the disadvantages of this might be?

Many thanks, in advance....

Just to add - has anyone given birth at the Knutsford suite recently under the care of Mr Sheridan - see thebirthteam.com. I can only find one post mentioning him....

I understand that the Lindo wing is shutting completely, but some of the midwife staff will still be caring for patients privately in the main NHS maternity hospital. So not sure whether you get private rooms, ensuite bathrooms, full private staff including anaesthetists, etc. - even though you will still be paying full price of Lindo wing private birth. You should check with them exactly what facilities/support will be available to you. Also, if you are going for consultant-led care, some of the consultants will not be delivering privately there during the time it's closed because they can't get the same standard of care for their patients (mine won't) - you'll have to check with them directly.

Pinkpeony, where are you going to go? TTC#1 and I was recommended John and Lizzie's and the Lindo Wing and they are both closed / being refurbed. Obviously I am a little ahead of myself but being the wrong side of 35, terrified of the whole idea of child birth not to mention looking after a tiny baby I am learning as much as I can.

Hi, I've given birth at the Portland and also the Lansdale suite at St Thomas'. Both were fine, but I liked the fact at the Portland you weren't sharing the lift with "ill" people!
The Portland has special care for babies over 31 weeks, they won't let you deliver there if you're less than that.
I'll (hopefully) be having number 3 at the portland next April.

C&W Kensington Wing. All going well so far. Will report end of November.

Thanks all. Pinkpeony - would also be interested to know where you are going (and who your consultant is).

And if anyone has any thoughts at all on the Knutsford Suite...

Another vote for C&W. Two healthy babies and good deliveries. They have done their refurb already; it's lovely!

Going to Portland again, gave birth to DS there last year and had great experience. My consultant only does scheduled CS at C&W Kensington Wing so Portland my only choice now as want to keep same consultant (and not planning CS). Laughinglemons, I think Lindo Wing is due to reopen Oct 2011 just in case you have baby after that - and I had DS at 36 and will be 38 when DC2 due so fully understand you!

I had DS at the Portland but was looking at Watford as it's closer to home so I could still see my little son easier than him having to trek into London to see me.
Here's what's put me off:
The consultant that everyone wants is Mr. Sheridan. The other consultants who operate are apparently (and this is hearsay) stroppy and offhand.
The visiting hours are limited and you're only allowed a couple of visitors at a time, so if my parents brought my son over, and my husband was already there, someone would have to wait outside.
There is no nursery facility - the baby stays with you at all times whereas at other units you've got the opportunity to hand over so you can have a shower/sleep.
I think (but am not sure) that the staff on the NHS ward are the same as the staff on the private wing rather than dedicated staff.

I may still go for a visit but I'm minded to go to the Portland again, partly because I know what to expect!

There;s a thread on here, posted by one of the midwifes from the Lindo, btw, outlining the service during the refurb.

John and Lizzies aren't doing deliveries anymore, so that leaves Lnsdell, and Kingston, C+W, and Queen Charlottes I think.

I'm due on the 16th of October and will still be delivering at Lindo wing. After that they will relocate but as far as I understood some consultants will be available for delivery once they have relocated. I guess they will take over a wing at NHS and set up private rooms there. I was considering Portland but they are not a hospital and if something goes wrong you need to be driven to one. I personally found it quite worrying... It would for sure be more comfy than Lindo but I know that I would just worry so I passed despite many good reviews. I'm also on a wrong side of 35 (just :)) so maybe that is why I would be a bit anxious not being in a hospital.

Portland is a hospital, and has NICU and SCBU (from 32 weeks) for the babies and emergency facilities for the mothers. Very few mothers need to be transported to other hospitals every year (and that can happen in NHS hospitals too). If you book a tour of Portland, the midwife will explain to you what are the facilities to deal with emergencies. However they will not deliver you if you are under 32 weeks, so if baby is very premature you would have to give birth in an NHS hospital anyway.

I only know what my consultant has told me who also often delivers at Portland. I don't have first hand experience.

The Portland most certainly IS a hospital in every sense of the word, so I wonder why your cons said it wasn't!

Thanks Pinkpeony. Really thank you. You made me feel like less ridiculous for thinking about where to have the baby when I am not even pregnant. Congrat on DC2 and good luck with everything.

Please make sure that when you ask about facilities, you check she's answering about staff as well as the actual hardware. Are there paediatric consultants or post-membership senior registrars (or whatever they're called now -certificated specialists?) actually on the premises, as is the case with London NHS hospitals.

BagofHolly - v interesting re Watford - has (sadly) put me off...

onimolap - having looked at the mumsnet post from the Lindo wing lady, it would seem that all the same staff will be available. Have contacted them to ask if it is possible to take a tour of the new facilities - could of course be a building site. Will report back!

Also - if anyone is wiling to give an up to date idea of the fees being charged by Mr Teoh, Mr Horner, Miss Lakasing or Mr Murphy (or any of the other L Wing consultants), that would be super helpful...Do they all charge a flat rate?

why don't you ring their secretaries? I expect they are all comparable.

In the process of doing that, but taking some time to get through to them all, so would still be grateful for any indications - thanks.

Ferdie - I am have been to the Lindo wing before and am going again shortly. One of the consultants you mention charges £5500 so imagine others are similar. Then you have to pay your hospital fee on top (eg c section package is about £5k, vaginal delivery quite a lot less). The care is first rate, as in the consultant care. However, the arrangements for care during the refurb are crap and the hospital managers are being very hardnosed about offering reduction in the not inconsiderable cost, so if you are thinking of going whilst they are during that time (the work only starts this week and I imagine it's going to be a long job) I would think very, very carefully.

Ferdie - most of the consultants you mention also deliver at the Portland, so if you find one you like you can stick with them whether the Lindo has reopened or not and make your decision about hospitals later. My consultant delivers at Lindo (not during refurb though), Portland and C&W (scheduled CS only) so when I was pregnant with DS last year, I took some time before deciding which hospital I wanted to deliver in (between Lindo and Portland as was having natural birth). £5500-£6000 seems to be the range for consultants' fees at the moment (including antenatal care and postnatal check), regardless of hospital.

Momo - Portland is a hospital and an excellent one at that - what it doesn't have is ICU for mum if she needs it. That's when you would have to be taken to another hosp close by. There is an ICU for babies. I asked for all the stats before delivering there, and as a previous poster noted, very few women need to be transferred each year. If it worries you then it is a consideration - but the care there is wonderful otherwise. Amazing and committed team of midwives and lactation consultants on hand. And a nursery where you can send baby for care while you get some rest.

Hi LadyThompson. Can you give any more details re arrangements? I was quite persuaded by the blurb posted by the midwife - but then I know so little about it...

Re consultant costs, does anyone know if any of them charge less for delivery only (I already know that Mr Teoh charges a flat rate)?

Thanks all....

Scarabeetle, exactly this ( no IC for me, and no other departments) is why I am not at the Portland. The three doctors in my family all ruled that they would never take the risk of me needing a transfer if something went wrong. But it is TINY risk unless you have a pre existing problem. Still they are the ones who get called in when there is a neurological or cardiac problem with women in labour so their perception of the risk and lack of acceptance thereof for their family is extreme. It's probably one in thousands, I guess. And no different than giving birth at a small hospital in so far as lack of cardiologists/ neurosurgeons etc is concerned.

DH also vetoed the portland as a month into our pregnancy a wife of one of his employees died after neurological issue at birth, and i dont like the celebrity choice image so the Cat family is going for maximum hospital cover. But that's just one choice - the risk at Portland for most of us may be only teeny-tiniest bit larger than elsewhere.

I think the most important thing with a low risk pregnancy is that you feel safe and comfortable wherever you choose to give birth. And that means different things to different people - some at home, some in hospital, others only when surrounded by every type of doctor on earth. Everything else can be dealt with by preparation and good contingency planning.

I understand your concern - It's a personal choice. My consultant delivers there and Kings College Hospital but we checked that out and it was awful, wouldn't have any procedure there. Liked the consultant very much & he made me feel comfortable about going to the Portland. Other choice was Teoh, but friend had bad experience at Lindo so didn't want that either.

Seriously, the 'celeb' image shouldn't be a consideration though.

I think the real issue is that there are so few decent hospitals to give birth in around London. By decent I mean excellent medical care, facilities and private, clean rooms for mothers. And the expense to have birth anywhere other than your own living room or a filthy NHS hospital is a disgrace.

Ferdie - IME the most important is to choose a consultant you are comfortable with and trust, and most of them deliver in several hospitals so you will have a choice and can also take in their recommendations for your specific case (e.g. if you are low-risk or not). As for hospitals, would also recommend going to tour all the ones that you are considering - in particular the Lindo with the facilities it is offering during the refurb - to see if you would be ok with it. In the end, it's a very personal choice and what works for one, might not for another.
A lot of consultants charge less for delivery only, but if you are set on the Lindo, it books up very early so not sure you will get in if you switch to private at the end of your pregnancy. I have heard of a lot of people switching to private at the Portland later on in pregnancy, so probably possible there. You would need to check with each consultant individually.