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....

Thanks pinkpeony. Did you meet several consultants before settling on yours?

I was set on the Lindo wing - now not so sure, and no possibility of seeing the new area until early November.

I met several consultants before choosing mine, also most of my friends had babies before me so went by their recommendations too. Some of the recommended ones weren't available for my due date (had holidays booked), so that limited my choice naturally. Also really important to visit the hospitals you are considering.

Sadly, costs are of concern, and having now done the research, the prices at the Portland (and I think C&W) for an elective CS (which I am seriously considering after 2 "natural" NHS births) are likely to rule out those hospitals - anything more than £10k is going to be too much...

That leaves the Landsell Suite at Tommy's and Sir Stanley Clayston at Queen Charlotte. Hoping to go and look at both next week. Can anyone recommend a consultant at either of those hospitals?

Continued thanks for all the thoughful and helpful replies...

If you are going for a natural birth the midwife led delivery at the Portland is under 10k and brilliant

I had a bit of a phone around when I was arguing with the ultra-crap AXA PPP - they reckoned £600 consultant fee was reasonable for a c section - utter bollocks . Miskry and I think it was Fernandes at Queen Charlottes were both about £3k, and the less well known at Watford were about £3500, but all their secretaries said they weren't keen to take women unless they looked after them through their pregnancy.

Paul Armstrong at The Portland charges £1500 for c section, but that's just for him to scrub up and do the operation - his consultancy fee is £500 a go I think, and then you've got theatre charges, aftercare charges, paediatric scharges etc.

Thanks BagofHolly.

Any recommendations for consultants at Landsell Suite or Queen Charlotte?

I'd be really grateful for any recent consultant recommendations at Landsell Suite or Sir Stanley Clayton....

LadyThomson - do you have any more wisdom to share re refurb of the Lindo Wing?

BagofHolly - I have had similarly awful experiences with AXA PPP - not only are they incredibly stingy, they try to manipulate the market by refusing to pay the fees of certain consultants in full....

Ferdie Bagogholly

Agree on axa - paying for birth ourselves as dh doesn't want our record "blemished" but found axa awful in paying up on dental insurance. They'd claim not to receive history from dentist, then ask for different info. And so on. Going in for 6 months.