250 quid newborn check at Portland

[mumtojohn]

I am lucky enough to be able to claim my c section privately at the Portland in London (baby will actually delivered by a consultant from my local NHS hospital, who works for both the NHS and the Portland privately, which is reassuring).

I have been told there will be a cost I need to meet myself, which is a consultant check of my newborn before going home. I am not clear whether this is something the NHS do for free (and therefore I do need to pay the Portland to do it) or whether it is a private hosipital extra that is a bit bells and whistles.

Ultimately, I am happy to pay for a bit of extra piece of mind, but I wondered if any other MNers have had this experience.

Not sure if this has already been mentioned but the newborn check is 'complimentary' for those paying privately but charged as an extra for insured patients. I got details about it in the bumph they sent me at the time of booking.

I'll do it for you for a tenner.

So you,re having a c section done by the same person who would do it on the Nhs and you're having to pay 250 quid for something you get routinely the nhs?

HAve you thought about just booking a private room after the op on the NHS at the Homerton? I got my own room free with the NHS after my first who was early, sis paid about 40 quid for one night after hers. I can see you don't want the whole strip lighting thing but surely after at least one night's quiet rest you'd be okay? I'm sure most hospitals provide this but it might be first come first served on the day.

I cannot believe the nursery thing, just do what everyone else does and get DH/Mum/friend to watch them while you go for a shower. Bunch of chancers in those private hospitals!

what spudulika said, all newborns have a check by a paed, registrar or a trained midwife within 24hrs of birth so that they can be discharged, if you have a home birth then you either take your baby to the gp for it or in my area they will come and do a home visit :)

£250 for a check that takes about ten mins is laughable!

oh and the hearing test is done routinely on all newborns at my hospital, if for some reason you dont have it done at birth ie home birth, then they will call you and arrange for you to go to hospital to have it done.

ds4 needed his repeating as due to water birth his ear canals were full of water (common apparently) and it was just a quick trip and very simple to repeat the procedue.

Do people realise that this thread is a year old? I know some people are responding to Starchild, but the OP's baby is presumably now (all being well) approaching their first birthday...

Im having a homebirth and GP will be doing mine the day after birth.

couldnt you have the same? and NHS GP home visit?

This document says the exam is optional

Newborn check at Portland