Private C-section/obstetrician essex, suffolk area

[shellymarie]

Hello everyone, can anybody help me.
I am therefore considering paying for a private c-section (don't think I will be able to get one on NHS) - seen various places in London but ideally need Essex or Suffolk. Anyone know anywhere?
I have heard of people managing to get a private obstetrician, but have the procedure done in an NHS hospital (by an obstetrician who does a bit of both private and NHS work). This would be amazing, as all facilities on hand should they be needed. I have rung a few to enquire but can only seem to find gynaecologists who don't do deliveries.
If anyone has any info that would be appreciated more than you can ever imagine.

I live in Suffolk but have not heard of anyone having a private C section.Can I ask why you don't want to have one on the NHS?

Thanks for your reply.
I just don't think I would be able to get one on the NHS, as its mainly just (huge) anxiety issues, (although I do have fibroids, but I'm not sure if these would have any bearing).
I am just keen to investigate all possible options.

I am a midwife in Essex and am not familiar with any available private obstetric care I am afraid. It is usually one of the London Hospitals.

I enquired about private care (not specifically CS) in N Essex/S Cambs and was told that the cost of private insurance is so high that no one does private obstetrics locally after 25 weeks as you would need a lot of patients to make it worthwhile. You could pursue the NHS route as it isn't totally unheard of or trek down to London.

Shelley - I had an ELCS (maternal request) no medical issues with my first so it is possible. Get a consultant appt and see what he/she thinks - you can get a second opinion if the first one refuses you.

Thanks everyone - I guess I can ask a consultant, no harm in that. I am very tiny, so may have too small a pelvis!

If I do choose a c-sec and have to go private and to London, does anyone know if I can have local NHS care more or less up to the surgery, and just go there for the procedure. Or do you have to have all your care done privately?

Yes you can have NHS care up to the end and then switch to private for just the section and After care.

There are several NHS hospitals that have private wings. Chelsea & Westminster, Queen Charlotte's, St. Mary's and Watford General.

It still will cost about £6000 - £10000 for a private section with aftercare. With higher costs for the longer that you stay in after your section, pain relief used, etc.

However I would suggest speaking to an NHS consultant about a c-section. Find out which consultants have high section rates from your hospital. You can push them into giving you one. I did.

This is ever so helpful thankyou everyone. How do you find out which consultants have higher section rates?

Anyone know which of the private hospitals are closer to the £6000 mark that the £10000 ?
I suppose it is impossible to plan though as you don't know which extras you might need.....goodness knows how high that bill might get!

You can call and speak to the consultants secretaries to speak to them about section rates.

You can also get lists of the private/NHS consultants names and ask for an information pack from their secretary for Maternity services including fees.

The £6000 mark is if you don't have much pain relief other than the epidural, you don't stay more than 1 night in hospital, there are no complications, etc, etc. So you can never say what your cost is going to be because you don't know how your surgery will go. You need to make sure that you can afford their highest fee in case you need to pay it.

if you have genuine psychological reasons such as fear of birth ( tokophobia) or other issues asell as physical issues such as fibroids I dont see why an NHS consultant would not book you for a c.section. some consultants more pro c.s than others, i would speak to Head of midwifery/supervisor of midwives at your local NHS hosptial, discuss these issues and see if you can have this on the NHS. private c.s is a dear do and if complications, you might well end up transferred to NHS hospital anyway

Not sure that's entirely true Lulamaam - I asked for an ELCS and was refused one - ended up with an EMCS which no doubt cost the NHS a lot more money .

You do need to remember that if something goes wrong the costs will increase. It's not a fixed cost op.

Oh and those are private wards on NHS hospitals, rather than private hospitals. For a private Maternity hospital like The Portland you would be looking at more in the region of £10000-£20000 for a section.

I keep saying this but thanks again everyone!

I suppose another option with the private ward in an NHS hospital - is that you could have the procedure done privately but then switch back to NHS aftercare (eg. back to the NHS ward while recovering), I guess this will reduce the cost a little?

Or must the aftercare be private too?

Nope if you have a private section on an NHS Private ward you must have private after-care, NHS aftercare is not an option.

I explored all of these options and combinations there-of when I was pregnant.

sorry to hear that ragwort ! NICE guidelines say maternal request should not be the only indicatator, but it should certainly be listerned to.

OP , have you actually tried to get your c.section on the NHS? made any inroads or enquiries> you've mentioned two things that could bolster your request.

unless you have £10 -20 000 lying around, it's worht asking the NHS to do this

No I have not - I'm just finding out options. But I feel so much calmer when I think of having a section, its unbelievable. I've put off having children for years because of these fears.

I wasn't sure where to start with asking for one on NHS. I guess approach the local NHS consultants directly, or ask GP for referral.

Shelley - your consultants name should be in your notes - get your midwife to arrange an appointment or ring direct yourself. If you do seriously want a CS dont leave it too late to raise the subject as you will most probably have a bit of a battle on your hands and it's nice to have a little time on your side (my first section was only agreed 2 weeks before).

when you due , shelleymarie?

putting off having children due ot fear of birth/tokophobia is a legitimate reason to have a c.section , on the nHS.

so do as Chynah has suggested, and see your consultant ASAP