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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Hospitals: would you go privately?

75 replies

Jecca · 13/10/2005 23:24

It wasn't an option for me and I was in and out in half a day so I don't know if it made much difference, but if you could afford it, would you choose a private hospital? What would you advise your best friend to do???

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FrightfullyPoshFloss · 13/10/2005 23:57

What would be her local NHS hospitals?

Original poster

Jecca · 13/10/2005 23:57

Royal Free

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FrightfullyPoshFloss · 13/10/2005 23:58

Got a feeling its not got the best rep actually. Is it her first baby?

Chandra · 13/10/2005 23:59

Jecca, DH had a colleague whose wife gave birth in one of those small maternity units that could be found in the countryside. They liked the place because it didn't look as a hospital, and it certainly didn't look like one, specially when the baby had a couple of seizures just a few minutes after being born and... there was no medical staff around other than the midwives.

They were told not to worry too much about it, that these things happen, "but could you please stop by the local NHS hospital on your way home?"

When they arrived to the NHS hospital there was a team of doctors waiting for them, the baby was taken from their hands and was rushed in for more tests, he spend a week in the intensive care unit. What also surprises me is that in the brochures of the maternity unit they said they had an ambulance on site in case of a major emergency, obviously the baby having seizures with no doctor available was not a major emergency, or probably they didn't even had an ambulance. So, there are different standards for private hospitals.

soapbox · 14/10/2005 00:00

Floss - my experience of the private sector has been very very different. Wards run with precision and cleanliness not experienced on the NHS for some time.

Ward sister who was on the case and nursing staff who were totally on the ball. No shlooping around clueless agency nurses whose only speed is a slow shuffle.

Consultants who are at the top of their field!

I have no doubt that bad private hospitals exist, but I also have personal experience that crap NHS hospitals also exist!

Chandra · 14/10/2005 00:02

Soapbox, you are right, that's why we cancelled Bupa, we were going to be seen by exactly the same consultants! and it was also the same GP who decided if we were refered or not, even when going private...

beetlejuice73 · 14/10/2005 00:04

I think private is great for speed, but that's not really an issue here is it - they can hardly put you on a waiting list for a natural birth. Agree with you on midwife availabikity, but on the other hand if there's an epidural to be given then I would not want a private-only anaesthetist who only did one a day, but someone who'd worked NHS and thus probably done 1000s of them

Original poster

Jecca · 14/10/2005 00:04

Chandra, your story sounds scary. We were checked out of King's (no post-natal beds free) without a paediatrician being available to check over DD - I was told to take her to the GP in the morning, but the GP didn't know what she was supposed to be checking for.

Floss, I also heard it didn't have a great reputation but a friend of mine just used the birthing centre which is a MLU within Royal Free and seems to have had a pretty good experience. The post-natal wards seem to be the worst part, but if you're lucky you're home the same day anyway. Yes, it's her first.

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nooka · 14/10/2005 00:04

There have been some very bad stories about some private maternity hospitals, mostly to do with not acting fast enough when things went wrong. Some big legal settlements. Having said that poor care can also happen at NHS facilities. I would go for somewhere with backup (PICU units, intensive care etc) if I was planning a hospital delivery, and you are unlikely to find them in a private facility. Why not spend the money on an independant midwife or doula if you want more individualised care and support (check that the hospital is happy to have them there, sometimes there are insurance issues).

soapbox · 14/10/2005 00:05

MMM - Chandra but there is the matter of the 20-30 weeks different in waiting lists

Oh I'm going to get jumped on now

Just as well its quiet tonight

Blu · 14/10/2005 00:07

Jecca - I think that's why I'd op to spend any money I had on a doula, perhaps. If it was me! I was a committed homebirther and horrified by the idea of having to go to hospital at all, until it was obviously the only option . The medical / obstetric care in the hospital for both ds and I (King's) was really, really impressive. Environmentally it was horrible. A horrible experience having to stay in.

FrightfullyPoshFloss · 14/10/2005 00:07

Like I said SB, I am just very anti. The ward experience and the time a patient had to be transferred in a Big hurry because they tried to ventilate the patient only to find the ventilator hadn't been checked and didn't work...

I'm sure you can see where my pre conceptions come from!

Blu · 14/10/2005 00:08

Oh x-posted - you had a less good experience at King's!

FrightfullyPoshFloss · 14/10/2005 00:08

I think I mean pre concieved ideas actually, thought that didnt seem right. Time for bed I think!

jenkel · 14/10/2005 00:09

I wouldnt chose to give birth in a private hospital. I hate hospitals so for me both times I was in and out as quickly as possible (thankfully no complications), so for the time I spent in hospital I couldnt see the point in going private. Also, both times I had excellent care. The hospital I gave birth in had excellent facilities, a large SCBU, 24hr consultants, epidurals on demand etc. DD2 wasnt breathing too well when born, and within seconds she was surrounded by several doctors/midwives etc getting her to breath.

If it was for anything else, the only reason that I would go private would be for a private room. If it was for something serious they would probably transfer you to NHS, and you get the same consultants anyway.

Chandra · 14/10/2005 00:09

Yeah, that's true, but could you believe that we had to take DS abroad to have him seen by an allergist? we were not able to find an allergician who could see him in the foreseable future even when we stated we wanted to go private... There's no perfect medical system, either public or private...

FrightfullyPoshFloss · 14/10/2005 00:14

Another reason I am anti is because the doctors are the same. And they two try and combine the two and it dosent work well all too often. Doctors not contactable as they are at other hospital across the other side of the city etc. And all the other problems that go along with that.

Original poster

Jecca · 14/10/2005 00:15

Blu, I agree about King's. If I'd only had a normal birth experience there then I'd probably just remember the grime and the understaffing, but having been through complications there too and seen how they can pull out all the stops I now welcome lack of attention as a sign that all is well!

Is it worse that if you're in the NHS system they might be depriving you of tests/drugs because they cost money or that if you're private they might be giving you tests/drugs etc you don't need because you're paying for them?? I've lived with both systems and can't decide which leaves me feeling most sceptical.

Did anyone use Royal Free and did anyone opt to go privately to avoid it?

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Blu · 14/10/2005 00:20

Yes, I think the lack of attention is generally a sign that things are going well. But even in King's a friend of mine was having a baby which was quite distressed, the mw was pressing the panic buzzer for the 2nd mw to come in for the delivery, no-one came, and for 10 mins, my friends DP was told to use some device to give the baby oxygen or something, while the mw dealt with my friends heammorrage...
Undermining my own argument here, I think!

lucy01 · 14/10/2005 00:24

had both dd's at portland on bupa (elective section medical reasons). would recommend it. mw great, clean, dh could come and go as please, cups of tea at 3am to order. only perk from work but worth every penny

nooka · 14/10/2005 00:31

I think that for an elective c-section I might feel less concerned. It's the emergencies I would worry about. Post natal wards always seem to be pretty grim, so having a nicer experience at that end might be worth while, especially as you will be there for a few days. Still as I work for the NHS I would find that an ethically difficult choice to make. A bit academic as I have finished my family!

Original poster

Jecca · 14/10/2005 00:32

So basically I should butt out and keep my opinions to myself so if the NHS is a nightmare and there isn't a MW off teabreak while she begs for an epidural or even haemorrages it's not my fault and if she has to take out a second mortgage to pay for private and then gets transferred to an NHS hosptial then that's not my fault either?!

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Original poster

Jecca · 14/10/2005 00:34

Nooka, where do you live that they'll let you stay a few days? DD was born at 6.04am and at midday someone arrived looking at her watch and asking if I was ready to go home as it had "been six hours" - she probably moonlights as a traffic warden.

OP posts:

nooka · 14/10/2005 00:34

lol! I'm sure that she will make her own decision - and to be honest it's mostly about where she feels comfortable. Yes things might go wrong, but in general it's probably unlikely.

nooka · 14/10/2005 00:35

They like you to stay a while after a c-section (although I managed to escape after 3 days last time)

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