St. Thomas' - NHS or private?

[mummyjah]

Hi all,

I had my previous children at St. Thomas' on the NHS (excellent care) but have been turned down in this current pregnancy as out of area. Am thinking of going private as a last resort but am reluctant to sign up because am not sure about what exactly this huge amount of money will buy me. As far as I can work out, the only difference is that the consultant will be present at the birth and I will see this same consultant for antenatal appts.. I'm not bothered about the private room afterwards because I quite like getting to know the other mums on the postnatal ward and have never minded the postnatal care, food, etc.. Don't want to go elsewhere as feel it'll be too disruptive to my peace of mind in childbirth. Has anyone had any recent experiences of the Lansdell Suite and can reassure me that this money is worth spending on it?

Anyone please? Is a private birth worth it (doesn't seem like it to me).

Depends what's important to you. IMO, if you can, you should. I wanted decent food, chosen by me, unreseicted visitors, better staff ratio, ensuite room, home comforts. Not necessarily things that you need, but nice to have. After a c section, mobility is restricted for a bit, so as much support as poss is nice.

My friend just used the private post natal facilities at St Thomas', from what I could see it was certainly a lot quieter, almost too quiet. The rooms seemed big and spacious, no views (looked on to the waterloo tracks/ price waterhouse). There wasn't any particular restriction on visitors or visitor numbers.

Not sure what else an 'outsider' could tell you. Where is your local option?

I think that's about it. I know two people who had their first babies privately (in private hospitals) and switched to NHS for subsequent births because they felt it was an utter waste of money.

I saw my highly rated consultant every single AN appt for the last 10 weeks of my pregnancy anyway because I had complications. So I got exactly the same service as I would have done if I'd gone private but on the NHS. I can't see the point of seeing the consultant unless you have complications.

I think that at some hospitals you can book a private room if you are staying (if there are any available)
I had my DD at a hopsital in Hackney, and I got unbelievable treatment - their were some risk factors with y pregnancy i was monitored, looked after and couldnt thank them enough ... i am not sure what private could have done more - unforutnately the after care was dreadful! Noisy rooms, (I had a bin that banged every 5 minutes next to my bed, no help, Dh not allowed to stay with me even though i had been in labour for 22 hours, couldnt walk, was on a drip, was basically left unshowered on a bed with a baby! Dh told to come back at 10.00 the next morning. If i would have known that it was possible to have a private roon where Dh could have stayed with me it would have made all the difference. Despite that though I cannot fault the care I received to have my DD ....

Thanks everyone. My NHS options would be Royal London, which I have heard terrible things about so am not keen. I can see how the private options is a complete waste of ( a lot of) money but given that I don't want to use the Royal London, don't feel as if I have too much choice.

Has anyone had any recent, good experiences of the Royal London?

Hmm, utter waste of money? As I say, depends. I was on an NHS antenatal ward for a week and it wasn't good. Due to staff shortages, women were coming in for induction and then having the inductions stopped halfway as there was no one to deliver the babies. There were only a couple of anaesthetists about so epidurals were rationed. Part of the mw led unit closed for a couple of days as the mw's were sent off to the acute cases on the labour ward. By going private you largely buy your way past all that.

Could you have a homebirth? A homebirth even with a private midwife would be far less expensive than the Lansdell I think.