pay for private surgeon during nhs c section at UCLH

[samarcanda]

Hello, does anyone have experience in integrating NHS services with private ones ?
I need an Elective c section for my second baby, I can have one on NHS of course because of medical reasons.... However as in the past I had bad experiences as previous surgery in a university hospital was performed by a junior doctor, with the result of a very bad unnecessary scar and complications, I would like to make sure the surgeon that does the section is a decent consultant.
My midwife suggested I can book the top surgeon and pay his private fee to perform the section.... However she did not know if I will have to pay for the whole surgery or just him...
Did anyone go through something similar ? How did it work out ?
Thanks x

I would have thought you would have to choose private or NHS. I would be very surprised if you can mix and match. I have had a c section at UCLH, I believe it was performed by a registrar under supervision of a consultant. My scar is very neat and recovery was easy.

Did you complain/follow up your previous experience? Does your current consultant know your concerns?

Only to my midwife as there s no way I can see a consultant yet! And she doesn't t know much about this. I think you are right that I can t mix and match... Which means I m stuck with NHs as the complete fees are too high for me... Good to know you had a good experience! Maybe one day if I ever go to see a consultant, I ll raise the issue...
I did follow up on my previous surgery (I was In the States then) but it s very difficult to demonstrate it could have gone differently.... From a legal / responsibility point of view, that is...

You have a right to request consultant care. Speak to the consultant, explain what happened last time, and ask them to write in your notes that the section must be done by a consultant. A junior will need to assist as they need 2 surgeons, but you definitely can request a consultant does it. Would seem very reasonable after your previous experience.
Good luck.

I have just been through this. I requested a consultant for my C Section (am 36 weeks) and was refused despite being a high risk pregnancy which has been consultant led the whole way through. They said they couldn't tell me who would be doing it, it will be whoever is available. This is at Queen Charlotte's so may be different though.... So I have done what they called an NHS transfer. Basically we pay for everything from the day of the operation onwards but we're still in the NHS beforehand (eg. final growth scan next week is free!). This meant we were able to choose which consultant does the operation. But you can't just pay for that IYSWIM you also have to pay for the room afterwards, the epidural etc. It works out at about half what it would have been to go private the whole way through but it is still expensive....