What if the Doctor doesn't make it on time?

[Francydg]

I will have my baby at St Thomas in the private ward (Westminster Suite) and I was wandering in case my Doctor doesn't make it on time for the delivery do I still have to pay him the delivery fees? For now we've only paid him the antenatal package and we've also paid the hospital fees to St Thomas. What happens in case I deliver quickly with the midwife only? Anyone who knows this as had such an experience?

That's something to ask them, before you sign anything, really. No one on mumsnet can assume on your behalf and the chances of someone having had exactly that experience, recently enough to be assumed to be the case now, are slim.

"Delivery" makes it sound like the Dr would be doing all the work, btw.

No one can deliver the baby but you No experience of this but I would assume you would still pay all the fees. If you have an independent midwife and wanted a home birth but ended up going in for a section, you would still pay her for her service as the situation is out of anyone's control.

Thanks anyway for trying to reply my question.... I got my answer on another forum....

what was the answer?
curious

A midwife at the Lindo told me this happened to her in her first week at the Lindo (i.e. she delivered the baby because the Obst got stuck in traffic). I always presumed that the Obst would have given a part refund, but I didn't actually ask the midwife whether this was the case. What did people say on the other forum?

I'm booked in at the lindo. On all my consultant info, it states that consultant obstetrician cover is provided in an emergency should my consultant not make it. Don't know about how the bill would be allocated then though. Hope this helps.

What HBS said is what happened to me. You don't get refunded, the emergency doctor bills your doctor.

On the other forum someone who had a baby a St Thomas and now is going to have the 2nd one replied more or less the following: It is very unlikely that your consultant won't be there for the delivery. Part of the reason they cost so much, it's so that they will guarantee to be the one to deliver you. But if by some small chance he can't be there, you will deliver your baby with another consultant, standing in for your doctor, and will pay him just the delivery cost.