Where in London or Surrey can I get private postnatal room

[Cheeseishappiness]

I gave birth to my first child at Chelsea and Westminster on the NHS a few months ago. The labour itself was ok but afterwards I was on a ward with 5 other women plus their babies and extended families laughing and shouting all night long and I got almost zero sleep for several days so I'm keen to avoid this occurring again. I should add that I requested a private room which I was happy to pay anything for but none were available for the entire duration of my stay. Really keen to avoid this happening again so I've been to view the Kensington Ward at C&W and the Portland but wondered if there is anywhere NHS (i.e. free!) that I could 100% guarantee a private room by paying or booking somehow?

I had a private room for one night at Frimley Park Surre when I had my blood transfusion after DS was born, but was back on the ward once it was finished so I'm not sure if I could've stayed there or not. Also it's not that near you being Surrey/Hampshire border.

Queen Charlottes have rooms but I think they have to be booked early and no guarantees from what I remember (from 11 years ago!)

You still have to pay for private rooms on the NHS.

They are called amenity rooms n the NHS. Email the hospital you are interested in and enquire. Not all hospitals have them, mine stopped as not cost effective.
You request them on admission, there is a daily rate. But if no room is free, then you are on the ward.

Lots of hospitals have the'amenity' rooms that you can pay for if they are free, but none of the BHS hospitals will guarantee you one, they may be busy with other paying patients. Or are used for NHS patients who need them, especially after losses, difficult Labour's, baby needing NICU/SCBU so not with mum, those with multiples etc. Only way to guarantee is to go private.

I gave birth in Tunbridge Wells and they only have private rooms, no communal post natal ward. I'm guessing it's too far for you though, depending on where in Surrey you are and how far you're prepared to travel.

Unfortunately most NHS hospitals will have to prioritise infectious patients, or other high needs patients for the private rooms.

Why were you in for 5 days? Second births are often (but obviously not always) quicker and less complicated and you may not need to stay for long at all. Or you could consider a birth centre which always have lovely private rooms!

Thanks all. Yes I'm aware of booking the NHS amenity rooms already. Though my issue is that they 'might' not be available on the day.
I had also heard about Tunbridge Wells having only single rooms so was basically wondering if there's anywhere else like Tunbridge but that's closer to SW London but perhaps that's wishful thinking!! Always worth asking the question though 🤞If you don't ask you don't get and all that!!

I don't blame you, post natal wards are pretty much the pits

Kingston, St Peters and Royal Surrey have them and I haven't heard of people being turned down but no you can't book them, it's first come first served when you give birth as it well should be. You can't expect someone else needing a room not to be allocated one after e.g. A EMCS just because you've booked out a 3wk block over your due date (and not paid for it).

What are you planning, to drive possibly a significant distance to a hospital out of area just because they might have a side room? are you trying to get a referral for all your antenatal work through gp or just turn up when you're in labour? What about dc1, hoe will you manage if you suddenly go into labour etc?

The only constructive thing I could say is look for a hospital with a Low c section rate, people will be in for shorter stays if natural so more roooms will free up. Iirc c&w has quite a high rate of c sections. Good luck.

I gave birth to my first child at Chelsea and Westminster on the NHS a few months ago.

Sorry to miss the point/derail, but even if you're pregnant now (are you?) this is not an immediate problem, is it? And would you consider a home birth the second time round, to avoid hospitals altogether?

If you're likely to be low risk have you thought about an MLU? You'll stay in the same room throughout. We were discharged the same day however we were offered to stay overnight if we wanted. My parents came to visit and said they were shocked how nice it was, and you probably couldn't expect a nicer room if I'd gone private.

Fruitbox - I've heard of a lot of friends being turned down when they wanted to pay for private rooms.

Of course I agree with you that the person most medically in need should get the room. I just thought it was worth trying to find out where I might be most likely to be able to get one...

EssentialHummus - I'm halfway through my second pregnancy. Due first week of Jan so still have a little time to play with if I change my mind. I agree a home birth would solve this challenge but I think I'm a bit chicken to have a home birth. I had an epidural last time (partly because I was induced as was 31 plus 5, and I LOVED the epidural - it worked a treat! Would therefore Ben keen to have one again. I couldn't care less about not having drugs. Bring on the drugs is my attitude!).

Mummyh2016 - what's an MLU? Mid wife led unit? As in a 'birth centre'? My challenge with that is I'd like an epidural.