Private c-section but everything else on NHS - possible/worth it?

[inuinnit]

First time mum here and am considering options re private c-section.

Currently have complete placenta previa which will mean I have to have a c-section if it doesn't clear up ahead of delivery. If it does clear up, will have vaginal birth on NHS.

If it doesn't, I have health insurance through work which will cover a private c-section, 3 nights in the hospital, consultant and anesthesiologist fees and one baby check up BUT NOT any antenatal care or any other postnatal baby treatment.

Two questions:

• Does anyone know if it's possible to do the stuff which is covered on the NHS, but switch to private for the section and 3 nights itself? Basically don't want horrifying situation where I have to stay longer or baby has complications and I run up a massive bill I'm not covered for!

• Is it worth going private for a c-section at all? I'm in SE London and live about 20 minutes away from my booking hospital (Princess Royal Farnborough) so it's convenient, and all of the places which seem to do private c-sections are more like an hour's drive. BUT I have heard some horror stories about PRUH, particularly with respect to aftercare, and wouldn't mind going a bit further afield if it meant I would get better care.

Anyone have any experience of private c-sections? Thanks in advance!

Had the same but decided to stay with NHS for csection because baby needed to go to SCBU afterwards. Rightly or wrongly my healthcare actually paid me to use the NHS rather than have it done privately.

Is it possible to get your insurance to pay for a private room in a public hospital? (I'm Irish and we can do that)

It's the best of both worlds

Thanks! I think amenity rooms are available for £200 a night subject to availability - my insurance will pay me £250 a day for 3 days if I use the NHS when I would have been covered, so could use that to cover it.

Other than a private room are there any benefits in terms of care, or not really?

In terms of the delivery itself, my midwife told me that with placenta praevia the section is usually carried out by consultant surgeon, with consultant anaesthetist, (due to the complications that can arise it's potentially a trickier section than a standard one) so you'd already have top skills sets on NHS. If it was me, I'd take payout and get the amenity room. I have placenta praevia and am booked in with head consultant for c section on NHS.

Twelvy - great advice, thanks

If your placenta doesn't move and it's complete PP, you're at higher risk of bleeding during the section. In that case I'd much rather be in an NHS hospital with full intensive care facilities for both mother and baby.

I would also rather be in an NHS facility - private intensive medical care for infants doesn't really exist in the UK and in the unlikely event something goes wrong, I'd want the paediatricians in the room not my baby in an ambulance. Unlikely but that would be my thought process.

Hope all goes really well for you. X

Susie Verill posted on her blog recently about her private c section (and linked to someone else's post about the same)

Hi OP, just to reassure you, I had a c section at PRUH and it was fine. What have you heard about aftercare that's worrying you?
How far are you from kings? My first c section was there and the care and aftercare was amazing, could that be an alternative option if you decide not to go private?

ChorusLine69 - thanks that's really reassuring! A friend and a neighbour recently had babies at PRUH and both were very unhappy with the postnatal care (both caught infections, one was left for 12 hours without any update on whether her baby had caught meningitis after the results were available, without being given the results) so that freaked me out a bit. But there are horror stories about all hospitals.

I'm about 45mins from Kings so could be an option - will look into that - thanks!

Really think about whether you are willing to give birth at a hospital without neonatal intensive care.

I had an ELCS on Monday after a straightforward pregnancy with no complications aside from hypermeisis. DS looked great at birth. But a few hours later it emerged that he had a rare condition that needed intensive care and surgery in the first few days of life. At one point he was in a lot of danger. There were no warning signs in pregnancy and it couldn't have been predicted via scans or antenatal checks. I would never give birth at a hospital without a NICU.

People always come and make comments that they wouldn't give birth anywhere that didn't have a NICU - so far as I'm aware the main places that tend to offer private care (C&W, St Mary's, St Thomas's, QC) have a NHS NICU facility and the Portland has its own facility. Years ago when John & Lizzies was open it did not have a NICU but it shut about ten years ago now.