Consultants at Portland

[Snowboard14]

Hi ladies,
I'm not due till early Nov but looking in to private birth, I'm under UCLH at the moment,
With all the COVID-19 going on I want to steer clear of NHS as I know they are all under so much pressure.
I have found a private consultant for my scans/bloods, but she doesnt cover birthing.
So been researching Portland, they have a long list of consultants on there, has anyone used/recommend anyone there. I have used Mr Iskaros before for my miscarriage operations, but he isn't on there list at Portland for maternity.

Any advice welcome.

Thanks
Jen

Hi, I saw Mr Iskaros recently when I was considering using the Portland and he definitely does do births there. I would suggest you contact him via their site to check.

Thanks I tried calling him today, I'll try again tomorrow... trying to keep all options open at the mo. Do you have any experience with portland?? Was there a reason you didn't use them??
Thanks

I’ve used Ruwan Wimasundelera (not at the Portland but he has a practice there) and he was really great. You can see him for full ante natal care and I think k you could probably decide to go private with him at UCLH or Portland nearer the time depending on the situation with Corona in November

UCLH has suspended its private service at the moment but that could change in the future. The benefit is you have access to an excellent hospital in the event of any issues

I decided to stick with the NHS in the end as I wasn't sure how everything would play out with the Coronavirus, and I wouldn't have had private cover if my baby needed any special care. I would have been very happy to go there otherwise. I don't know if the government's deal on the private capacity has reduced availability or not though?

I have had treatment at the Portland before, for a missed miscarriage, and they were great. It's a shame I won't get to experience it in happier circumstances.

Thanks so much, we are self funding, originally private at UCLH was going to go, so we had access to NHS if needed.
I have spoken to Portland and they are talking patients in still as I'm not due till Nov.

I really appreciate you both getting back to me... it's such a scary world out there right now, good to know you've had good experience with UCLH, I'll have a look at @mydailymailhell your consultant.

@Ers77 sorry for your loss.
I'm going to ring round today and see if I can get the consultants pricing on everything and hopefully by Nov COVID-19 will all be over 🤞🤞

Thanks. Hopefully all will be fine this time - one month to go!

I used the email function on the HCA website to contact a few consultants, and then their secretaries all got back to me pretty quickly, so it might be worth trying that.

I am sure things will be back to normal by November. Good luck

Good luck to you too!!
Thanks for the advice, I tried calling a few yesterday but no one picked up. Maybe email will be better then. Thanks again, and congratulations X

We used Patrick o brien, as did friends of ours, and we were all very happy.

Thankyou, was that for just the birth or full antenatal care??

Hi @Snowboard14, I gave birth about a month ago privately and we used Guy Thorpe-Beeston and he was great. If I have another baby I'll definitely choose him again.

Hi, @ella32 congratulations. Thanks, I'll look him up, was that at Portland??

I gave birth at Lindo Wing but he also practise at Portland and Kensington wing.

Thankyou ,@ella32 I havent looked in to other hospitals yet, did you have a good experience there??

We had NHS antenatal care largely because it was closer and more convenient! Saw Patrick for a few general check ups. Birth and aftercare was amazing. If I was doing it now I’d do all the antenatal care privately, just to relieve stress on nhs.

Thanks @8by8 that's what we are thinking. I have my booking app and a scan on the 20th then are heading private for the rest of my antenatal, just trying to get an idea on private birthing and hospitals now. Seeing if we can afford it with the fees and getting recommendations on consultant's and hospitals.
Did you use portland of a private wing?? Thanks for replying. I appreciate it X

I had a great experience at Lindo wing. All midwives are amazing and help you with all baby things including breast feeding. So you don't need much help once you are at home. Me and my husband didn't want to have any more babies but because we had such an amazing time there, we like to do it again.

Are you wanting a cesarian or vaginal birth?

Had an elective cesarian there in a suite room, it was about £20-£25k in total for the birth, private anaesthetist, hospital stay & antenatal care. I had private care via the Portland throughout.

My consultant was excellent and there is barely a scratch on me. The midwives are always available and you aren’t rushed out the door.

The difference between the NHS and the Portland is night and day.

It’s worth every penny - most self pay unless you have overseas comprehensive insurance. My health insurance covered nothing.

We were at the Portland with Patrick O’Brien. Fantastic care. Great support after the birth too :)

Thanks ladies, I really appreciate you all getting back to me and for sharing your stories.X

Hi there! Any feedback on Mr Iskaros?

Thinking of going with him for my ELCS-

@8by8, just wondering with Mr O'Brien did you have him just for the delivery or for antenatal care too? I was a bit surprised to find out that he doesnt scan you at appointments, so I wondered what the point of having them was?

@jesp - I had antenatal care on the nhs, it was more convenient to go to the local nhs clinic than travel in to Portland.

Ah makes sense. Thanks