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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

private birth London

103 replies

Anna0221 · 27/05/2020 17:52

Hi Everyone,

I've just found out I'm pregnant and currently considering my birth options. Ideally I would like to opt for a c-section and a private hospital/private wing attached to NHS. So far I've emailed the Portland and the Kensington Wing. I pretty much ruled out the Portland as the basic fee is £11,500 (versus £8,150 for Kensington Wing). I also had a look at Lindo Wing and Queen Charlotte & Chelsea Hospital (I think they operate under the same company group?). The fees at QC&C seem low in comparison to the others (in the region of £6k for a c-section) but I wonder if there are some additional hidden costs that are included in the other packages. I'm aware of the additional cost per night's stay etc. Which one out of the two (Kensington and QC&C) would you recommend and why? In terms of consultants I was thinking Mr Guy Thorpe-Beeston in Kensigton or Bryony Jones at QC&C. I'm so confused, any advice would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
Itsmommy · 01/07/2020 21:03

Forgot to add, antenal care is monthly weeing in a cup, blood pressure and keeping an eye on growth until 8/9 months. By 20 weeks you’ll know if you’re high/low risk. By 36 weeks antenatal care picks up to weekly.
Don’t worry about consultants getting booked up just book the section provisionally w the practice manager for 39 weeks (based on the dating scan estimated due date) so they can book w the hospital. Even if you decided to change care at the last minute you’ll be ‘booked’ for a ‘planned’ emergency c section which means you’ll have to wait around a few extra hours until a theatre opens. You’ll usually find that you’ll be able to transfer into care at any point, should you wish or feel you encounter something that needs more management.

NameChange30 · 01/07/2020 21:06

Well there are the 12 & 20 week scans, and the 28 week bloods. But yes nothing the NHS can't do! It would make sense to stick with NHS until the last month or so.

Adjeoebfwh · 01/07/2020 21:14

Depending on where you live you may want to consider the logistics. You may need weekly check ups at the late stage and a long trip to the consultant won’t be fun. I looked into many options mentioned above but eventually picked the private wing of the local hospital which is a lot less “famous” but I was thankful every time I attended my appointment that I did not need to travel to inner London. Granted the service wasn’t as fancy as Portland but cannot fault it overall.

ghislaine · 01/07/2020 21:24

You could also consider the Fitzrovia Suite at UCLH. They only offer c-sections and the fee is £7500. Consultant and anaesthesist fees are on top of that.

I had two private c-sections, one at the Portland with Mr O’Brien, who is also at UCLH, and one at the Lindo Wing with Mr Rai. I transferred to private care at around 37 weeks.

I think there is also the Coombe Wing at Kingston and the Guthrie Wing at King’s if either of those is nearby.

Bells3032 · 01/07/2020 21:24

@adjeoebfwh where did you go. I can't find any in North London Confused

Szalinski · 01/07/2020 21:27

Thank you for starting this thread. I am also considering a private c section after a traumatic first birth.

Can I ask, what happens (god forbid) if there are any problems during the birth for you or baby? Does it bump the cost up considerably? I think some of the private hospitals are attached to NHS hospitals, is that right? So if extra care was needed would you then receive that via NHS or be billed privately for it?

Also how soon before the birth do you go in? Are all of the private options in London? I live in the SW so am a bit concerned that I go into labour before the section and what happens then? Are you still liable to pay the cost even if you ended up giving birth at your local hospital?

NameChange30 · 01/07/2020 21:29

"So if extra care was needed would you then receive that via NHS or be billed privately for it?"

Surely you can't just transfer back to the NHS if things go wrong and get more expensive Confused

Adjeoebfwh · 01/07/2020 21:33

@Bells3032 oh I was in SW London so went for Kingston to avoid inner city traffic. Sorry probably not helpful to you.

I didn’t have unforeseen conditions but my pilates coach did and she was at Portland. It did bump up her bill quite a lot. However Portland does not have any NHS facilities and I don’t know if it will be the same case for a private wing of NHS hospital.

ghislaine · 01/07/2020 21:36

Yes, if the baby is entitled to NHS care and/or the mother is then transfer to NHS services is absolutely an option.

The Portland has a NICU and SCBU but I don’t think can deal with babies born before 32 weeks. When I had my son at the Portland the insurance co covered him for private neonatal care for the first 28 days.

Bells3032 · 01/07/2020 21:40

I was told if you have issues can bump It up but babies can be transferred to the NHS hospital (in portland case that would be uch).

If you want a c section have you considered uch??

Unfortunately the only private obgyn in north London was Mr Sheridan who used to see in bushey and Elstree and deliver at Queen Charlotte. But he's retiring later this year and not taking on any new patients

Szalinski · 01/07/2020 22:01

Namechange - yet you suggested to stick with the NHS for all the scans/bloods which are essentially free and then go private for the last month?!

I'm not sure why transferring back to the NHS would be so unethical if things went wrong?

NameChange30 · 01/07/2020 22:21

I didn't say it would be unethical!
I just didn't think it would be possible.
I think antenatal care and the birth are 2 different things so it would be make logical sense to me to have antenatal care with the NHS and then transfer to private shortly before the birth.
I didn't realise you could chop and change for the birth itself, it wouldn't make much sense to me but I have no idea so if others are saying it's possible, fine.

Bells3032 · 01/07/2020 22:39

It's not unethical but I think if you remove yourself from NHS care you're not allowed to return

Ella32 · 02/07/2020 11:49

@Szalinski I can answer all your questions as I have done my private care with NHS care at the same time. When you choose to go private, you can carry on with your NHS as well and do all your NHS scans or tell them you are doing your scans privately and you can reject them, it's up to you. Even if you go private, you are still entitled to free NHS prenatal and postnatal support.

-what happens (god forbid) if there are any problems during the birth for you or baby?
In this case if you are on a private wing of a NHS hospital, you will recieve all the care on NHS for free.

  • Also how soon before the birth do you go in?
If it's planned csection, you will go in the morning depending on your surgery time.
  • I live in the SW so am a bit concerned that I go into labour before the section and what happens then? Are you still liable to pay the cost even if you ended up giving birth at your local hospital?
This depends on the private hospital policy. I asked this question from Lindo wing and the portion of your money you pay the hospital is returnable, they charge you only about £500, the cost for Anaesthetists is not returnable (that is about £1700)

Also to add if you go into labour before planned csection, you can do an emergency section at your private hospital as your consultant is available 24/7 to do the csection.

Original poster
Anna0221 · 05/07/2020 20:08

Thank you everyone for your helpful replies, there isn't much information out there about private births. For anyone in London considering private scans, I can recommend Fetal Medicine Centre in Harley Street. I just had my viability scan with them which was great and also I purchased a package for 2 scans (one at 11 and one at 13 weeks) + NIPT test for £400 which I guess isn't too bad for London.

OP posts:
Bellisima234 · 06/07/2020 19:49

I have had 2 private births at The Portland. The best advice I can give you is to find a consultant you like and go to one of the hospitals he/she works in. Guy Thorpe-Beeston didn’t deliver mine but did my scans and is lovely. From what I remember he delivers at Lindo, Chelsea and Westminster and The Portland. If you do go for The Portland make sure you have insurance that will cover NICU. It’s an urban myth that you and your baby will be shipped out to NHS as in all honesty every second counts if your baby need NICU and they are not going to mess about waiting for an ambulance if that happens.

Original poster
Anna0221 · 04/08/2020 10:17

I have my first private consultant appointment today and have no clue what questions I should be asking. I want to have a c-section so will obviously explain that but I'm not sure what other things we be covering today. If anyone has any experience with this, please let me know!

OP posts:
Bells3032 · 04/08/2020 14:52

@Anna0221 where did you decide to go in the end? Please give an update after your visit!

If you haven't gone already i'd ask about their leave and on call systems if they're not available, what you should do if you go into labour earlier than the planned c-section, what will happen on the day, what recovery is like, what is available to support after birth (e.g. help with breast feeding etc), what you should do to prepare

Original poster
Anna0221 · 06/08/2020 10:15

Hi @Bells3032, thank you for your tips re what questions to ask. I read them before my visit so they were useful! I've decided to go for the Westminster Suite at St Thomas hospital. And for my consultant I'm going with Mr Kelleher. The appointment was really good and I have my section date set! He also recommended that I engage a private midwife to discuss things like breastfeeding etc and, in the rare event I go into labour early and it progresses so quickly that it's too late for a c section, to discuss some basics of labour. Has anyone engaged a midwife alongside a consultant. I'm reluctant to do it mainly due to cost (although I'm not sure what their rates are).

OP posts:
LesLavandes · 06/08/2020 10:20

I engaged Mr Kelleher and gave birth privately at St Thomas'. It was a good choice.

Original poster
Anna0221 · 06/08/2020 12:17

That's great to hear @LesLavandes!

OP posts:
London2386 · 06/08/2020 14:07

That is good to hear. Did they say how much the fees were for Mr Kelleher? in addition to the hospital charges? I have heard he is very good.

Original poster
Anna0221 · 13/08/2020 13:46

@London2386 if you email him, his secretary will send you all the info regarding fees.

OP posts:
Bells3032 · 13/08/2020 17:01

@London2386 I got the fees quoted which are roughly:

Initial consult - £200
Full pregnancy care £3000
Pregnancy care from 30 weeks £2000
Normal delivery - £4500
planned C-Section - £4000 (I find it weird this is cheaper but guess less time and uncertainity)

My understanding is the hospital fees at St Thomas are around £5000 plus you need to pay an aenethtist etc.

I think budgeting £20k is about right in case any additional scans/interventions/nights in hospital are needed

Vsebu8 · 18/08/2020 10:33

[quote Grainedesesame]@Ella32
I'm under midwife care. Finger crossed, I'm hoping that I won't need a consultant or it will add to the bill. [/quote]
Hi @Grainedesesame, hope all went well for you! If you have a chance, can you please share your experience in Portland with the mid-wife led package care? Also considering this option. I live near St Thomas but their Covid amendments for private maternity care look a bit strict.. they also moved on the NHS floor as I understand..