Can't decide on a private hospital

[Bells3032]

Live on the North London/Herts border. Annoying the only hospital doing private deliveries near me closed down about 5 years ago.

I am really torn between hospitals - i think i narrowed it down to Queen Charlotte, Lindo or poss UCLH if i will need a C-section.

All are about a 40 minute drive from me. Do you think this is too far.

I really wanted St Thomas but realised that can easily be an hour and half's drive which just seems mad to me. I've had surgery at the Lindo Wing and wasn't impressed with their nursing but maybe their midwives are better?

Please no responses of why you going private just use NHS. we have the funds to do this. We want to do it and the only hospital near me is the one my mother died in so really don't want to go there.

How do i even start picking a hospital or doctor? None of my friends have gone private so i have no idea!

PS also how late in the pregnancy can you make the final decision?

FYI i am not actually pregnant yet...going for IVF transfer in a couple of weeks and i am isolating at home and bored! haha

I live not far from you and had my baby at QCCH last week. I highly recommend it. the private midwives are fantastic, I saw them from 12 weeks onwards, as well as monthly appointments with my consultant. The antenatal care was excellent. I wanted a drug free VBAC and was supported completely to achieve this, despite having gestational diabetes.

I had a very quick labour and only just made it to hospital in time, but once I was there I was looked after very quickly.

The Stanley Clayton postnatal ward is lovely. The staff there left me largely to myself, but that was because my DD is my second baby, I had breastfeeding sorted and I didn’t need them very much. I have seen them providing lots of support to other new parents who needed it. All the discharge paperwork was done in good time.

I chose my consultant from a list provided by QCCH - I chose Ms Joash because she has various lead roles at Imperial and she was just brilliant. Totally approachable and supportive - I genuinely do not think I would have been brave enough to go for the VBAC without her. She’s also flexible about appointments and easy to deal with. She seems to be at QCCH a lot anyway with her NHS practice, which is important if you labour quickly (as I found!)

Tom Setchell has been recommended to me at the Lindo though we’ve not met him yet. We’ll be hopefully moving forward privately after 32 week scan as have placenta praevia/ breech baby and a second placenta (!) Am at St Mary’s anyway which is about 40 mins from home.

Thank you both. I have never heard of these two doctors so good to have reviews of people. I was really worried about the 40 minute drive although my best friend pointed out with private you can go a bit earlier so hopefully can avoid rush hour rather than waiting til you're close. My family have a history of quick labours so a bit nervous of that!

I think Queen Charlotte's the most likely contender as whilst all three are equal distance not during rush hour QC is the quickest during rush hour.

Oh it's so hard!