Elective C at the Portland hospital- advice please!

[jessicaftm]

Hello i am new here! 36 FTM currently 8w
I am wanting an elective C at the Portland but it says there are 50 obstetricians to choose from! Where do I start? If anyone has any recommendations I would be so grateful!
Thank you x

Hi, I'm currently having the same problem. Haven't even been able to narrow down the hospitals, no one I know has gone private so I'm not sure where to start. What has made you choose Portland?

I have heard wonderful things about the Portland and considering the same. I struggled with narrowing it down too but have spoken to people who have had a great experience with a consultant named Ian so I think that is who I will be opting for if I do go ahead x

@jessicaftm , which consultant have you chosen?

Dr Karen Joash is amazing.

I had a good experience at the Portland. Something to keep in mind though is that if there is a major emergency they will have to transport you to the nearest NHS hospital, unlike private wards within NHS hospitals.

After searching over 200 consultants over 2 hospitals I've decided to go with Dr Karen Joash. I met her on Wednesday and she is so lovely and obviously knowledgeable. Definitely put me at ease after my poor experiences with the NHS. Due to me leaving my decision so late and when I need to have my csection its only the portland available all the hospitals get booked up fast.

Isit just the babies that can stay at the portland in an emergency, it says they have a NICU?

Hello sorry I haven't been on here for ages! I have 3 friends who've had their care at the Portland so although initially I did also consider the Lindo wing, the reviews from the Portland for me from people I trust sold it to me, I'm also having all my scans/care at the north company and they are linked to the Portland so it seemed to make sense to me, still not found a consultant, 14 weeks now and at my scan yesterday the sonographer told me to get moving on it, so back on the search!

Sorry I have no idea how to just reply only quote! I still haven't chosen!!
Names that keep popping up

Clare Mellon
Shazia Malik
Ellis Downes

It's such a hard choice but also I'm sure I can't really go wrong when they're at that level!

Do you know his surname? I'm still searching!

It seems to be a common misconception on these boards that the Portland doesn't offer NICU it's not true

www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/facilities/the-portland-hospital/centres-and-teams/neonatal-intensive-care-unit

Obviously if it's needed only the first night in nicu is covered by your original fee, but for me I will pay anything for the safety of my child if needed.

Fantastic news on Karen, can I please ask, when you decided that you might want to go with her did you just set up a kind of introductory meeting with her? I don't really know how to navigate all this to be honest!

May I ask what antenatal care you are currently accessing?

They have told me that NICU is covered for 10 days, maybe because im having an elective c-section and have to put down a larger deposit.

I was really short on time so i narrowoed it down to 4 (i think shazia malik was one of them) but Karen stood out to me as she specialises is PCOS so I can get more help and advice after the baby is born. My MIL also knows of her through her medical workplace.

I am also having elective C so this is great news! I really need to get on with sorting it today, thank you for your help!

Currently I'm just having scans at the birth company whilst also on an nhs pathway (only had my booking appointment with then) I do need to find a consultant asap though as my Papp-A result has come back slightly low so would like to have someone to talk it through with, I couldn't recommend the birth company more though, had my harmony test there and NIPT yesterday and already have my results today