Which private hospital best if CS needed? Portland, St John & Lizzies, etc

[Sal22]

I might need to have a planned CS (will know for def in a week), and my health insurance will cover it (as medical, not by choice).
BUPA's given me a list of private hospitals, I'm not sure which one I should choose (and that's to say if any even have places available - will be for in 2.5 months... but that's another day's worries).

Anyone with previous experience (or suggestions)? I'd really appreciate the help.

If they decide it is ok for normal after all after Friday's assessment, I'll go NHS at QE in Woolwich, but guess I need to have some idea if the dr asks me on Friday. Thanks.

Hi,

I had both my daughters at St. John and Lizzie, natural, but the midwifes and medical staff are angels, just angels.

In any case, I came across this web site, www.babyfy.com, lot of information about maternity wards across the country.

www.babyfy.com/index.php/hospital-review/2338/London/The-Hospital-of-St-John---St-Elizabeth/

Thanks,

Char

Thanks a lot, Charlotte. Have you by any chance spoken to someone who had a cs there? It looks lovely, I just wondered how that compared to their natural births. How long did you stay there? Thought it's great that husband can stay as well, with all my family abroad it's good to know at least he'll be able to be there.

Friends went private for CS at St Marys and were v happy with it

Hi Sal, I had a elective c-section which my insurance covered at the Portland hospital - my first was an emergency c-section and Queen Charlotte's - the experience's were so different. I really rated the Portland, and the midwives were great, and really top notch and helping with the BF-ing which I failed to do with DC1 - but I reckon that's just private care for you - they have the time don't they - not like poor over-worked NHS staff. If you have any specific questions about portland I will be happy to answer. They fitted me in very last minute as be hanging on to hope of VBAC until very last minute.

Hi. Thanks for your replies, everyone.
No 1 choice at the moment seems to be Portland - I really love the idea of St J & L's being nice and "homely" (or for a hospital anyway), but DH won't let me go somewhere without ICU on site (we're paranoid 1st timers!!!)

Sycamoretree, I think I might take you up on that offer for more info on Portland in the next couple of days if any answers not on website. Out of interest's sake, how long did you stay in hospital after cs, if you don't mind me asking? Oh, and any specific consultant that you might recommend (hmm, the questions started!) Thanks, S.

Hi Sal - I had DS on Saturday afternoon and left on Tuesday morning, but that was because I had a 2.5 yr old DD at home, and also might have had a bit of a fight with my insurance co to stay longer. The hospital will expect you will be staying more like 5 nights, but they are very accommodating about an early discharge, providing you and babe doing fine.

I didn't really have a choice about consultant as he was the guy looking after me at Chelsea and Westminster on the NHS, and because my private birth was such late notice (literally got it sorted with insurers on a Weds and had the section on the saturday!) it just made sense to stick with him. He wasn't the most "touchy feely" person, if you know what I mean, but I certainly completely trusted him and he did a great job putting me back together and stayed v. calm during a bit of a tricky op (babe huge - previous c-section and abnormal volume of amniotic fluid). Does your current consultant work privately at the portland? If so, it probably makes sense to stick with him. It's actually the anaesthetist (spelling?) that plays a more pivotal role for you emotionally during the op, as he's by your head reassuring you along with DD/DP the whole time. My guy was amazing and so sweet and kind. Not sure you get to pick them though! The Paeds were great BTW. Make sure you know exactly what your insurers will cover before you go in, so you don't have any added stress of unexpected bills. Consultants are pretty good and writing to your insurers though and making you they pick up any extra costs. All we had to pay for in the end was a few meals and the bed for DH for the two nights he stayed with me. I could have eaten for free on the normal menu, but wanted to treat myself to a really lovely meal when I finally felt able to eat again after op!

I had my DD at the Portland - we had planned a midwife led delivery but ended up as CS - we were very happy with the experience (it was very calm and relaxed)and aftercare - had Maggie Blott who we thought was superb - hadn't planned to use her but she was at the hospital when the problems occurred and offered her services - I would definitely use her if I were to do it all again - BTW my private health covered this also. Good luck with your happy event.

I stayed 2 nights with my first and one night with my second. It is indeed amazing that you husband can stay with you, you have you room, similar to an hotel room, with private bath and all, just next to the delivery room, so you can rest in a very relaxed environment, surrounded by your family (new and old).

Then later on, after you get home, you can always call or ask regarding breastfeeding.

Can not recommend it enough.

Worth saying that it's a good job I don't intend to have any more LO's, as after experience at Portland, there's just no way I could go back to having the kind of experience I had on NHS at Queen Charlottes, which was horrific. But NO OFFENCE to Charlotte's though - I know they are generally great but I was one of the unlucky ones..... I loved that all my family, including my DD could come and hang out in my room at the Portland, and have tea and biscuits to order too!

you may have to go to the Portland. John and Lizzies do not do high risk cases. I found the Portland fantastic.

Glad to hear you liked Portland, and almost relieved to hear J&L doesn't do high risk - makes the choice easier I guess (can't seem to make up my mind about ANYthing lately).
The info on their website looks great.

It's a good thing you mention finding out about exactly what was covered - I have wondered, as most of the "packages" quoted online includes quite a bit of other things, but wasn't sure whether insurers would just cover actual op etc. Once I've got the letter from dr on Fri (if) I'll make sure I ask them about every single detail of the cover (can't really afford loads of unplanned extra costs!)

Sal - there is a particular paeds check up which the hospital do in their package that will cost you (if I haven't gone mad remembering) 600 quid as your insurers don't cover it. You honesty don't need this - you wouldn't get it if your had your baby on NHS. IF there was any problem with your baby your consultant will tell you and you can request it on the spot - but don't feel pressured into agreeing to it - just say up front no - they will be fine about it. Weirdly, because my DS had low blood sugar and was a bit jittery (he was a whopper) they got a paed to check him out anyway, but I was never charged....they are there to look after you and they will. Good luck!

I had my ES privately at the Landsdell Suite at St Thomas's. Lovely and the loveliest ever recovery rooms (huge room overlooking the Thames and Parliament - stunning).

Hi Sal.

Am also a firsttimer and LO is breech (36 weeks). BUPA said a few weeks ago they will cover me.

Have decided to stay at Royal Free but have private treatment. DH & I have to discuss with consultant how private treatment will differ from NHS treatment (private room etc).

The thing about a private hospital is that they might not have other emergency facilities on site. Your DH is 100% right about not going anywhere that doesn't have an ICU on site - either for you or your LO. Fingers crossed you and LO will be ok, but if not it's relatively easy for medical staff to call a consultant.

Can you go privately at QE in Woolwich?

Another thumbs up for an elective section at the Portland from me, for medical reasons. They have a paed ICU, but not a maternal one although they do have a maternal HDU. They can cope with 'normal' childbirth complications which may require you be in HDU (eg PPH) but nothing beyond that. You would be blue lighted to an NHS hospital.

I was 'just' about comfortable with that. x

It's definite now, I need to have a cs, and I've decided on the Portland. Now I just need to get the consultant sorted. I'm going to try Dr Donald Gibb, have sent information request via the website (can't get hold of them on a Saturday - to be expected I guess), so fingers crossed that he is available when I speak to his office on Monday.

Whichwitch, Sycamoretree, Lovemymum...I thought insurance companies in the UK didn't cover pregnancy and delivery related charges...would you mind sharing with me what insurance companies you use that cover private pregnancy care? I am coming back to the UK in June having had my first baby here in the US. I had an emergency cs with first one - preterm (34 wks) and breech. I think I will probably have cs again with 2nd and I am dreading NHS postnatal care...Would really appreciate your help!
Veronica

one of my clients had a c-birth at the Portland. By all accounts it was a good experience for her.

Linares....sections are only covered if they are required for medical reasons (and boy do you have to have the paperwork in place to prove you need it!).

And even then they don't cover the antenatal care, and they exclude all manner of stuff. I ended up paying £4k for my antenatal care, and about £200 of stuff not covered on my Portland bill.

x

I'm with PPP (formerly AXA) and they would have paid for the additional costs of having a section privately including additional stay in hospital, privately.
They would not pay for any antenatal (although I was privately registered anyway and a cs would have been an emergency). In the end I delivered naturally and they didn't pay a bean!

Linares - I'm over here from the States and i've just kept my US health insurance and added on overseas cover. They are covering all my pregnancy related costs and so I'm giving birth at St John and Lizzies. You could try that?