Portland hospital or Westminster unit at St. Thomas’?

[EdgySquid]

Hello, FTM to be looking for recent experiences on either of the above two hospitals. My obstetrician delivers at both and I am struggling to decide.

Initially thought I’d definitely go with Westminster unit as it’s attached to an NHS hospital but I’ve spoken with 3 obstetricians and they all say the Portland is superior…

I am not bothered about having a nice room/food/nursery. I want to go to the place with the best midwives and monitoring. I’ve been to the Portland open day and spoken with a few of their midwives and am going there for a tour which really gives a feel. Westminster won’t even let me tour which feels a bit obstructive by comparison…

does anyone have any recent experiences? At the moment all being well I’m going for a vaginal birth hence the importance of the midwives to me.

thanks in advance!

What about the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Paddington? That would be my choice.

Unfortunately my obstetrician doesn’t deliver there. How did you find it?

NHS hospitals can cope far better in an emergency so I would opt for the Westminster unit. Though that said I would save my money and have an nhs delivery myself, unless there's complications a good midwife beats a doctor

I didn't use the Lindo Wing myself, but I've heard very good things about it from friends who delivered there. It's definitely a very safe option as you have a SCBU and ITU in the main hospital, just incase it's required. It's really off putting that you're not welcome to visit St Thomas' as you're planning to spend a significant amount of money there. It's natural to want to see the facilities and get a feel for the place. The Portland aims to give a 5 star hotel-style experience, but it does not have ITU facilities on site. I suppose it depends what your priorities are.

NHS hospitals can cope far better in an emergency so I would opt for the Westminster unit.

What @mitogoshi says.

If you are at the Portland and something goes wrong you would have to be rushed by ambulance to an NHS hospital. The nearest is UCHL which while it maybe 5 minutes walk away you would still have to wait for an ambulance to do the transfer.

As there is an issue with ambulances you are better of going for a private wing in an NHS hospital.

A midwife colleague of mine went to work at the Portland. She came back to the NHS after 9 months because she was so concerned with what she saw with the Portland. I'd go Westminster if I were you.

There is some good information here:
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/birthing-options/article/nhs-vs-private-maternity-care-what-are-your-options-aeYb37A1bvRx

I loved the Portland! Came back from abroad to use it again. My experience was so much better than any of my friends that used the NHS (unfortunately). If it wasn't covered by my health insurance I would pay to go again.

The staff all listen to you and make you feel like all the decisions are centred around you and what's best for you, not fitting into what's best for the hospital (I understand that might be just how they make you feel and it isn't an objective truth). I had a great experience, got to spend five days postnatally with amazing midwives who actually had time for me. Would recommend it to anyone who has the option

Whichever one has an ICU. Saved a friend’s life in childbirth when she went from private straight into the NHS ICU unexpectedly when problems arose

Thanks everyone for your insights, much appreciated.

My initial gut reaction is the same re access to ICU. Portland do try to mitigate this by saying that only 2 women needed an ambulance last year (with around 1500 births) but obvs this is still taking a risk. What has thrown me off is the opinions of the obstetricians, I was expecting them to say there isn’t much in it in terms of differences in care but the Portland seemed favourable.

I think I need to do some more digging on Westminster wing, I can’t seem to find many recent experiences!

Can I ask how recent this was? Thanks

It was about 5 years ago. I've never worked at Westminster, but I have been on the unit multiple times. The rooms are fairly small but nice. It is a quiet unit which means you are able to get a good amount of rest without call bells going off all the time. You say you want a vaginal birth, The Portland has a C/S rate of 51%. I appreciate that many will go there requesting an elective but the odds still aren't in your favour. Personally I'd go for the midwifery care at Westminster if you want to achieve your vaginal birth.

As an anaesthetist for labour ward I'd go nhs any day

This is roughly when I gave birth to DC1, and I had more than one midwife tell me they preferred working at the Portland because they had more time for each patient and thus felt they could offer better care. One worked half the week at the Portland and half in an NHS hospital on the postnatal ward. In the Portland it was one midwife to three women, in the NHS it was one to twenty.

Also I had 'natural' births, at no point was I pressured or was it even suggested I'd have a c section.

I feel like this is one of those topics where people comment with no experience themselves and it is often very far from the mark.

The NHS has done a lot for me in my life and I'm grateful it exists, but it's odd to deify its maternity care when so many NHS maternity units are rated as inadequate.

Good to know! I think the Westminster wing only offers consultant-led delivery but for me, the consultant is more for the antenatal care and as an insurance if anything happens on the day. If all goes well I’ll be happy with mainly being under the care of midwives.

you’re right about elcs at the Portland, I suspect that figure is actually higher from what they were saying to me.

The Westminster Suite is consultant-led for delivery but you still have a midwife providing 1:1 care for you during your time on the labour ward too.

I really appreciate you sharing this! I know it can be a contentious subject and it isn’t something I have considered lightly, there are a number of factors that’s have lead me to this decision, but I’m here and there are still more decisions to make.

You’re right in that women’s personal experiences are really useful, that all I can really go on, as well as gut feel!

Appreciate the view. Have you worked on a private maternity ward before?

I used the Westminster Suite (albeit a while ago now). I knew my baby was struggling and would likely be prem so didn't consider the Portland. I was happy with the care. The midwives were helpful and supportive although I don't see much of them as I had a CS. The unit was quiet and calm. It was quite a trek to the nicu after my CS but obviously the vast majority of babies won't go there. The foetal medicine team were excellent too. If I'd had another baby I would have gone there again.

Is it the same OB for both? If yes then I’d go Westminster Suite as everything is covered in terms of emergency care from the NHS side so it’s the best of both. That said I had mine privately at C&W but my OB has since gone over to The Portland and I think I’d be more inclined to stick with him than stick with the hospital.

As for c-section rate, I think a lot of private births are just ELCS by maternal request from the get-go, mine were anyway! For some no push back and get a priority date and top of the list is a big reason to go private, for others they might not be that close to London so don’t want to wait to go into labour so it’s CS or induction, and more will choose the section. I wouldn’t worry about the stats, I think it’s more important to find a consultant who is on the same page as you.

I’ve had 3 births at the Westminster and it’s lovely. As much midwife attention as I asked for (needed less by 3rd time round!)

I haven’t a birth at the Portland but have worked there as a student nurse and can’t say I was hugely impressed. The rooms are nice but the operating model with the consultants popping in daily from their main jobs wouldn’t suit me.

No, only private operating theatres in covid. The nhs is just so much better prepared and used to coping with emergencies than private is

Our nhs trainees often do private epidurals/sections if the consultant can't get in in time.
It's all relative anaesthetists have a v skewed view of the world though as we only see the bad cases where things go wrong, not the trillion normal births that occur but don't involve us. Same that many have pleasant lovely homebirths, but I wouldn't dream of having one. Pinch of salt basically

St Thomas has the best NICU in the country. it can take from something like 21 weeks. getting there in the car can be a bit of a nightmare though

I was born at the portland but wouldn't really reccomend it. they don't have the nhs emergency back up and will blue light you to UCLH if something goes very bad. They do have a NICU but it's not as well equipped and costs over £1k a night (and that was three years ago!).

You can also look at Lindo, Queen Charlotte, UCLH and King's if you want more options.

I had DS in 2022 at Queen Charlotte on the private Clayton Wing (basically a separate floor within the NHS maternity wing). Happy to share my experience if you're considering QC.

@CityGirlintheCountry If you wouldn't mind sharing your experience at the Stanley Clayton Ward that would be so helpful to me and my husband. I'm 31 weeks and with Queen Charlottes at the moment and considering moving to Portland even with the downsides of less sophisticated neonatal care after my midwife appt today which was very poor and now I'm very anxious. I haven't spoke to anyone who birthed at Queen Charlottes so your insight would be invaluable. Thank you!