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Childbirth

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

Private Hospitals - London

92 replies

kaboju · 14/05/2008 12:13

Hi. I am new to mumsnet. I am 10 weeks pregnant with my first child and hope some one can share their experience of private hospitals in London. I am considering the Portland Hospital but after having a tour this week, I have heard that they have a bad reputation. Do anyone have any experience. Any other recommendations are very welcome. Really confused after hearing about the bad reputation. Any advise very much appreciate. Thanks in advance.

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LadyThompson · 16/05/2008 10:50

What do you mean, 'run down'? And the building work is because they are building a new fancy birth centre.

Rocky12 · 16/05/2008 11:00

I am sure the building will be improved once it has been finished but purely commenting on the surroundings I was very surprised they had allowed it to get into this state. You are paying 1000's of pounds for this.

Some will comment that the care is the most important thing and it is but my friend felt ripped off when she saw the rooms. Sadly she hadnt got around to seeing them until a month before the birth. By that time it was too late to change. Her consultant Mr Wright delivers at both the Portland and St Mary's and he also delivered my son.

LadyThompson · 16/05/2008 11:07

Someone else on here said the rooms were nice! Anyway, I'm paying thousands of pounds for the (hopefully!) top notch care for me and the babe, and personally I just wanted the reassurance of being attached to an NHS hospital. I'm sure the Portland's lovely, but it's my first baby and I am 36 (and considered an old giffer by the medical profession!) and I feel I want the backup.

camgirl · 16/05/2008 13:14

I am always surprised by people who are fussed about the rooms! The rooms at the Lindo were just fine really, not luxurious but OK. But believe me, you won't really care what they look like when you're there for real. What matters is the fact that you're getting fantastic 24/7 consultant care during your pregnancy and birth, and afterwards 24/7 devoted, supportive midwife care and consultant follow-up. This made the birth of my first baby and the nerve-wracking time afterwards just a wonderful experience. I felt so happy and secure. That's why we paid the £ not for gold-plated taps!

spottedandstriped · 16/05/2008 16:13

I just thought I would add that I had my baby very recently at John & Lizzies. There were some complications in the middle of the night and although I was midwife led care the consultant got out of bed at 3am and then again at 5am to come and see me along with a consultant anaesthetist. I was midwife led care - so wasn't "his patient". Despite there being complications, the care was second to none. In the end I had to have an emergency caesarian and the consultant spent time with me explaining the situation and did the operation. I totally feel this was money well spent.

suey2 · 16/05/2008 16:40

You are likely too late to book at C&W. I was when i rang to book when 6 weeks PG!
I wouldn't go to the portland because of the back up issue, agree with the others that private wing of NHS hospital is wiser.
I had a TERRIBLE experience chelsea and westminster NHS and will be booking an elective CS either at tommies or st mary's if we have another. (great view from tommies BTW)

LadyThompson · 16/05/2008 16:46

Poor Suey2 but glad it hasn't put you off. What happened (if you want to talk about it). I must admit I've been a bit shocked about some of the terrible times people have had. It makes me so sad. Is it mainly due to the NHS being so overstretched?

suey2 · 16/05/2008 17:02

thanks for asking.
I was 2 weeks over and ent into spontaneous labour the day before my induction was booked. Contractions died out after 6 hours but not before my waters broke.
the next afternoon, they advised the syntocinon drip as i had a temp and they were worried about the baby. I asked for an epidural first which was given. I could feel the contractions which got steadily more painful. After 5 hours i told the midwife i was finding it really pretty painful. She didn't believe me and told me it was my fault for not using the top ups. It got steadily worse, even with topping up. After another couple of hours, still 1cm dilated, she broke my fore waters. Pain much, much worse and 3 contractions every 10 minutes. 5 HOURS later with every contraction giving me screaming pain they resited the epidural and within 30 secs i had no pain.I had had the drip for 11 hours with absolutely no pain relief in which time the baby had turned back to back and i was STILL only 1 cm dilated.
I then insisted on a CS. Which, i have to say, was totally brilliant and i had no complications.
Must write that letter of complaint.....

suey2 · 16/05/2008 17:08

aftercare was sh*t too.

twinkle3869 · 16/05/2008 18:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

slinkiemalinki · 16/05/2008 23:11

I went private at C&W first time round, going back for #2, will have brand new private maternity ward by the time I am due in September. They are increasing it from 6 beds to 16 as it is massively popular and oversubscribed. I did book my doctor before I was 4 weeks pregnant though! Glad you are happy having chosen the Lindo - you're right it's not about the rooms, but personally I was so appalled by the state of St Mary's when I went there for a blood test once that it wasn't for me. Also we can park our car on the street in the general area of C&W which is a small point but made our life easier on various occasions. Personally I would find it far more important to book a doctor I was happy with than picking a maternity ward/hospital by the decor and size of the rooms. I should also say I have never heard a bad thing about the Portland from friends who've actually been.

Tallis · 16/05/2008 23:46

Catching up again with this thread - LadyThompson, I'd be glad to answer any questions you have about Lindo. And well done, Kaboju, for booking. I agree with slinkiemalikni that you need to get on with your doctor: that should be of upmost importance. When I first went into the Lindo i was a bit startled: it certainly wasn't spanking shiny new. Cantankerous old lifts, pretty ancient-looking carpets on ground floor, plain painted walls etc.

But the staff - they were brilliant. Well worth every penny of however many thousands we put on our mortgage! I too had Mr Miskry, who was calm, lovely, non-pompous. Dry sense of humour, young enough not to be an old buffer but old enough to make you feel you were in v experienced hands.

My room - well i gather it wasn't as lovely as Princess Di's - she had a pish-posh corner one, apparently. Mine didn't have a great view but did have a/c - tbh, was so happy lying in bed with my new baby being waited on hand-and-foot that i didn't much go in forstaring out of window.

The room wasn't amazingly big but it was spotlessly clean and comfortable. It had its own shiny white shower-room with spiffy little Lindo sponge bag and bubble bathy things. Enough space for a nice-enough camp bed to be put up for my dh and still to be able to open the wardrobes! Enough space that two days after my CS I had seven guests in at once and that was OK by the hospital (I was on morphine that day, so was somewhere happily in orbit and didn't really notice how many people were there ).

What it did have, which was what really mattered, was a constant stream of experienced, gentle, encouraging, fantastic midwives (I still remember a particularly terrific one called Agnes...) coming in and out with painkillers, jugs of water, topping up my epidural, sorting out my bf latch, spiriting my dd awayfor 40 mins to the nursery when I needed a bit of sleep, showing me how to give her a bath (yes, am first-time mum), coming to ask if I needed anything rather than waiting for me to ring the bell. Oh, it really was heaven. Lovely woman anaesthetist[gets all nostalgic again]. I'd almost go there for a mini-break.

Only downside I'd say were the traffic wardens outside. Theywere complete buggers. They lurk and pounce. There are quite a few pay and display bays thereabouts so just start hoarding pound coins from now until you give birth and then you should be OK! It's just outside the congestion zone, by the way, if you make sure you approach from the west,north or east.

slinkiemalinki · 17/05/2008 21:52

Since Ken Livingstone extended the congestion charge zone last Feb, I'm afraid that St Mary's is now well within it. Great post otherwise Tallis

Tallis · 17/05/2008 22:59

SlinkieM, it's not! It's not! I had my baby in October. There's a weird kind of con charge loop and St Mary's falls within it. Without getting too technical for those unfamiliar with the western A40 approach you can come off the slip road, take the first left at the lights (Bishops Brdge Road), take the second right down past Paddington Station (Eastbourne Terrace) turn left at the lights onto Praed St, turn left again into Wharf Road and bob's your uncle...the zone only starts south of there. It's difficult to make out on a map, but it's definitely ok. here. You can also approach from the east, coming off Marylebone Road and doing a jiggle across top end of Edgware Rd. And from the south, as long as you stick to edgware rd as it's a free through-road.

Hello? Hello? Have I sent you all to sleep? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

orangina · 17/05/2008 23:18

haha tallis! You were a walking west london a to z just there!

1dilemma · 17/05/2008 23:22

Tallis swatted up clearly

suey2 generally you won't get the view with CS at Tommies and the aftercare is shite there too, I've come to the conclusion it's a general (London) thing rather than particular to one hospital.

kaboju if you don't have health insurance might be worth baring in mind Moorfields has an eye A&E (although hopefully you won't need to know that!)

1dilemma · 17/05/2008 23:23

Although I should ad I havn't tried them all out

1dilemma · 17/05/2008 23:23

Although I should ad I havn't tried them all out

Tallis · 17/05/2008 23:29

I
need
to
get
a
life

slinkiemalinki · 17/05/2008 23:40

Well blow me down, I stand corrected! I thought it was only Edgware Rd and Marylebone Rd that were OK. Gosh you learn something every day

suey2 · 18/05/2008 08:44

idilemma- i was thinking of the private wing- my SIL had her 2 there and said there was a lovely view of the houses of parliament.
Agree that the reports of NHS aftercare are not good in general

1dilemma · 19/05/2008 00:54

thought the private wing was round at the side? (on the left looking at the HOP) it seemed to be aleft turn going throught the door whereas the HOP is to the right.

Maybe I should go on a tour to see?

kaboju · 21/05/2008 18:22

Hello everyone. Sorry I have been busy and away for the weekend. Thanks for all your comments. I think it is really great to hear all your experiences

I have managed to get Charles Wright booked. I had him very higly recommended from a very good friend's friend. I am seeing him next week.

As far as I can understand the St. Mary is having a new "State of the art" birtcenter which should have opened here in April but I guess as with many other things, it has been delayed. Well I am not due until December so I hope that all the building work will be done by then. Still planning to have a tour at some point but will not manage this week as planned.

If Charles Wright is a consultant for both St. Mary and Portland, I will ask for his opinion when I see him next week but I still feel that the quality of the consultant/midwife is more important than the nice room, even that I am very fuss about these things.

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kaboju · 21/05/2008 18:32

LadyThompson, Thanks for asking. I am fine as well but as you say sore boobs and ravenous all the time. Best to eat every 3rd hour to keep the nausea away....NOT good for the weight

I received the info the next morning but thanks for your offer to send it. Yes I got the same message about seeing the consultant before the hospital could be booked.

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kaboju · 21/05/2008 18:42

1dilemma, Thanks for letting me know about the A&E at Moorfield. I know them very well. I sat in the A&E for 6 hours once and was then misdiagnosed. Not sure I would be too happy to end up there.

When I saw my eye doctor in Denmark he was absolutely shocked when I described the equipment used. We have to keep in mind that Morfield got the reputation of being the best eye hospital in Europe

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