Help!!! Ceserean at Portland or Queen Charlotte?

[Abbey123]

Hi, I am 36 weeks and 4 days pregnant now, with Royal London Hospital as NHS, just got told yesterday I definately need a C-section. Coz Dh's insurance covers for it, we are thinking of booking a private one. Having searched sites, inclined to go to QC, as its got NHS side as well, if anything goes wrong, at least I don't need to be rushed to a bigger NHS hospital, also loads ppl told me that Portland doesn't have dedicated MW working there, as much as we heard a lot ppl had good experience there, I had a few scans and saw a consultant a couple of times, the overall experience was okay, but he did once kept me waiting for 45 mins without any explainations! Imagine if he does that when I going to the labour! But struggling to get a consultant at QC, Mr McCarthy is away and Mr Kumar is fully booked.....wonder if anyone can recommend a good consultant at QC or Portland, may have to go with Portland if can't find a good consultant there. Sorry for long message, really panicing now............

I was at QC. I had Mr Kumar and he was fantastic, however the care I had there was all great - totally recommend. I'm sure the other consultants are just as good!

If you are going private the rooms are great and the food not bad either!

Don't panic and best of luck. My section was a great experience!

I can't comment on the private care at QC as was there on the NHS. However I was under Dr Kumar and his team are all great - had a bit of trouble towards the end of my pregnancy and they were really attentive and on top of things so I imagine they will be at least as good on the private side. NHS team were fabulous during labour and delivery when I had a rough time of it and I can't praise them highly enough, so if anything untoward were to happen then you would be in great hands.

Thanks a lot for all of your replies. Niceychops, I have tried to contact Mr Kumar and he is only available to see me next Friday, hope my little one can hold on until then.........Holidays Queen, I totally agree with you on the NHS at QC, that is one of the main reasons made me choose QC. On the other hand, I might try Portland if I can't get onto QC, thanks twinkle. But I think I am running out time, got to make decisions very soon........... will let you know how I get on.

If you can get Mr Kumar I definitely would.

He is just brilliant and if you are vain like me, he is apparently the stitching maestro, my stomach is almost the same as pre-pregnancy 4 months on!

I had a small 'shelf' while the stitches healed, then it bounced back.

Also my recovery was really good.

Best of luck whichever way you choose, in my experience people scare you about sections but they are bloody brilliant. Th next one's coming out the sunroof too

"he did once kept me waiting for 45 mins without any explainations"

errr maybe he was at an emergency

why only QC? there are lots of other private options, if that's what you want,within large teching hospitals in the rest of London where there's plenty of obs/anaesthetic cover.

Yup agree with Bundle - Mr K kept me waiting once but he was doing an emergency section which seemed reasonable to me!!

I had Kumar. Was a private patient and had a very complicated twin pregnancy with a full-on nightmare emergency section at the end. He was fantastic and stitched me back brilliantly (my scar is tiny - four inches long which although not the be-all-and-end-all, is an added bonus). I had lots of complications and QCCs looked after me really well - the private ward was nice. The only thing I would say is that the waiting times for antenatal appointments can be torturous - it wasn't uncommon for me to wait an hour for various scans and appointments.

Kumar got my babies to me safely though so I am in that man's debt. He kept them out of special care and walked a fine tightrope between my massive bleeds and taking them out too early and so I think he's pretty magic. Not the most humorous of chaps, but in the end I was beyond jokes so it didn't bother me. Can recommend. I hear Portland is very good though and would consider that next time if I had to have a caesarean.

Good luck.
Kx

Mr K had a sense of humour when he came and saw me in the ward, was just pretty serious while doing the op. I was pretty nervous so prob wouldnt have appreciated humour!

Anyway I will track that man to the ends of the earth to deliver my second child. Can you tell I'm a fan??

Thanks sooooo much for the advices. Just had a tour at QC today,the MW on duty was great,although its next to a prison,it looks pretty good.Got to get an app with A consultant on Monday the latest.Hope they are all good,I think Mr Kumar won't be available until Friday,would love to have him! Felt quite emotional today,my baby is head down quite low and all ready to come to the world naturally, but my placenta is lying low,feeling that Iam letting her down......the MW and DH were trying to confort me and assured me that that's not my fault,I am just hoping now I can get the best care for her in the operation.

Hi Twinkle, thanks for reminding about the insurance, I have double checked with them, they are happy to pay the bill in full, we just need to make sure that my baby is covered as well. Kitstwins and Niceychops, I managed to get an app with Mr Kumar on this Friday, I will be 37 weeks and 4 days then, just hope my baby can hold on till then......... (I do start feeling tiny bits of tightening from yesterday, my mum said that could last up to 10 days until the baby is ready to come out, hope she is right, )
Do you know about prof Philip Bennet, he is the only one that probably available before Friday, but even the secretary for the whole specialists team told me that if I can, Mr Kumar is definately worth to wait! Bundle, I wish I'd known hospitals as good as QC or Portland in east London or near to docklands, not sure if its too late to look for one now............

I just want to revive this to ask how you got on Abbey123? I may have to book c-section late too which should be covered by our insurance too. Thanks.

Was private patient at QC, had Mr Kumar, had uncomplicated pregnancy, daughter delivered by elective caesarean 2 weeks ago. Very pleased with overall experience. Mr Kumar is slightly humourless but very competent, and I would go back to him again. Incidentally he took literally 2 minutes from incision to delivery of baby, with small neat scar. and you will be in good hands. The anaesthetist was also great - Dr D'Oyley. Had some trouble with epidural and finally got spinal anaesthesia, and she was calm and reassuring throughout. The private ward at QC is wonderful - clean and comfy, with experienced and caring staff who come promptly with pain meds, teach you diapers, bathing, feeding, basically look after you very well indeed. The food is not brilliant, it has to be said. In summary, we would do exactly the same again for next pregnancy.

I had mine at Portland. Very similar experience to Joxie's except the food was nice too. Portland is a BUPA hospital so if you are with BUPA and your insurance does not cover everything might be better to go to Portland.