Question for those who went private in NHS hospitals

[martha7731]

I've recently found out I'm pregnant, and I'm considering going private in an NHS hospital - Lindo Wing, Queen Charlotte's, C&W etc. My question is this: how late becomes too late to do this? At how many weeks did you book in if you made the decision to go private at any of the above?

My situation, briefly, is that I will require an elective caesarean, for serious psychological reasons. (So I'd really rather avoid the whole CS vs VB debate on this thread if we can - I know not everyone agrees about it, but you'll have to take my word on this that in my situation it is my only option and it's not a 'too posh to push' decision!) Because of my situation, I'm hoping that an NHS consultant will listen to me sympathetically, but I'm looking into private options as well in case this turns out not to be the case. So I'd just like to know how much time I realistically have to make this decision.

Also if anyone has/had a consultant they think would be sympathetic to my situation, I'd really appreciate any recommendations.

Many thanks.

Hi Martha, I went private at CW. You need to book in early or you may miss out. You just call the Kensington Wing, get a list of admitting consultants and start calling round to see who has spaces at CW at the time you are due.
I booked in at about 14 weeks last time and only just scraped in, but it's bigger now so had no probs booking in at about 16 weeks for this time (am due again in April).
It was brilliant by the way and you get all the benefits of having the NHS NICU in the next room if you should need it.
Happy to answer any questions.

The earlier you call, the broader your choice of consultant will be.

If you go to QC, Sara Patterson Brown seems to be supportive of a woman's right to elect to have a c-section (see this paper for example). I don't know if she does private work there since I went NHS but worth checking out.

I booked in at Chelsea at 4 weeks - it's brand new there so I know it's very popular now and always was although they have 16 beds now (I wonder if the credit crunch might have impacted it though!).
I have read quite a bit on mumsnet about women getting c/s on the nhs for psychological reasons, so I don't think you'd need to go private for that if you are prepared to fight your corner.
If however you have the funds and want top care and attention I'd highly recommend it.
My doctor was Keith Duncan. Although personally I wanted my VBs to be as hands-off as possible, I'd recommend him to anyone as his priority seemed throughout to be me getting what I wanted for a birth experience rather than imposing his choices. He is excellent.

Can really recommend Mr. Kumar at Queen Charlottes. They have a private ward called Sir Stanley Clayton which is excellent (great amenities, etc.). I had my twins there and delivered by emergency section two years ago. He was very sympathetic.

Worth calling to see if he is available for your dates.
Kx

You will be able to get an elective on the NHS for psychological reasons but you will have to be a pain in the arse persistent.

They might ask you to go to counselling first. Be adamant and be prepared and you can ask to see another consultant if the first does not agree. The midwives will probably try and talk you out it.

I was like you, midwife did actually talk me out of it and went to the opposite end of the scale with a homebirth and an independent midwife (not suggesting this is right for you, my issues were about control and I think elective and homebirth both help to control the environment so not a million miles away from eachother as might initially seem!)

Good luck!

Thanks for all your messages. I know that I probably can get a CS on the NHS if I'm hassling/persistent but I haven't yet decided whether or not I'm willing/able to fight in this way. I've been pregnant before, and to cut a long story short, went into such a state of terror and anxiety about this issue that I was unable to function. I then had a miscarriage, which is not that surprising, given the state I was in.

So I am just trying to gather as much information as I can about how soon I would have to make the decision to go private, so I know how much time I have to think about this. So if anyone has any other thoughts on this - how late I would be able to book in if I did go private - that would be really appreciated.

In London you don't have that long. At 10 weeks my friend found she had to call 12 consultants before finding one with a space. Those are the most popular ones though.

Martha, you can call the consultants and get an initial consultation without making a final decision, but it does at least give you options and right of first refusal if they start to run out of spots. You don't pay your deposit (normally) until 20 weeks, so I'd get the ball rolling if I were you.
Is private a realistic option for you financially? At C&W you are looking at about £12k for an elective cs, more if you want to stay in for an extended period afterwards. Then again if you have health insurance a medically nec cs may get part of your money back. It will depend on what your insurance company deems as reasons for requiring a cs. Mine is medically nec so I get about £4k back.

I went private at St Thomas both times. First time, ended up with emergency cs second time, although it wasn't strictly medically necessary, my midwife was keen for me to avoid the trauma I had first time round, so at 36 weeks we were able to decide to have an elective at 38 wks.

The Lansdell Suite at St T's is brilliant, I can't recommend it highly enough, but it is very very small, so you'll need to be quick. I think in London you need to put your name down asap wherever you go. And also, very very few insurance companies will help with the payment. Speaking as someone who had to fight to the end to get my first cs covered by insurance.

It isdef worth checking your insurance though. I'mwith BUPA and had np probs at all.

I am also keen on having an elective CS and decided to go private at St Thomas (Lansdell Suite) when I was 24 weeks. I was told that they were fully booked until Jan, but Feb was ok. I am due in Feb!

They sent me a price list and suggested that I a visit to the facilities and an initial meeting with one of the consultants free of charge. I meet with Dr Lawrence Mascarenhas after recommendation from friends and a quick google search, and was happy with him and everything else.

I paid the £3000 deposit (which is fully refundable) to Lansdell Suite to secure my private room. My first real appt with Dr Mascarenhas was at 28 weeks of pregnancy and we will now see each other every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then every week.

As I had most of antenatal care so far at the NHS, I am expecting not to spend the initial £10K quoted for an elective CS, but it is impossible to predict how much you will end up spending, as if there is anything wrong that requires extra care, e.g. extra scans, you will end up paying extra.

I also have BUPA, but they are not covering a thing!

Hi Martha,

I have heard really good things about Lindo and Charlotte's. C&W proved the most expensive and way too much for me! The consultants mentioned to you so far by these others ladies are the ones i heard were good too.

I'm going private at Kingston, which is really resonable compared to some and my consultant is lovely, very nice bedside manner. He wasn't hard to book as he was just back from leave. I first met him beginning October and just decided to use full care - I'm now 26 weeks.