How much does it cost a private elective C-Section? Help!

[mar72]

Hi,

I'm considering having a private elective C-Section (London area).

This is for health reasons (private matters, sorry) and also because I've always been phobic of having a natural birth. Actually, this option has never crossed my mind.

The hospital where I'm having antenatal care is extremely disorganised, I don't like neither the midwife nor the consultant who are seeing me. The other two options in my area are far more scary and I'd never go to either of them.

I've read a few things about the Portland, the unit in St. Thomas Hospital and St. John's Hospital.

Ideally, I'd have the antenatal care provided by the NHS (as bad as it is) and would have the delivery and hospital stay only done privately.

Does anyone have an idea of how much it'd set me back?

Thanks in advance.

[coffeemaker]

Hi Babyjay10,

I dont know why there is so much fuss around getting a c-section.My surgery was done in 25 mins and recovered alright and was at home in 3 days.

[pawprints]

Stangirl, I am also in South London. Can you tell me which hospital you went to and which consultant you saw? I am in the same boat as you and desperately want an ELCS!

[pawprints]

Stangirl, I've just seen your prev message I think you used Kings College? However I dont live in their catchment area so I dont think they would consider seeing me? King's Maternity Service catchment area

This service is offered to women living in the following postcodes in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham:

SW2, SW4, SW8, SW9, SW16
SE1, SE4, SE5, SE11, SE14, SE15, SE16, SE17, SE19
SE21, SE22, SE23, SE24, SE25, SE26, SE27
CR7

[MrsKwooooHaHaHaAzii]

You may not be in for too long. They tried to turf me out 24 hours after my ELCS at an NHS hospital

[pawprints]

anyone seen these new guidelines released sept 2011? Looks like mothers-to-be have a little more power to insist on c-sections? However, once they've tried to convince us otherwise perhaps?! ;) www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=download&o=56255

[quietlyafraid]

They are not new guidelines - yet... Final thing is due out on 23rd November so it may change yet. It does however mean that all those Trusts saying they are cutting back on electives due to costs can frankly get lost, as the draft says the economic argument is a pile of doogie doo as it takes no account of complications. Trusts do not have to follow the guidelines either - but it does, for the first time, give power to women who really need this. It will help doctors who do recognise tocophobia help their patients against the all the stupid and damaging politics.

I've actually been reading up on a pile of stuff regarding electives - I've put this in another thread. The whole premise of cutting back on electives is based on the fact that people believe they are done for lifestyle reasons. Unfortunately because of the way its recorded, when people are asking for mental health reasons because they are either suffering from primary or secondary tocophobia (usually women who are more vulnerable in the first place), this isn't being recorded as even though the government recommended in 2003 to change the system to reflect why women were having electives better nothing was done. Its had the net effect of the press and public (and more importantly and worryingly policy makers) jumping on it and accusing women of being soft. Thats what makes me really angry; all of this was picked up 8 years ago and not a thing has been done and yet this is now recognised as a big issue in Sweden, Norway and Finland. We are now years and years behind because record keeping has been poor and attitudes in this country have been so obsessed with the myth of "too posh to push" at the genuine expense of women.

Reading though stuff, I'm appalled at just how much certain pressure groups have spread misinformation on the subject because they have their own agendas, rather than supporting all groups of women. I find it very worrying when influencial people (including the NI health minister and head of the NHS alliance) are quoting out of date information and clearly haven't been reading the NICE draft.

Women with PND are not treated in this way. Its time to get this on the map and to fight back against all the idiots who really don't understand how distressing this is to face a system that doesn't understand this is a mental health issue and not a lifestyle issue...

[VivaLeBeaver]

Unfortunately I'm not sure all trusts will follow the guidelines. They certainly don't have to.

[quietlyafraid]

Thats precisely why its so important to try and get awareness of tocophobia out there and get it taken seriously. If you expose the fact that the bans are actually hurting women with mental health problems rather than women choosing lifestyle, it will change attitudes from the public. These bans have been put in place as they are popular and they don't met any real resistance unlike other areas. Its totally political.

[RefereezaWanka]

If you wanted to consider state care, UCLH was excellent when I had my second section there (if you or your baby develop any problems you will most likely be transferred there from the Portland, I think). Postnatal care is fine but minimal, so if you want a hotel experience you won't get that, but the quality of the Consultants is second to none and their special care baby unit is one of the best in the world.

[nav1978]

Hi Lolaknickers and feeltrapped, please can you give the names of the hospitals? I have just found out that I'm pregnant and I just can't sleep. I'm totally scared of having natural childbirth. Can you help so I can that I can start researching and put mind at rest and start enjoying the pregnancy!

[leannac]

I'd recheck the prices as quoted above for c section at Kingston Coombe wing. I called them last week to go through prices for a private birth. I was told the hospital fees alone are £1700 (which includes 1-2 nights in the private room & rather randomly flowers, dressing gown & fancy toiletries too), then you have no option but to hire a full consultant service which I was told STARTS at £4600 depending on your pregnancy. Once both these non negotiable & obligatory costs are paid you have the option to either pay something like £1400 for natural or £1800 for c section (these last 2 prices are from memory as I stopped writing info down at this stage as I realised there was no way we could afford this). For every additional night you need to stay there is a charge of £638.

I had hoped to have all my ante natal care at Kingston on nhs then literally just have delivery privately but that alone looked to cost £6k upwards so I've had to accept this isn't an option for us anymore!

[HappyShineyMum]

The NHS is not a free service though. You have already paid for the care through your NI and Taxes. Unless you don't pay tax?

[Alltootrue2u]

I had my DD at the Lindo ring in 2004. At the time the fees were:

£4000 in consultant fees
£1.2K for Aneasthetist - spinal and mobile epic for post operative pain relief
£1800 for first night in hospital and £850 for every night thereafter. I was in 5 nights.

All in my bill was £10,500 and this was 14 years ago. It will have risen considerably since then!!!

[jamtomorrow1]

Does anyone have any recent experience of private ELCS fees? Is there anywhere in East Anglia rather than London? Thanks so much

[RedToothBrush]

Is there anywhere in East Anglia rather than London?

In a word: no.