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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Private rooms in NHS hospitals in London? Please help

16 replies

TheCollection · 21/04/2009 14:20

Hello

I?m new so apologies if this has already been discussed on a thread somewhere ? I?ve read/skimmed quite a few but couldn?t find it?

Basically, I?m thinking of (probably) having an epidural, which means it?s gotta be in a hospital. We can?t afford something like Portland, but could potentially be able to afford a private room in an NHS hospital. Where can I find out which hospitals offer that facility? So far I only spoke to Guy?s (twice, both times they were very quick to get rid off me; they are sending me a brochure) ? 6-10k, which is what they told me over the phone, sounds v. expensive!

Thanks in advance...

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EyeballsintheSky · 21/04/2009 14:40

I don't know where this info would be available but there seem to be a few hospitals mentioned on here that have private rooms. I had a private room at Epsom hospital for the grand price of £175 per night. All that was for was the room though, no special treatment other than that. I was terrified of being in hospital though so it was well worth it for me. I know others on here have done the same thing so hopefully they'll be along with some names

And welcome btw!

snice · 21/04/2009 14:42

Sister in law had a private room at the Royal Free in Hampstead some years ago.

MuffinBaker · 21/04/2009 14:44

NHS hospital near me, private room £45 a night.

I had one but didn't have to pay as the midwife took pity on me being next to a loud, swearing woman and gave me my own room. I was in for suspected DVT.

MoshiMoshi · 21/04/2009 15:09

In West London I know that Queen Charlottes can offer a room only for a reasonable sum (ie less than £80 a night) and the Chelsea & Westminster offer private rooms but with all the trimmings (ie private care too) which is more like £[several hundred] a night (need to check to be sure, I was in there for two nights in 2003 and I think it was £600 then so allow for inflation!)

EldonAve · 21/04/2009 15:16

Do you want a private room or private care?

You will usually have a room on your own for delivery and then be on a ward postnatally if you go NHS

AxisofEvil · 21/04/2009 15:19

Having a private room will not get you an epidural on request. If you want to have more reassurance on that front (rather than NHS care) then you'll need private care.

LissyGlitter · 21/04/2009 15:37

I actually quite liked being on a ward after I had dd. She was under a sunlamp in an incubator and I was on a blood tranfusion and in floods of tears due to the hormones, and the other women were really nice to me and brought me brews and chatted to me. I was about 20 years younger than most of them as well, so I think they felt maternal towards me! Also really common woman across the way gave me and DP plenty of amusement My mum was in a side room when she had my sister (she's a nurse) and she hated it. She felt really isolated and felt like the midwives were ignoring her.

Plus, shouldn't you leave the private rooms for people who really need them for medical reasons instead of the people who can afford them?

Original poster

TheCollection · 21/04/2009 16:25

Thanks all.

To answer EldonAve?s q, basically I?m trying to find out about the available options for either. I?m already booked into an NHS hospital but they don?t seem to have any private rooms.

Plus, shouldn't you leave the private rooms for people who really need them for medical reasons instead of the people who can afford them?

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EldonAve · 21/04/2009 16:31

Private rooms (NHS care) will usually be on a first come first served basis so even if the hosp has them you are not guaranteed one

Private antenatal care & delivery is offered by St Thomas, Chelsea & W, & St Marys in London
If you can manage on MW led care and have a straightforward delivery then it might only cost £6K
But you need to allow for ending up with a C section which is £10-13K

If you go NHS and have a straightforward time you will probably be out in less than 24 hrs anyway

susie100 · 21/04/2009 16:36

The only way to guarantee an epidural is via private care not a private room.

Private rooms are available but not bookable in most NHS hospitals.

I think private room on NHS care is the worst of both worlds as you are not getting one on one care of a private birth but are not with other women and midwives in the ward and are liable to get lost in the system/forgotten

Original poster

TheCollection · 21/04/2009 17:27

I didn't mean to imply there was a private room/epidural connection, what I meant is that if I have an epidural I will have to be in a hospital (as opposed to a birth centre), but it probably came across wrong.

That said, I wasn't aware getting an epidural was such a big deal: a couple of women I know have had it and were v. positive about the experience, & never mentioned any issues with getting it...

Good point about having to allow for the unplanned C-section, and yes, 13k definitely more than we can pay... oh well.

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susie100 · 21/04/2009 17:33

Oh in that case you should be ok with getting a private room. Epidural availibility depends on what time you labour. On a Sunday night there may only be 1 anaethetist and if there is an emergency c section and you want an epidural you would have to wait. Privately I don't think you would.

Have you considered an independent midwife but in a hospital setting? She can only act as advocate but it is quite reassuring to have someone with you throuout.

Good luck!

bellabelly · 21/04/2009 17:33

I think that Chelsea and Westminster will let you have a private room for around £900 a night if they have a private room available. Am pretty sure that's what the woman said when we had our (NHS) hospital tour.

NigellaTufnel · 21/04/2009 18:35

There are no private rooms at the Royal Free that you can pay for.
Only the sheer hell of the ward.

I think there are a couple of single recovery rooms, but I think they are for people that have had a terrible time. So you really don;t want to end up in them.

And I think that on the NHS it really is a first come, first served basis, so don't count on it unless you are prepared to go private all the way.

KNow it's no comfort, but there are a lot of us in the same boat

Original poster

TheCollection · 21/04/2009 22:34

susie

Have you considered an independent midwife but in a hospital setting?

Yeah, that?s exactly what we are thinking of at the moment ? everybody seems very positive about the experience of having a private midwife. From what I?ve read, here and elsewhere, and am prepared to believe, it?s not that the midwives and obstetricians in the private sector are better trained, it?s that the money buys you a level of service: so your midwife stays with you as opposed to you and 2 other women giving birth at the same time; will negotiate things for you in hospital etc.

Thanks again everybody, this is all very helpful.

OP posts:

Rebeccaj · 29/04/2009 14:50

Yes, the Chelsea & Westminster in London would let you have a room for around £900-£1000 a night if they happen to have one free. I was happy with their NHS care, though wouldn't have wanted to stay more than a couple of nights!

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