Private maternity units in london

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does anyone have any info on private maternity units in london, and could anyone recommend a consultant?

Tariq Miskry @ the Lindo Wing, St Marys Paddington is fantastic, as is the Lindo Wing generally. You have also got John and Lizzies, The Kensington Wing at C&G and The Portland.

I had my DD at The Lindo Wing and so that would be my choice (obviously ;) )

how soon after you found out you were pregnant did you book with them? Were they very expensive?

Mr Sheridan at The Knutsford Suite, Watford General. I booked at 16 weeks for delivery only but he can usually fit you in and private delivery at Watford is a fraction of the cost of Lindo / Portland etc plus the Knutsford Suite has just been refurbished and it's gorgeous.

If you google The Birth Team you'll get all the info

Hi
Hope you don't mind me giving you some information. I am a midwife at the Birth Unit at the hospital of St John and St Elizabeth. We are a private unit and it is such a lovely place to give birth. I have been working there almost 10 years now and it really is a fabulous place. You will be nurtured throughout you pregnancy, labour and afterwards.
The only 2 completely private places are ourselves and the portland. Other places may have attached private facilities.
If i can be of any further help please let me know and if you'd like to come to see us or even just have a friendly chat with someone feel free or have a look at our website.

Where are you in London? I have had two at Chelsea, the unit has just been refurbished and is totally private but with the backup of a major NHS hospital right there. I have seen Keith Duncan and Nick Wales and would recommend both. Have had friends very happy at Portland, Lansdell (Thomas') and Lindo so I'd be guided by location personally as you will have to go there for appointments and scans. There are excellent doctors and midwives at all of them I am sure!

You do need to book in early, esp at Lindo as is very popular. Lindo is also completely private its just its on the same site as a large NHS teaching hosi so in the event of an emergency the facilities are right there as opposed to needing to be transferred to NHS side as you do with Johna and Lizzies and The Portland.

A private birth is not cheap where every you do, a Vb is going to be around 6-7 k and a C section anywhere from 10k to 20 (Portland is very very expensive for this!!) Remember you pay for everything, scans, pre natal blood tests etc.. anything you need to you pay for hence costs. My birth cost circa £11k at The Lindo but I had 11 scans as had IUGR and pre eclampsia at around £200 a go each!! Lost count of blood tests at around £60 a pop too!

I am in east london, so I think most of these units will not be close to me.

I will highly recoomend Mr Carl Chow. He works at the Portland, St.Johns and Lizzies and Kingston NHS.

I saw Mr. Kumar Kunde at the Portland and at St Thomas'.

Would recommend him.

Agree, it's not cheap. My DS (first baby) cost around £11K all in (Elective CS at the portland)

But, the portland have a loyalty scheme so the second baby is cheaper (and CSs are cheaper second time around too!)

Wow!! 11k?? completely off topic - am in Ireland - is most of that covered by your health insurance if you dont mind me asking?

I mean, I am under a private consultants care. We have paid ?2,300 but our insurance pays for the rest if you know what I mean.

Asking out of nosiness to be honest - as am on maternity leave and have been addicted to "Portland Babies" lately and dh and I were wondering...

BARBIE, No, none of it is covered by insurance - well, not standard insurance anyway. DD was breech, so some of the cost of the CS was covered by them, but not all the 'standard' stuff, IYSWIM.

IMHO, though, it's worth it.

we didn't take holidays the years our kids were born and made other cut backs, but (with my DS, my first) I spent 5 days in the Portland. Private room, private bathroom, gorgeous food, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful staff.

It made my transition to motherhood so completely wonderful.

I only stayed in 2 nights with DD (second baby) because I wanted to get home to DS (who was only 13 months old) but I couldn't fault one aspect of the Portland.

Worth every penny, IMHO. Obviously, I appreciate that I'm fortunate to be in the position to choose, but it was worth it.

But, I will say, I think the Portland possibly works best for those who are happy / more comfortable with the idea of medical intervention. Obviously, I am only speaking from personal experience, but my main objective for going to the Portland was to get an Elective CS and good care. they do provide for natural births, but (esp. if you are some distance away) I can't see that working if you have to get there quickly.

Thanks Harimorry - it looks fabulous (on tv!)

Have absolutely no experience of the public maternity over in the UK but definately, definately believe that if you can afford it at all, go private over here. Just a nicer overall experience.

We, like yourself made a few sacrifices for this (although not half as expensive but insurance is 70 per month and you have to be covered for over 11 months to be eligible)but am really happy with our decision.

i had my 2 at portland and my obs is ms claire mellon. she is just wonderful
i had el section and the after care is great.

Remember a consultant has to rspect your wishes but at the same time give you sound advice. They need to have patience, have experience in natural birth as well as complications. Most consultants say they support normality but when it comes to it they complicate and medicalise the birth so be very very careful when you choose.

We visited most of the private units in London...but as it was twins, in the end we went for the "safety option" of a private ward attached to a NHS hospital.(it is also generally cheaper!...approx 9K for us)
Can highly recommend Mr.Kumar at Queen Charlottes (as can others who have posted in the past)...just not great for East London!

Good luck!

hiya yayitstheweekend was interested in your post about richard sheridan at the knutsford suite but see you posted some time ago. would love to hear how you found the experience there

I'd also highly recommend mr kumar at queen charlottes. Excellent.

thank you hadnt thought of queen charlottes will take a look