Lansdell Suite at St Thomas's vs. Kensington Wing at Chelsea and Westminster

[blueberry69]

Hello - I know this topic has been discussed before but I would really appreciate some help.

I was referred to St Thomas's by my GP but at 15 weeks (first pregnancy) I am still waiting for an initial booking-in appointment. Having really pushed for it I am being seen this Saturday (16 weeks) by a midwife.

However as I have had 2 cone biopsies in the past I was concerned about a short cervix and wanted to be seen sooner rather than later. So I decided not to wait for the NHS and had a private assessment yesterday at the Fetal Medicine Centre. Sure enough it showed a short cervix and I was advised to discuss this immediately with my obstetrician so that he/she could take immediate action - a cervical stitch. As I don't have an obstetrician yet i am prepared to see someone privately and was given a few names including...

Mr Mascarenhas at the Lansdell Suite, St Thomas

Mr Mark Johnson at the Kensington Wing, C&W

I have no experience of either and would be really grateful if someone could give me their views on consultants/hospitals. Chances are we will now switch to private care so that we can have someone not only do the procedure asap but also monitor it throughout. Have been totally put off by NHS as they have been so slow and have refused to listen to me and I so desperately don't want anything to jeopardise this pregancy (it took several years to get to this stage!)

can't answer your question fully but didn't want you to go unanswered.

had my after care in the lansdell suite both times - lovely facility - about 9 single bedded ensuite rooms. midwives and breast feeding specilaist on hand. all very relaxed and supportive.

i used the nhs consultant and midwives and they were fine - am sure someone else will be on here soon to advise you on the 2 private options you are investigating.

best wishes

Thanks Gladders. I really appreciate your view on the Landsell suite. Seems impossible to know one place from another without a little guidance.

Had my baby in the Landsdell Suite under Mr Oteng-Ntim in July last year. I had to have a planned section and didn't have the smoothest of pregnncies.

I loved him and loved the Lansdell Suite! Seriously worth it for me - he was literally always available at the end of his mobile phone and never ever made me feel bad for calling him - very reassuring. I can highly recommend him and the suite.

Am happy to answer any specific questions you may have about him or the suite.

Thank you very much Zakuro. I think i would probably end up with Mr Mascarenhas as i have now met him for a brief 10 minute chat and liked him - although i have read lots of really good things about your chap too. However I didn't see anything of the Landsell suite so would love to know a little more about it. St Thomas's itself seemed a fairly grubby hospital (but is probably no different to any others!)

Am very much hoping the Landsell is somewhat different to the main hospital. Any info you have would be hugely appreciated.

We considered going privately at St T's due to lots of complications, but, before that decision had to be made, we were finally seen there via the NHS route. Following that bit of waiting at the beginning, they were fantastic throughout pregnancy and birth. Couldn't recommend them highly enough.

My experience with Mark Johnson at C+W has been limited but I was very impressed wiht him. I saw him after having a miscarriage. He examined me and organised some investigations. His manner was lovely - really reassuring. I have also heard others who have had more dealings with him comment very favourably.

agree St T's is a bit grubby - Lansdell is v different - rooms were spotless and were cleaned frequently. furniture also newer so we were v comfortable at visiting time.
food yum too - was sad to come home as the lunch i'd ordered sounded so nice!

Agree with all Gladders says - found Landsell very clean and comfy furniture and always lots of staff around to help you out (in fact they kept coming in to make sure that I was alright as I didn't ring for them - very proactive in their care (which I guess is what you pay for!))

Certainly not luxury surroundings but a very nice QUIET room nonetheless. And, to say it again, I really did find ALL of the staff fantastic - from the care assistants to the midwife I was allocated on the day to accompany me through the waiting time for my c-section - to the post-natal midwives. Really excellent service.

gladders and zakuro - thank you. That's just what I wanted to hear.

zakuro is right - not luxury in itself but luxury compared to the nhs ward

allowed us a v relaxed start to life as parents

Another vote for St T's here. Had my son in Lansdell with Con Kelleher. All staff fab and helpful.

Just wanted to say that the Kensington wing is fabulous though would be surprised if you could book with Mark Johnson this late - he is usually booked up immediately - but there are plenty of other great doctors there too (see other thread that is bobbing up for some names). it was totally redone in 2008 and is lovely. plus excellent location. when I was there pre-revamp (for DD) my husband used to go out for Carluccio/pizza express as it is so brilliantly located, but the food was so good (and I was there such a short time) in 2008 we didn't bother!

Am with zakuro as also had my bAby in june 08 under oteng ntim- care throughout was flawless. Lansdell fine if not the most modern . Would do it again if can manage a second

I have seen both Lawrence Mascarenhas and Dr Oteng-Ntim. Mascarenhas was my consultant during first PG, and Oteng-Ntim did all my follow up with regards to third-degree tear.

They are both very highly respected in their field and from a medical point of view I think you'd be hard pressed to find better. From a purely personal point of view, I found Dr Oteng-Ntim friendlier and more personable, easier to talk to, if that's a concern?

I am booked in for my first baby at St Thomas's. Like you, didn't see a midwife until 15 weeks despite being a high-risk pregnancy. I was really worried about the lack of care up until this point but since I saw the midwife, the care has been great (in my limited experience). I was in to see Mr Mascarenhas within two weeks and now have a whole battery of appointments and tests lined up. Re your short cervix - St Thomas's has the leader in the field in this area and the leading clinic - the pre-term labour clinic under a Professor Andy Shennan. This was the main reason I was referred here rather than King's my local hospital and I just had my appointment to measure and assess my cervix yesterday. He was brilliant, so professional but very reassuring and will continually monitor me from here on in.

3 1/2 years on and I am writing to update my original post in case there are any ladies doing what I did at the start of my first pregnancy - searching for information to help them choose a good obstetrician consultant.

I chose Lawrence Mascarenhas as my consultant at the private maternity suite at St Thomas. I now have 2 sons (7 months and 3 years) who were both delivered by Lawrence and I really cannot recommend him more highly as a consultant. In his own words I had "the complications of five women" during my first pregnancy and despite a tricky pregnancy - to say the least - I really could not have been in better hands with him. I saw him countless times during both pregnancies and found him to be excellent. Very reassuring, extremely professional and highly likeable. Dedicated too! - both my boys were delivered by him during his annual leave.

My second pregnancy was much smoother than the first but I have to say Lawrence was no less attentive.

The Westminster Maternity Suite (previously the Lansdell) is fab. Managed and staffed by some wonderful ladies.

If we are ever lucky/mad enough to have a 3rd we'll go back!

Hope that helps.

Hi blueberry69, I know this is an old thread, useful though! just wanted to ask about the fees there. May I ask roughly what the cost was for normal delivery at the Westminster suite all included (i know it has probably gone up since...) Thanks!

Hi Sophie135

Did you manage to get the info for full costs for private at Westminster suite?

I have the delivery price but just wondered approximately how much the additional costs were for consultant?

Thanks

Hi
I am giving birth at Westminster suite in 4 weeks!
The costs are split between hospital + consultant. They don't do midwife led birth.
Hospital: 5,000 per night (normal birth) then 950 additional night; 6040 (csection our emergency), 950 for additional night
Consultant depends mine is 6000 (My appointments started from week 28). If you chose to see a consultant from the start it's around 7000, and 5000 from 36 weeks.

Hello,

4 years after my son was born I am pregnant again and looking for a good private birth experience. Previously we decided to go with Westminster Suite with Dr Oteng and I would not like to be back there. First of all the dedicated midwife who was supposed to be with us in the 4h observation unit was coming and going and I later learned she was a contractor who did know the hospital she didn’t know it was a private birth she didn’t know where theSuite was. My IV bag was empty and my husband went to look for her at which point she said she will go to look for someone. Dr Oteng was available for a call though his appointments had to be during the week. He recommended we shall check the baby size prior deciding for the mode of delivery, that was done with Fetal Medicine atHarley Street (Prof Nikolaides) - results showed an average baby 3.4kg max 3.7kg. I was overdue and waited for labour to occur and finally decided to have a CS as opposed to be induced. My son was born onSun in 41w2d of pregnancy. He was 4.450kg and 58 cm. The incision was 12 cm and could have been lower by 1cm which was confirmed by a consultant from Portland and Chelsea. They were curious who did the CS because it was too high. I hv felt to be deceived by my consultant who said the incision is 8-10 cm and a low bikini cut. I made notes. Well my incision was nothing like it , NICE guideline recommends 2-3 cm above the bone and all doctors try to be close to the 2 cm. So I would prefer to hear the truth from the beginning and being pointed out into the direction of the doctor who does what he says. The fees of the suite are the lowest in London but not everything there is great. I would rather pay more and get a nice experience and a low laying scar. My body healed great so you can barely see where the scar is though for the second birth they will need to rely on the same scar and I don’t know if it would heal as nicely as before. My friend who had ELCS on NHS with CWH had a super low placed incision. So now I’m wondering who to trust...,
I thought of Shane Duffy and Bryony Jones. Anyone had them during the care ?