Choosing a hospital - should I go private?

[hippopo]

Hi everyone,

I am almost 16 weeks pregnant with first after two years of trying and thought I had two hospitals to choose from - the Whittington and North Middlesex.
Have had three appointments at NM and have not been very impressed and have heard good things about Whittington so have switched.

My DH and I have a good private health care package from his work and we found out today that if we upgrade at a cost of £1000 spread monthly over a year I could have my remaining antenatal care and give birth at the Portland.

Not sure what to do as £1000 is not peanuts for us but we could afford it. My main concern about Whittington or similar is Midwifes being streched and not giving support I might need or birthing centre being full or getting poor after care again due to NHS being so stretched.

What would you do?

Depends on why you want to go private. If it's just for a better birthing experience, then you're far better off booking a private room on an NHS ward than going to a private hospital unless of course you're 100% certain your delivery will be totally straightforward. Totally second Thandeka's comment if anything major goes wrong and you're in a private hospital, they will transfer you to the nearest NHS hospital anyway. And the consultants are the same people whether you go private or public.

Beanlet - I'm not so sure about the comment about better birthing experience - eg if you go private much lower risk that any of the following will happen:

• no private rooms available (happened to me)
• pool not available (happened to me)
• no epidural as person doing them is busy
• DH has to leave at 9pm etc (happened to me)
• seeing junior docs rather than the consultant
• no one to one care from midwife (happened to me)

Personally I think going private is all about the better birth experience although of course if there is a significant prob get transferred to NHS hospital. Smaller problems (eg CS/retained placenta) can generally be sorted out in private hospitals.

Upside of the Portland is that UCH is across the road and has one of the best reputations in the country for high risk pregnancy, complicated birth and special care for babies. They will transfer you there if need be, I think.

Going private always seems like a huge waste of money to me, but do your research and see if the differences in the care you will receive are big enough to warrant it.

Hi there, I just wanted to say that Haver's view of private medicine is only one view and not everyone who has experienced it would agree with her. I have had a private birth (health insurance covered it all) and I never once felt that their priority was anything except my choice and my best interests. My doctor was incredibly thoughtful and well qualified and I was very happy with the care. In the end I had an emergency C-section and I was very grateful for the private care because it meant I had my own room for the 3 nights I had to stay in, and no limitations on visiting hours, which really made a huge difference to my recovery. Of course NHS care is totally fine but if you have the option of private care there are definitely some benefits to it that you might like to consider.

don't personally see the appeal of the Portland compared to the private wings of the NHS hospitals - Kensington, Lindo, Lansdell etc. But also agree entirely with eeyore's post. Well put. Glad they made an emcs not a totally traumatic experience.

Mumnwlondon- yup the position bit was worst bit of care and yep I do think it probably affected dd's outcome but it was my first labour and despite knowing I could be in a diff position thanks to mnet I didn't want to push it (no pun intended!). But that is something am going to find out about at today's debrief (scared emoticon!) but then many women birth in this position despite it being a rubbish one and their babies are fine. Doubt they would do it if the outcome was a brain damaged baby every time!

Oh and postnatally I always had my own room which was a blessing tho still yuk being in hospital with the noise of ward etc. At one point I was in a double room on my own and they tried to room a mum and baby in with me which was cruel considering I couldn't have my baby but my community midwife came down and kicked off for me and I got my own room again with ensuite this time! Being in a cubicle would have been the end!

Next birth I can have an elective c-section apparently!

Anyhow back to OP whittington still okay (haha maybe since posting on my thread my enthusiasm has waned a bit but I don't think my experience is a common one) but be prepared to be very assertive to get what you want! DH and I had a crash course in assertiveness training by the end of the 8days and we just told them what we wanted instead of asking. Worked much better!