Better NHS A/N care for women who pay??

[suedonim]

Did anyone else see this story about mums paying 4K for NHS one-to-one care? It seems rather shocking, to me.

Yes I saw it too and was rather shocked by it.

I think it's fine as long as it doesn't impact adversly on those who don't wish to pay. I forked out for independent midwives every time (not four grand though!!) even though I couldn't afford it. I would do so again without hesitation. I would rather have a decent birth than a decent car, so it depends on what your priorities are.

however, those who can't afford to pay shouldn't have their service reduced.

I feel there ought to be an element of choice within the NHS. The all or nothing nature of the service is crazy.

I get the feeling I might need to run fast in the opposite direction now.

why pay 4k for nhs one to one care when you can get a fab independent midwife for 2k?

I suppose it means you don't have to have a home birth (as with an IMW) if you'd feel happier in hospital - though two grand extra for that seems a lot tbh.

This must reduce the space, time etc available to non-paying parents, surely?

And what the hell is a "birth rehearsal"?

ind mws will come to hospital with you too if that is what you want, not just home birth. and they do all the antenatal stuff in the comfort of your own home, lovely!

That's what I thought re an independant mw, Pph.

SM, the thing I see wrong with this is that it should be available to all women, irrespective of ability to pay. 1-to-1 care provides real benefits to women and their babies, it shouldn't be an optional extra. Imo, women are getting substandard care if they don't receive 1-to-1.

I'm going by what I've seen on MN, that IMWs are relegated to birth partner status if you take them to an NHS hosp - they aren't treated as a MW by the NHS staff.

God, that's apalling. The two-tier service in action, huh?

OI! For £4000, I think I'd expect one-to-one care with the consultant.

Speaking of which, I had a baby at the hospital in question last May. And I have to say the midwives weren't exactly overstaffed. I had an eective section and the team in theatre were fantastic. But, the ward was... well... they were a bit pushy and not the friendliest bunch. I even got yelled at once and the midwife said "What's your name?!" I said, ". What's yours?" Oh, she was mad. But, you know, what was she going to do, call my mother?

i was shocked too! and getting an im is/can be a lot cheaper!

suedonim I understand what your saying about the creation of a two tier system. I also agree that one to one care is highly desirable, however, realistically it's not going to happen on the NHS. Therefore we can either say those who want to pay can have the service or we can say, because we can't all have it no-one is allowed it.

My friend had a baby 30 years ago and got that service for free.

Actually it is the responsibility of Patricia Hewitt, the health secretary, and of each hospital, to make sure that every woman has 1-1 care thanks very much. They should be concentrating on achieving that, not providing a superior service for those who can pay.

If people want to go private, that's their choice, but it shouldn't be at the expense of NHS patients. Which this is. It's using NHS staff, who have been trained at the taxpayer's expense, on NHS premises and using NHS resources.

Hmmm... Not sure I understand this. The article says that with the money they've made on this scheme, they have been able to hire more staff for the NHS patients. So it seems these people are actually helping to fund the other services. Are you guys saying this isn't so?

I'm afraid I got to the bit about a birth rehearsal and started laughing.

It's a slippery slope isn't it. Mind you Queen Charlottes has always been a bit like that- always ahd a reasonable supply of private rooms you can pay for after your NHS birth (according to a friend who gave birth there) ,

First of all, what the devil is 'birth rehearsal'.

Secondly - 4K?! I got all of that for nothing by having midwife lead care and domino birth. I saw 3 community midwives throughout all 3 of my pregnancies and was delivered by one of them for the second two (first one induced so went a bit awry!). I was able to call them whenever I wanted and they would come out and check me over - did this about 4 times in the run up to ds3's birth as ds2's birth was so frighteningly speedy that I was paranoid about going into labour at home!

As a domino birth in hospital I had an 'all singing, all dancing' room with my own 'wet room'/shower. For both ds2 and ds3 birth I was in the delivery room for the labour, delivery and couple of hours after and then I went home.

ALL FOR FREE!!!

Uwila, I work in maternity and would bet that the extra staff have been employed for the women who pay. Even if they do work with non paying women these women receive a second class service because they don't get 1 - 1 care or access to extras which should be the norm across the board. Can't help but feel that the staff working in ordinary circumstances will probably resent the extra relationships the midvives can create with those who pay

I was really surprised to read these article. I had both my children at Queen Charlotte's (2003 and 2004) and I got 1:1 midwive care throughout both pregnancies. Like GDG, I saw the same "pair" of midwives throughout my pregnancies, had most of my ante-natal appointments at home and at weekends, one of the midwives was at the birth and then visited me at home for ten days after the birth. This was on the NHS and I felt pretty lucky at the time. I would love to know whether this 1:1 scheme at QCH has now been scrapped and replaced by the private scheme. Seems a bit unfair if it has.

Lights, no costume, action!
I had one to one 'care' with ds in a private room on my health insurance. It wasn't exactly a night out with George Clooney at the Ivy.