Returning to UK for birth

[LadyIzzy]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of returning to the UK to give birth? Did you find it easy to access maternity care on the NHS and did you have to pay? How much did it cost? Or did you go private?

Unless you're domiciled in the UK you have no right to NHS services (except in an emergency). You'll need to look into the cost of private provision.

Unfortunately NHS maternity care is not in a great place at the moment.

Actually that first post isn't entirely true, you may have a right to NHS services depending on your situation and the service in question.

If you've been living abroad for more than 6 months you have to do a paying patient assessment. I'd budget about £5-£10k in case you get assessed as liable for fees in case you end up with an induction that ends in a C-section (thankfully my assessment determined I wasn't liable). You might need more if you end up staying in for more than a day or two e.g. with a severe infection or other complication.

The exception to this is if you are able to use reciprocal maternity care arrangements if we are part of those with the country you are resident in. You can check here (I know link title says Non-EU but it does link to the EU one if you need it as well): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-reciprocal-healthcare-agreements-with-non-eu-countries#visiting-eu-countries-and-switzerland

This, however, is definitely true. But having lived in a country that doesn't even have sanitary water or other basics for most people, and where my nearest hospital was 3 hours away in a taxi (when we could get one), I came back anyway (although it's worth noting I came back and stayed back, and could prove my intent to be habitually resident from then on).

I arrived when I was 32 weeks pregnant, and first saw a UK midwife at 36 weeks due to the time it took to get an (urgent) appointment, which did limit options in terms of what sort of birth I could have, it was really whatever and wherever they could fit me in, and I didn't mind that but if you want a specific birth you might need to stay put. They did also struggle as my maternity notes to date were in a foreign language.

The other thing to think of and budget for is the length of time it will take for your child to get a passport if you want to return to your place abroad, and where you are going to stay in the third trimester and post-birth (plan for at least 3 months) until you're both fit to fly and have your paperwork sorted out. This can take a very long time if both parents aren't white and British with white British parents/grandparents (depending on your age).

@SisterMichaelsHabit thank you. That’s very helpful. Did you contact the maternity unit at the hospital you wanted to give birth at and they then conducted the paying patient assessment?

I’m planning to stay with my mum when I arrive and probably for the few months after. The cost of the birth will mean I won’t be able to justify paying for rent as well. I’m currently in West Africa and whilst there is access to decent maternity services here, it’s the lack of neonatal care that worries me in case needed. My doctor here has advised me to return to the UK if at all possible.

My cousin who had her baby privately paid c£20K, and that was 10 years ago.

Yes I’ve heard of this happening. The GP is a good entry point. Register with one near your Mums and they can get you into the system.