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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Antenetal Care N Ireland

9 replies

orlz2010 · 15/08/2010 10:58

Hi
Just wanted some info about how people have found antenetal care in N Ireland?
I am 12 weeks at the moment and GP referred me to Royal Maternity about 4/5 weeks ago and I havent heard a word from the hospital yet?
Was hoping I would have had scan at this stage but nothing!
Am considering paying to go privately but not sure if it is worth it but starting to think it might be!!
Can anyone who had baby in Royal or Craigavon give me any thoughts on their experience?? Is it worth it to pay for private antenetal care in N Ireland??
Thanks!!

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wigglesrock · 15/08/2010 11:45

Hi, am in NI, expecting 3rd child. Previous 2 children born in Mater Hospital, North Belfast and am currently being seen at Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn (moved house). Am almost 14 weeks and had first scan last week, also had had scans by now in previous pregnancies.

I don't know anything about Craigavon but most of my friends/relatives have used the Royal solely because of location and have all been quite happy with it, although it is very busy. To pay privately for antenatal care and birth in NI you still go to the Royal you are just on a different floor!!! in a private room if there is one available, friend had baby privately in Royal and there was no room available when she had her child so she ended up with exactly the same care as if she had stayed on NHS!!

You should have had a scan date at least by now, get on the phone tomorrow and start bashing heads together ps private scans are really expensive in NI as only a few places do them, I looked into it last week but really almost £200 and thats just for scan. Good luck.

midori1999 · 15/08/2010 18:50

I am in NI too.

I had most of my maternity care at Downpatrick and the Ulster, but then ended up tranferred to the Royal due to complications. I found the Royal to be absolutely excellent and given the choice would book there again. However, as I am under the haemotologist at the Ulster still, I will have to book there this pregnancy. At the hint of problems I will be transferring to The Royal though. It really is an excellent hospital, although the building is old.

The Ulster is also very good, and the building is shiny and new and wonderful.

shieldbug · 16/08/2010 12:11

Another NI Mum-to-be here. I'm booked into Lagan Valley. I had all sorts of troubles getting mw appts sorted for 10 weeks and eventually had to resort to crying at the gps! However, once I was on the system things seemed to go much better. Keep pestering them until you get something sorted. Oh yes, I had to keep asking until I got antenatal classes booked as well. BUT, the care I've had has been great (once the organisational side was ok) and I really don't think going private would have been any better. The mws are lovely and although I'm nervous about giving birth I'm sure I will be in good hands. My sil also gave birth at the same hospital and had good care. I know this isn't much use for you orlz2010 but wigglesrock keep bashing away to get what you need.

JumpingJellyfish · 16/08/2010 12:22

Had all 3 of my DCs' antenatal care at the Royal, and gave birth to 2 of the 3 there. You should really have had a letter with a scan date through by now so I would give the antenatal clinic at the Royal a call just to check you're on the system and the GP's referral didn't get lost along the way somehow.

I found the Royal brilliant- yes very busy, and waiting times at the antenatal clinics can be looooong (don't bring any toddlers with you, though they do have a creche service), but care is excellent. I've had complicated pregnancies and was under consultant care with the last 2- it was great knowing I had the top docs in NI taking care of us and credit them with the success of my last 2 pregnancies.

Good luck x

TennisFan · 16/08/2010 12:46

I had DS at Lagan Valley - hated the whole system. The booking appointments and never seeing the same person etc.

As I am self employed I didn't have the whole morning to sit around in their waiting room.

For DD I went private, so had all my appointment with a private consultant who works at Royal, but his rooms are on Lisburn Rd. Think the earliest you see him is around 14 or 15 weeks. He was brillant, and I could get appointments int the evening or at specific times. The costs was £1000 and well worth it IMO.

Once at the Royal anyone can ask for a private room, you request once you arrive but you can't reserve them. Its a bit of a secret - it's on the top floor and called Johnston House (but its just a ward on the top floor). You might come out of delivery into a normal ward, and then ask if their is a room upstairs. I was lucky and got a private room with ensuite - and compared to the 16 bed ward at Lagan Valley it was luxury. No-one bothered me the whole time i was there - was great, think it cost about £80/night.

nicm · 16/08/2010 13:44

hi, i had ds at the royal and am booked there for this one too. no complaints at all with ds but have heard that it has got really busy! i too was in johnstone house afterwards but it was £150 a night for ensuite room and that was just over 2 yrs ago! i had thought of mlu in craigavon or lagan valley as they are more like a mlu(they will be changing in feb apparently) but have decided to stick with the royal. may be busy but in the best place if anything was to go wrong.

i would call the royal and ask about the appointment as i didn't wait that long with either. maybe the letter got lost in the post? good luck!

sassie23 · 16/08/2010 20:06

Hi I had DS in Royal over two years ago and all I can say my care and his was excellent!! Booked in for this one as well and have had a couple of admissions with this pregnancy but again MW and docs all excellent. I did have a problem with my first scan this time round but it was due to my GP sending letter to the wrong hospital. However I think the Royal normally schedules their booking scans around 14 weeks. Don't worry just give the ante natal reception a call and they will sort you out.

Original poster

orlz2010 · 16/08/2010 21:22

Thanks for that girls...that makes me feel reassured!
I phoned the Royal today and was told I have appointment at end of August for a scan.

Apparently they weren't going to write to me cos I am a "community review booking" and its up to the midwife to see me and do my booking appointment and tell me when to go to hospital. Apparently I should be given choice of GP or midwife led but I was never asked!!
Seems that no one is really responsible which is worrying! I had to wait 5 weeks for first available midwife appointment which is next week and I will be nearly 14 weeks at that stage!
Its a bit worrying for a first time mum! Hopefully it will improve once I am in the system.
Still tempted by private alternative but is about £2500 so need to give NHS care at least a try...to justify spending that it needs to be worth it??

Any comments are really appreciated -I haven't told anyone yet so have no one to chat to yet!!

OP posts:

wigglesrock · 16/08/2010 21:47

orlz glad you got appt sorted, are you due in Feb, come have a nosy at the Feb 2011 group on the antenatal thread. As I said I have very little experience with the Royal just visiting friends but I have community/ midwifery led care and have always had letters from hospital re scans. You will feel much better after your booking appt, its my 3rd and I'm still cacking myself!!

You will probably have two scans (dating scan and 20 week scan) quite close together so that'll be great, I find waiting between 12 and 20 weeks really long.

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