Going Private at Kingston Hospital

[parrypots]

Hi All

I've just found out that I am pregnant with baby number 2 - very happy!

I am considering going private at Kingston Hospital and have been provided with a list on consultants - but have absoluetly no idea how I'm suppose to select who to use!

Was hoping that maybe somebody out there could give some advice or recommendations ?

I'm hoping for a natural birth...was induced first time around - not sure if a particular doctor is better for this?

Thanks!

I've seen quite a few different consultants at Kingston - who've you got a choice of ?

oh great

Mr N Amin
Miss Ifat Ataullah
Mr Chow
Mr Andrew Pooley
Ms M Shankar

Thank you!

parrypots, do you realise you will not be cared for by a consultant in labour, even though you are a private patient? One of the hospital midwives will look after you and give the consultant a shout if there is a problem. Just as long as you realise that! Happy deciding x

I don't anything about the first two (although I can't actually remember the name of the consultant I saw with dd2 although she was nice but I think she was just standing in for hte consultant i was originally down for).

Mr Chow and Ms Shankar I had experience during a high risk/stressful labour (early induction due to IUGR ending in emergency c-sec). This was 5.5 years ago.

Mr Chow was the consultant on duty during my induction and was lovely, he instilled a lot of confidence and ent out of his way to allow me to stay at Kingston at a time when SCBU was full but I didn't want to travel.

Ms Shankar was the senior registrar under him during my induction so the one I saw most of and who did the 'hard work' and she was fantastic. I don't think she would come across as particularly friendly/open on first meeting but I saw her a few times antenatally as she was a specialist scanner and always had time to explain everything. During my induction she also made time to make sure I was happy with every decision and even when it was clear to everyone that my only option was a c-sec, she made sure it was my decision in the end. She also did my c-sec and did a very good job (stiching commented on by midwives etc - not that hopefully that is an issue for you).

I have never met Mr Pooley but have heard lots of recommendations - particualrly on here - if you search you might find out more about him. I think he might be the 'big cheese'.

My experience was NHS btw.

Are you going on the private ward (Coombe wing) or a private room in the maternity suite (I think that's the options). FWIW, DH was on the private ward about 6 months before I had dd2 - I got a private room on the worcester suite due to the c-sec and we both said the worcester suite was nicer than the Coombe wing in our opinion. And although there was more choice the food was still pretty bad in the COombe Wing. But, more staff (although suspect you would have more staff wherever as you'd be private).

Hi Tamnz
Thanks for the heads up. I was kind of aware of that - not really sure at what point they join though - if you could shed some light?
The nice thing I found out about Kingston vs Royal Surrey was that you do have a private midwife for the whole duration - and the same one that you see throughout - which really appeals.

When I had my first on NHS I was pretty much left to my own devices for 8 hours - my husband has to keep going to find someone to check on me!

Thank you so much Wheelybug - that is all really really useful :)
I will reply properly later/tom !

Dear Parrypots, I had a very good experience at Kingston although it was a very difficult time. Dr Shankar was great and if you can choose a midwife Hannah Moss was fantastic. Good luck

Oh yes, if you get to choose a midwife, Anita Lintorn delivered my dd1 and was amazing. Only left my side to fetch the con when things got hairy.

I have always been under the care of Mr Pooley (nhs) but have no personal experience of him.

Forgot to say - congrats on the happy news!

Mr Chow is my consultant and I think he's wonderful. I lost my son last year at 22 weeks and he was my consultant then. He has looked after us so well in this pregnancy (I'm 27 weeks) and we feel really confident in him. He gets my vote :)