Queen Charlotte's Hospital

[LouiseSarah]

I am also driving myself a bit mad deciding which hospital to choose. I thought I was happy with my choice of Queen Charlotte's but have already been put off as when it came to do the nuchal scan they take a week to get the results back to you with the combined test and 3 weeks with the integrated test and everywhere else gives it to you on the day. Is this normal and is it a good hospital to go to or would I be better off at the Portland? Any advise would be great.

I went to Queen Charlotte's and, generally, I was very happy with the care. I also know, professionally, that it has a very high reputation. I wasn't happy with everything - I chose to have my nuchal scan privately, and they handled the information coming out from my 20 week scan very poorly. But the care during labour and postnatally was of a very high standard.

Having said that, I received NHS care. Are you choosing between NHS care at Charlotte's and private care at the Portland, or private care at both? I have no experience of private healthcare, and to be honest would not choose it for maternity care anyway. I have heard bad reports of midwifery care at the Portland, and sometimes of the obstetric care too. What is important to you about your birth experience? If you want a private room and hotel facilities, Portland probably your best choice. If you want access to the best obstetric care, I'd choose Charlotte's. If you want a low tech birth with birthing pool and experienced midwives, definitely Charlotte's. Of course, you could always have NHS care at Charlotte's and book a private room...

Thanks Hester. I am choosing between both private as this is my first and think it will give me peace of mind. It seems like they all have their pros and cons. It is important for me to have the best medical care but also be in a comfortable environment. I think I will want an epidural. I just found it strange that they seemed to be so slow with the results for the scan which has put me off a bit. Surely a hospital with such a good reputation should have get the results quicker than this no?

OK, I am really not an expert but I have worked in the NHS for years, mainly in maternity care, and I honestly believe that if you want the best medical care you are better off in the NHS. If anything goes hideously wrong in a private hospital you are nearly always shipped off to the NHS anyway. Charlotte's is a specialist obstetric hospital and really knows its stuff, and is right next door to (and part of) Hammersmith Hospital. At the Portland you may take pot luck with the quality of your obstetrician, and they have far less clinical supervision and back-up.

You will get your epidural at Charlotte's. Believe me, their epidural rates are through the roof! A friend of mine who gave birth there joked that they have anaesthetists roaming the corridors begging for work. When I had my epidural, it was done almost instantly and I must say they did it extremely well. When my labour did go tits up and I needed an emergency CS, I was really impressed by the speed and efficiency. And was left with a healthy baby and an amazingly neat scar. All the staff were really lovely and supportive. I honestly can't fault the labour care.

Now, I don't think they're great at everything, and I've heard complaints about aspects of their antenatal care. And I had real complaints about stuff that happened at the Fetal Medicine Centre there. But I would still choose them over the Portland, every time, because I think the midwifery care is of a much higher standard, and the whole system is integrated into a clinical quality system that would give me peace of mind.

I'm aware that I'm pushing you quite strongly in one direction, and that's because I am, frankly, prejudiced against private sector maternity care. I just think that, if something goes wrong, you're better off in the NHS. But if you know of a really good obstetrician at the Portland, and you have real faith in them, then that may be a better way of getting your peace of mind. Just don't assume that because a doctor works at the Portland he's a better doctor. That is just not the case.

I'm sure someone who's had brilliant care at the Portland will come along soon and say everything I've written is rubbish!

Oh, and by the way, whichever place you choose, they're both highly experienced and your birth will be FINE. Good luck!

Thank you thats really helpful. I think I am with you.

With private care I always,always,always,always advise patients (and friends) to opt for private care at a unit attached to a NHS hospital. That way you get the benefits of private with the full back up of the rather wonderful nhs emergency care.
jx

I had my DS (now 5) at QC.

I wanted an epidural and got one pretty quickly

Thanks. When you say you advise patients, are you a doctor?

Simpson excuse my ignorance but new to all of this. What does DS stand for??

I had DD 3 years ago at QC and I'm back there with this pregnancy. Although I was/am an older Mum, I had no complications and I really wanted to have my baby at the birth centre at QC, which I did. It's a midwife led birth centre with large rooms, pools etc & it was brilliant. But I was really happy to know that it was within QC hospital and had the full back up of a top delivery suite/medical unit etc close to hand should I have needed it (thankfully I didn't). The midwife team I was involved with were brilliant. I had gas & air in the pool and a 'half time' pethidine jab (I have a very long labour).

I had no issue with the timing of the nuchal scan results but then I didn't know you got them same day elsewhere - perhaps this is just if you go private?

DS = dear/darling/dotty/delicious son
DD = dear/darling/dotty/delicious daughter
(see abbreviations link above for all the abbreviations used here)

I am a QC patient and was generally very happy with their care. I do have private scans at

www.fetalmedicine.com/fmc/

to back up my QC ones so that might be an option for you (I think Hester means the Centre for Fetal Care at QC which is different to the private clinic above which is excellent).

I had DS (now 5) by elective section at QC. I am no fan of socialised medicine (including the NHS). But, I will always put my hand up and offer praise for QC. They were really good. You will find that delay in nuchal results at any NHS hospital. I would recommend FMC for tests, but NHS for the "free" care.

My only complaints about QC would be:
1- pushy ignorant midwives who challenge the doctors when they leave the room.
2- the food (yuck!)
3- the twit who put my breakfast on a table in the middle of the room when I was tied to the bed via a lovely catheter and so couldn't get it. (idiot)

But, the medical team in thetre was fab, and that was what mattered.

I loved Queen Charlotte's. If I hadn't got there on the NHS I would definitely gone there privately.

The antenatal care was minimal though (as a low risk pregnancy). When it came to the birth they were amazing.

Also my baby had to go into the special care unit and I have to say that I was totally relieved that we were in one of the best maternity hospitals in the country - much better than not being attached to a proper hospital such as the Portland (in my opinion).

He was in special care for 48 hrs and we stayed in hospital for a week, getting constant care. We paid for a private room (well worth it).

The only bad thing -the food was disgusting! However we live nearby so my husband would cook for me and sneak it into my room!

Hi,
to anyone who is considering giving birth at Queen's Sharlottes Hospital...beware,stay away if you and you baby want to survive!!!!
I am a nurse and went there on recommendation.Horrific experience wouldn't send a dog there!I wish someone told me about the state/staffing of the hospital.Overflowing,no staff,no doctors..I have had a horrendous 30hours labour,I have been left open 10cm (cervix) for 12 hours due to short staffing and no doctors available.My baby boy was stucked inside and midwife told me 12h.before he was born his head is wedged and he cannot be delivered normally...yet they left me for dead another 12h. in pain without any pain relief before they pulled him out by ventouse.I ended up with massive tear,was told I might be 2x incontinent for the rest of the life as mypelvic muscles were left relaxed and 10cm opened for 12h.-luckily I am not : )
I told my partner towards the end of the labour I am going to die as I have no strenght left in me..and told him to look after my little one if he survives...
We survived but for next 9 wks my wound was not healing well/ it was gapping and I wa son 3x diff antibiotics.I forgot to mention they also broke my cocxycs (tail bone).When I complained about it they said it is normal complication of an instrumental delivery...As a result of this horrendous experience I suffered a massive post-natal depression with severe anxiety,memory loss and PTSD and have been treated in Mental health mother & baby unit for period of 3m.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!My psychiatrist confirmed this was all due to this horrific birth and I must find out what has gone wrong to be able to lay it to rest...Noone should suffer like this!Having a baby is meant to be happy experience-for me thanx to the QSH was the most horrendous experience ever!Noone will ever give me back the time with my baby when i was seriously unwell due to the care I have received in this fabulous maernity hospital...so beware if you don't want to end up like me.....