Twins - which London hospital - private or NHS?

[LensPens]

Just had early scan to find we are expecting twins after IVF. Very happy if rather daunted! Don't want to tempt fate but private consultants get booked up, so thinking about obs options.

We could afford private consultant care at St Marys - the replacement to the Lindo wing while it's being refurbed. (I'd choose that since I want to be in a NHS hospital and all other private options would be too far from home).

The best local NHS option would be UCH - I imagine that they'd look after me more closely because of twins and they have a good reputation but obviously that doesn't guarantee avoiding the risk of understaffing/overcrowding on the day and post birth etc?.

One concern I have with going private is that there is realistically a higher risk of complications with twins (either pre-delivery for me or post delivery for them) and that could mean a long time in hospital with lots of tests etc which could end up costing a fortune and more importantly require specialist care. In that scenario, how does it work if I'm seeing a consultant privately in a NHS hospital? I've seen elsewhere on MN that St Marys treats all babies as NHS patients. But what about me before the birth eg if I have to be admitted for weeks? Would St Marys be able to admit me to a NHS ward, even if it isn't in my local health authority?

What would you do?

thanks!
Lens Pens

I am high risk this preg and considered going privately. The consultant I would have opted for privately is seeing me on the NHS every 4 weeks. He will also do my CS. I have had a lot of extra care from other NHS professionals. I don't believe that I would have received better care privately. I had an extra private scan at the Fetal Medicine Centre.

I would do more research before making a final decision. You would get consultant care anyway due to twins. If you go privately, your consultant is responsible for your care and so I am not sure you can switch between NHS and private if something happened.

I wouldn't guarantee consultant care at all London hospitals - at St Georges I didn't see the consultant until 36 weeks. Seeing as the majority of twins are born at 35-36 weeks, I could have well ended up not seeing the consultant.

I'm afraid I don't know the answer as to whether you can switch between NHS and private care. I think you would have to ask the hospital that.

Thanks both. Will work out what the standard is at UCH. No point paying privately if I would get consultant care anyway. Difficulty is that by the time I can investigate at the hospital (ie around 12 weeks), St Marys may be booked up!

Sh77 - did you have an early private scan, or did you repeat one of the NHS scans privately?

Repeat - NHS scan was showing some measurmens to be v small and others normal. So, I went to Prof Nicolaides at the Fetal Medicine Centre (highly recommended) for reassurance. He got everything measuring as normal.

So, I would say do make use of NHS but supplement with extra private tests if needed.

Another option is the Chelsea & Westmister - it has a private post-natal ward. You can have NHS delivery but request private ward (if room available). I don't think they allow you to book in advance. Cost is around 900 per night.

Congrats LensPens. I am expecting twins and have been under consultant care and will be until the birth. Post 30 weeks, I'll also have fortnightly scans - all NHS. It probably varies as Schmee said. My DD was born in C&W and post natal wasn't great in my opinion so now at West Mid. I've heard good things about Queen Charlotte private care and Portland. Important thing is getting a consultant you like and trust. All the best.

I think UCH also has private rooms that you can pay for post delivery but first come first served as well. C&W is a bit too far for us...

I am high risk and explored both NHS and private options. Under NHS, I couldn't get to be seen by a consultant until 17th week of pregnancy (way too late!) and would be seen every 4-6 weeks or so. Under private care I chose to proceed with, I have been seen by my consultant every 2 weeks or so (he is also a fetal medicine specialist and does all my scans at these appointments which is a big plus). If you can afford a private care at an NHS hospital which has good neonatal facilities (UCH, C&W, St Mary's), then definitely definitely go for it -- totally worth it!

Congratulations!

After doing a twin pregnancy on the NHS I can wholeheartedly recommend you going private if you can afford it.

I used NHS care for my antental appoinments, my twins were identical so had scans every 2 weeks.
Luckily my hospital gave me shared care with Queen Charlotte's so once a month would have a scan at the fetal madicine centre. I was lucky and was covered by my bupa health insurance for a c section so I transferred there privately for the birth.
I went into early labout at 34+3 and recieved great care from my consultant and the midwives were great and very supportive of BF etc.. I needed to stay in an extra night over what I was covered for but I was given the option to pay or move into the NHS ward. Babies were covered by NHS. If you go to the Portland for example its 2k per baby per day in SCBU, so I would see what you can afford, Congratulations

Hi I am not in London but I have id twins . I am on the NHS and the care has been FAULTLESS...(Apart from the rushed first scan where the consultant freaked me and my DP out).

I have been scanned every week as there have been issues with growth and amniotic fluid. All ok now thank goodness.... I am now back to two weekly scans and I have had the midwives phoning me regularly to check im ok. They even rang me the week before xmas to reasuure me that if anything felt wrong I was to go straight in and see them. So I really cant complain.

I have had private helath insurance and gone privatley for other things but NHS hasnt dissapointed me. If there is anything wrong and they pick it up in the scans then you will be seen more often.

I agree with hippy about pre natal care both I think most people with twins or singletons say that its the postnatal care on NHS wards that is very lacking.

Firstly: Congratulations. How exciting!

I recently spoke to a woman who is at St Mary's expecting twins. She's having a section because the Consultant said that that's the best and safest way to have twins. I'm not agreeing, just saying that that is what she was told not too long ago

UCH is an incredibly busy hospital. They do have a FANTASTIC neonatal unit, but just because it's twins doesn't mean you'll need it.

I think you should think about the type of birth you would want and the type of care that you would want. Postnatal care is pretty pants in most hospitals.

The best twin births I've attended have been at Chelsea and Westminster (and I'm no fan of that hospital) and the Homerton (who are crap with breastfeeding).

Hmmm... reading that back it's not a hugely positive post. What I mean in essence is that you should seriously think about the type of birth that you would want (and yes I'm aware that birth doesn't always go to plan) and use that as your starting block.

(I'm a twin mum as well as working with twin mums btw)

My aunt had all hers at the Portland but that was years ago and very expensive.

Not all twins are born prematurely but I would be tempted to give birth in NHS hospital with a private consultant. That is what my MIL did after a still birth and a premature baby (DH). At least if anything goes wrong you have all the NHS staff and facilities at hand. I have heard the SCBU at UCH is fab. But if they do come too early you won't want to spend too much time travelling there and back each day to visit. I am not sure how it works with a private hospital if you needed SCBU or anything else, you might need them transferred or pay extra.

I don't have twin experience but do have premmie experience.

Completely off topic Dr Nicolaides used to be friends with my aunt and once "jokingly" asked her to marry him. That is not a bad claim to fame on these pregnancy boards.

Can I please add the same question but for Surrey? I'm in exactly the same situation - DD1 is seeing too much tv while I hold off the all day nausea - lovely - and twins makes me want to consider private but I'm also moving soon ... please help!

How exciting to be expecting twins! My sister had her twins at The Portland Hospital and I had both of mine there as well. For both of us it was so reassuring because you get to see the same consultant every time. (We had the same one) He was very helpful and seemed to be always available when needed , in person or on the phone.He also delivered her DDs by CS and she has a very tidy scar. Message me if you'd like his name. Best of Luck!