7k fees for consultant - normal or excessive?

[emeraldgirl1]

Just investigating whether we can afford going privately for my first pregnancy. Dear GOD, it's pricey! Anyway have just been quoted 7k for a particular obstetrician at the C&W in London and that sounds like a bit more than others I've heard or elsewhere. I think my friend who had hers at the Portland paid more like 5k for the consultant, though the package at the Portland itself may have been more...

Is 7k utterly outrageous or pretty much par for the course?

Not being judgey, but why would you not want an NHS birth? The fetal medicine and obstetric care I have had has been brilliant. Chances are you'd be seeing the same people, but for free :)

peggyblackett don't worry, judge away!! :)
Only investigating it at the mo so may well stick to nhs anyway.
I have a host of other health problems and DH has a profound disability that (it has never been clarified) might have been a result of a problematic birth, obvioulsy that was donkey's years ago and no guarantee of anything going wrong or right on either NHS or private, but understandably he is antsy about this kind of thing and wants to feel we have researched all options.
It's not just about nice sheets and posh bottled water - am feeling sick and guilty at thought of spending that on private consultant atm!!

Emerald - I am going to the Lindo and my Obst is charging 7k, so I guess it's pretty standard. He also practises at the Portland and his partner (by that, I mean the person who backs him up when he's away and v.v.) practises at C&W. I think their fees would be pretty much aligned.

Don't forget you also have the hospital's fees on top of that. In all, I am budgeting for about £15k (my insurance luckily pays out up to £12k).

Peggy - not all NHS hospitals offer the same level of care that you have been obviously been fortunate enough to experience. You only have to spend 10 minutes reading this board to see a range of horror stories varying from understaffed to downright negligent. Some NHS hospitals obviously have brilliant care, but that is not the case across the board.

I can understand that. My Dd1 is profoundly disabled (not a birth injury), and the understanding and care I have been given for dc2 and dc3s following pregnancies and births has been brilliant. Definitely worth considering NHS if you can find decent midwife
/obs.

just to clarify my above post - I am expecting to have to pay a shortfall of up to £3k

I think it's worth investigating your NHS options too, maybe post on here to ask people who've had experience of your local hospitals?

Sweetpea thanks - can I ask who your insurance is with? Mine is with BUPA and I get the impression in general that if they can avoid paying, they will...

Yes, I have heard (more and more) horror stories too, at several NHS units in London that I won't name. I am struggling to recall a positive story from any of them sadly and as I have these other complications I just don't know how comfortable I will feel for 9 months stressing out that something is being overlooked. I am envious of those lucky people who do have terrific experiences on the NHS, I am just paranoid that I would not be one of them.

Sweetpea I wasnt judging, as my post stated, I wad just gently enquiring. Of course there is not parity across all NHS care, I was just offering my anecdotal experience.

Good luck with whatever you decide OP :)

Thanks *peggyblackett that is reassuring to hear that you got great support re your CDs 2 and 3

Peggyblackett if it's not too intrusive can I ask where you live ie who is your Primary Care Trust?

unfortunately emerald, I think that very often we only hear the bad stories.

people who have a bad experience tend to want to talk that through, and maybe even "warn" people of it.
So it can often seem as though all you hear are horror stories, when in fact the vast majority of births are just fine

I can totally understand your concern though, and not for one minute saying that you shouldn't go private if that is what you feel happiest with, because the most important thing is that you feel comfortable with the care you are getting.

I do think it's worth investigating further, visiting local hospitals etc before making a final decision?

I'm in Gloucestershire at the moment, who are brilliant. However I have had fantastic antenatal care at Tommys in London and Birmingham Women's Hospital.

It is normally only the international policies which cover pregnancy/birth (unlimited, as I understand it, although capped for individual components). We have AXA Gold Plan which is a Europe-wide policy and pays out up to £12k a year for pregnancy/birth. My husband decided to pay to upgrade the standard policy he gets through work as I was forever going off to different specialists for different things

thisisyesterday, oh, you're spot on, we only ever hear the bad stories about anything!!
Trouble is, they're the ones that stick in your mind...!!
Yes, am planning to visit a couple of local hospitals to see what's what and maybe to discuss my concerns

Thanks Peggy

And thanks sweetpea - sadly I think if we went private it'd be baked beans and nary a treat from now to doomsday!! :)

and contact that website, tellmeagoodbirthstory.com/co.uk?
they cqan put you in touch with women in your area who have had positive experiences

OOh thanks thisisyesterday - will look immediately!

Emeraldgirl have you considered an independent midwife rather than fully going private? May be the best of both worlds, and wouldn't cost anywhere near as much

RockChick - how would I go about that? Could I ask at the hospital?

Info here - I considered it briefly but don't know a huge amount about it.

Thanks v v much rockchick x

And if even an indie mw is too much, a doula could be a good investment

And if even an indie mw is too much, a doula could be a good investment

I looked at C&W private and the portland.

Decided on the Portland in the end, but only because the doctor I liked only delivers there.

Price wise - the guy at c&w was 7k and my dude is 6k. But like u said, you are paying for the hospital as well and my desision to go to the portland is WAY more expensive than C&W.

Message me if you want any more info. xxx

i was going to suggest an IM too, but as far as I am aware they will not be able to actually "do" anything in a hospital as they won't be insured.
they can of course deliver your baby at home, but if you are in hospital all they can do is be with you and be your advocate.