Anyone have experience of Knutsford private wing Watford?

[Earhat]

Hi,

It is early days yet, but I am 40 and expecting first in June. I am interested in going private for the birth due to a history of bad luck with the NHS and I'm not going to hope for the best this time (I have every respect for the NHS by the way and know some people have a wonderful experience but I know what a lottery it can be).

I would love to know if anyone has had any recent experience of the Knutsford Suite in Watford. It is 45 mins from where I live and the nearest apart from the Lister in Stevenage (anyone think this is too far?).

Thanks in advance for sharing - Earhat x

Yes. I stayed there for a week a year and a half ago after dS1. It is like a maternity hotel. They provide everything for you, nappies, milk if you need, wipes. Midwives at your beck and call 24/7, happy to help. There was really nothing more I could have wanted!

Interested in replies too! Glad to hear Totesamazeballs had a good time.

I'm booked in there for room only in March (can't afford to go fully private!) Downside being I don't get a guarantee I'll get a room as I'll be bottom of the pile behind the fully private patients, but it's apparently unlikely I will miss out. I need an ELCS (no way round it) and as this is DC4 and we have no family to help, so I want some peace and quiet in the early days before returning to the madhouse. Not a busy shared NHS ward with noisy visitors, and people on mobile phones at 3am .

I had a brief tour - if you haven't had one, it is well worth doing. They will answer all your questions.

It's 20-30 minutes from where I live, BUT - Watford General is the nearest maternity hospital thanks to them closing the one nearest to us. With previous births when I lived elsewhere, I have been an hour, and in another case almost 90 minutes away from the hospital I have been booked into. Fortunately things have worked out well and there were always closer hospitals in case of dire emergencies.. sadly not where we live now though.

My biggest fear with Watford is going into labour on a Saturday afternoon when Watford are playing at home because it is right next to the football stadium.

Hi Crispy, I was the same, room only instead of fully private ( let's face it, you could stay at Claridges for that price!) and I was the only person there for quite a few nights. The only thing I would say is that I didn't get a lot of sleep as the corridor lights are quite bright so take a eye cover, and there were lots of interruptions during the day, bed changing, various nurses, midwives coming in for checks. DS was poorly though so perhaps that is why. I think I had someone knock every two hours in the day!

Because he was ill they put him on formula but helped me to express and I used their pump while I was there. They set me up with my own sterilising equipment and you can also help yourself to tea etc in the kitchen. They were very kind to me. I just rang the bell when DS needed a feed and they would get me bottle/ formula.

You pay extra for meals for visitors which you have to order when you choose yours. My MIL came every day and had lunch there. Oh and the portions are huge!

We are planning on booking it again even though it costs an arm and a leg. It was worth it. I had a long labour and then with DS being ill i think it made a huge difference having that support.

Thanks!! Yep, I'm not quite expecting to be completely undisturbed (more is the pity!) After all, regardless of who else is on the ward, you still need to be seen every so often I guess! Actually you probably get seen more privately because they actually change your sheets

Sorry to hear DS was ill. Was that why you stayed so long? I am hoping I can escape after the required ELCS two nights and get some of the deposit back!

Nurses/midwives etc I don't mind.. it's just other people's tinny music (whether with headphones or without), loud conversations and lack of consideration that seems to trigger the rage in me! It's like being stuck on a packed train 24/7!

Thank you for the tip about something to cover my eyes, have btdt before with hospital stays and have found that the quieter the ward, the more you notice stuff like that! Seems there is always something!

What time of year were you there? I'm delivering in March if all goes to plan, I am hoping it is going to be quiet!!

It was April and yes, DS cost us quite a bit in his first week!

Hi Totes and Crispy,
Thanks for your replies, really helps to hear from people who have direct experience. So glad to hear you had a positive experience Totes. Will definitely be booking in. Very useful info about travel time Crispy. We do have Lister 15 mins away if there was an emergency but I figure 45mins is ok especially as it is one straight main road. Good luck in March.
If you are planning to re-book Totes, that is recommendation enough for me! X

Crispy Omg - Watford is my booked hospital and I hadn't even considered the bloody football! Do they even play in February? (Clueless!)

Totesamazeballs - Ouch!! I am not surprised! Still, it is promising it was so empty in April. There was only one free room when I looked round last month - I think September is a peak month due to Christmas shagging!

Earhat - You should be fine! If nothing else you can get the whole "speeding down the motorway as my partner is in labour" excuse to give any police officers who stop you!

Julietee - Yes, I think they will be playing in February. And the traffic is often bad of a weekend in Watford anyway, so no babies should arrive on a weekend In fact just a few weeks ago a baby was born at Hemel Hempstead hospital (no maternity unit any more - they had to call in a community midwife) because the ambulance crew thought they would not make it to Watford in time due to the football. www.berkhamstedtoday.co.uk/news/local/your-baby-can-still-be-born-at-hemel-hempstead-hospital-if-it-s-a-rush-job-and-watford-are-playing-at-home-1-5526807

They usually close Vicarage Road off when it's match days, I think it may have actually been to do with the hospital as far as I can remember. If all being fine with time to spare and you make it through Watford with no hitches (presuming it is a match day) then the police would let you through

Thanks Tiredmumno1! That's good to know.

Oh christ, at the Urgent Care Centre at Hemel? That must have been fun

Watford is a massive PITA when the football is on, that's my main fear with giving birth at Watford.

I have heard you can be blue lighted through by the police but it could just be a rumour.