Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Nuchal fold scans in Plymouth - are they available on the NHS now then?

24 replies

LovelyKay · 29/11/2006 21:10

Hi, I know that when I was pregnant with my daughter last year I couldn't have got a nuchal fold scan done on the NHS in Plymouth even though I was 38 at the time. Luckily I was still regsitered with my old GP in London at the time and it is routinely offered there. Phew.
But I've heard recently that the situation has changed and these scans will be available very soon at Derriford. Course there's nothing on the PCT website about it and my GP is equally in the dark. Actually he's new and asked me what a nuchal fold scan was which didn't seem encouraging! Am hoping someone here will know all about it and help me out. We're planning the next one and wouldn't want to do without a nice reassuring scanlet!
Cheers

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
iwouldloveadollypleaseSanta · 29/11/2006 22:14

I live in Exeter and had my dd there last year - they definately offer nuchal fold scan testing on the NHS, so perhaps you can arrange to have one done in Exeter? it is a bit nearer!!.

Jimjams2 · 29/11/2006 22:17

couldn't get it done when I had ds3. Only option was Bristol but I couldn't be bothered with that so didn't have one (had one with ds1 and ds2 in London). Ask your midwife- mine was a star.

Original poster
LovelyKay · 30/11/2006 10:32

Thanks for the info - Iwouldlikeadollpleasesanta, do you think it's possible to ask to be scanned in Exeter then? I know they are now able to do the scans at Derriford as someone has been trained. I think they just make you pay. I am too old school and all this brings out my inner communist. I refuse to go private.

I guess I'll just have to chain myself to the railings then...

OP posts:
Jimjams2 · 30/11/2006 12:10

It wasn't possible to be scanned in Exeter when I was pregnant with ds2 (either by paying or on the NHS). The only option was paying in Bristol. If someone has been trained at Derriford then I would have thought you might be able to get it there on the NHS if you have particular reasons for one (and I suppose you could argue that being over 35 was a reason).

JessaJam · 30/11/2006 12:14

You could try phoning the PALS (Patient Advice & Liaison Service) at Derriford, they will be able to find out for you...main switchboard for derriford is 01752 777111 iirc!

Mum2Abby · 30/11/2006 16:51

Hi LovelyKay
I don't know if they do them on the NHS at Derriford, but if PALS can't help - and thats a good idea - ask to get the name of the head of the community midwives - and then write/phone her/him. She will know for definate since they work in the community and at the hospital - so they cross over between the PCT and PHNT.
Hope that helps and good luck!
What I can confirm is that you can have them done privately at Derriford - a friend is having one next week! - but I don't know how much it costs. If you want me to ask, say so on this thread and I'll try to look over the next couple of days.
Hope that helps.

LovelyKay · 02/12/2006 00:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

LadyAnne1stTimeMum · 03/12/2006 11:27

Hello - didn't realise there was a Plymouth Thread on MN - I'm overdue on delicery so I won't be here long. Never had a nuchal mentioned throughout my pregnancy. I was also a bit annoyed that they only offered me one scan at Derriford. Still they have been pretty good throughout the last few weeks of my Pregnancy - (I've had some false alarms and high BP) so I suppose I can't complain.

Talking to other mums on MN - it seems everywhere is different - not sure if that is good or bad.

Anyhow - good luck fellow Plymouth mums

LA

Original poster
LovelyKay · 08/12/2006 12:23

Hi, Just a bit of an update in case anyone's been keeping an eye. I telephoned PALS and , after a bit of answerphone to-ing and fro-ing, a very helpful lady found out the curent status for me.

Basically the Nuchal Fold/Translucency Scan is available at Derriford but you definitely have to pay at the moment. There is some talk of making it available to all women at some point late in 2007 but nothing definite.

Patients using the Exeter Hospital can have it done on the NHS and, theoretically, I could exercise 'patient choice'and choose to have my baby at Exeter therefore get a scan there. Sounds a bit daft though as is an hour by train plus a cab journey. Can't imagine that in labour! Also I would prefer a home birth like my last one.

Mind you I suppose I could 'change my mind' after the scan. Has any MNetter ever done something like that? What I should do is campaign for a quicker adoption of universal NHS availability. Shall have to start a thread asking for advice about that!

Cheers for your help.

OP posts:
PortAndLemonaid · 08/12/2006 12:30
dorisofdevon · 08/12/2006 21:50

Hi all also in Plymouth, saw mw last week who said they were supposed to be introducing 12 week scans for all in Jan 2007 all the midwives were trained but they were still waiting for the go-ahead ( I read that as funding )

As for nuchal scans pah!!!!

Was doing a search for places to get a 12 week scan privately when this discussion appeared(not adverse to paying if cost reasonable...just p'd off as am a nurse!!)

There must be loads more of us in a similar situation?????

Original poster
LovelyKay · 08/12/2006 22:49

Hi DorisofDevon,

Are you going to be in time for the 12 week in January scan then? Hope so. Very interesting that they are still unsure about funding for January (even though we are in shopping-days-to-Christmas time already!)
The scans situation may be dire but the Plymouth midwives who helped Kay and me were fantastic - couldn't have asked for better. Good luck with everything.

OP posts:
dorisofdevon · 09/12/2006 20:23

should be just over 12 weeks for Jan but just doesn't look like it's going to happen, have been brooding on this and so long as cost is reasonable am going to go prvate....spoke with my dear sis today (also in Plymouth) she have a friend who wasn't scanned til 20 weeks and major problems with LO had been missed resulting in much heartache etc. Just not prepared to take that risk

wickedwinterwitch · 09/12/2006 20:27

It was 3 years ago but I was booked for home or Derriford and the midwives said they didn't do nuchal fold scans there. The Kingsbridge mws used to book people for Exeter just to get them the free scan and then transfer them to Derriford but apparently they were stopped. So you might find you can't do this anyway. I ended up paying and going to London but Bristol is nearer (unless you can find someone in Devon) iirc it was cheaper in Harley St than Bristol but I may be remembering that incorrectly.

Original poster
LovelyKay · 09/12/2006 20:59

Thanks WWW - they've confirmed that you can have a nuchal test at Derriford nowadays but you just have to pay. AND I CAN'T - IT MAKES ME ALL ARTHUR SCARGILL AND RANTING.

Suspect you're probably right about the Exeter transfer anyway but might be worth a try. Trouble is there's such a short window of opportunity for fannying around with this sort of thing. By the time you know you are pregnant you're 4 weeks in and it has to be all sorted for 12 weeks or thereabouts. Takes a couple of weeks to reregister with another doctors surgery (assuming they'll have me?) AAARGH.

Sorry to hear about your 12 weeks can not happening DoDevon. Hope you manage to sort something out. Meanwhile shall plot some sort of campaign perhaps? Something must be done!

OP posts:
wickedwinterwitch · 09/12/2006 21:10

Lovelykay, I was Ms very far lefty pinko Guardianista (still am to an extent), so ikwym. Annoying isn't it.

dorisofdevon · 09/12/2006 22:56

Lovely kay how many weeks are you??

Original poster
LovelyKay · 10/12/2006 14:19

Oh dear, all of this concern of mine re tests has been kick started by what is (probably) a phantom pregnancy as timing not very promisibg.

I say probably since their is an outside chance that an exhausted geriatric 7 day old sperm managed to clamber it's way gasping into an egg-shaped space before DH went to sea a couple of weeks ago. But since that is pretty unlikely anyway, and K is still BF 3 times a day, it's a very outside chance. Only I've been queasy and etc...

Sorry DorisoD, wish I definitely was though! And meantime it got me thinking about the practicalities.

OP posts:
dorisofdevon · 10/12/2006 19:39

Well let me know if that little sperm has more life in it than you thought and as for the practicalities I'll keep badgering good luck

Jimjams2 · 10/12/2006 19:45

If you go for London perhaps the Harris Birthright centre would scan you for free? Not sure but perhaps worth asking.

Original poster
LovelyKay · 10/12/2006 19:55

Thanks Doris (mind you, are geriatric sperm and ancient 40yr old eggs a good start in life? That's another thread entirely, eh!)

Jimjams, thanks for the tip but assuming my old Doctor will let me re-register at my parent's address then I should be in clover as they offer a nuchal scan as a matter of course. But they might not buy my story of moving back to parents while DH is at sea? And it's such a faff.

It shouldn't be this way. I shouldn't be able to buy myself out of worry by either a) paying for a scan or b) paying for a train ticket and lying with ever fibre of my middle-class soul. It shouldn't be this way. Power to the bloody people.

OP posts:
Jimjams2 · 10/12/2006 20:02

No but sometimes there isn't any choice. My eldest son is severely disabled we had to pay for everything until he was about 6 years old (when finally he started to receieve appropriate and indeed very good help from the system). I feel better about it by being horribly in debt and knowing that we couldn't actually afford it.

Original poster
LovelyKay · 10/12/2006 21:03

Jeez that's terrible Jimjams. Sometimes I despair of the whole system. I know it's always hard to get budgets to balance and everything but it's the inequality of it all that gets to me. Person in place A is catered for but person in place B has to get massively in debt to be in the same boat. Aaargh. Oh dear someone stop me from getting started.

Glad to hear that you are at least getting some of the help you need now.

OP posts:
Jimjams2 · 10/12/2006 22:52

I spent so long fighting the system getting nowhere that II don't really recommend that to anyone anymore. Sure campaign for better services etc but in the meantime if at all possible I'd beg/borrow/steal the money to pay for necessary services, it can make all the difference.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page