Private or NHS?

[TinySalmon]

Hello. I'm pregnant with my first and new to MN. Saw my GP yesterday for the first time since my BFP and talking through our options re Private delivery vs NHS delivery. Sh wasn't particularly helpful and said I have to go see my NHS GP too.

Can anyone shed some light on either with their own experiences? If it helps, Chelsea & Westminster hospital is the nearest maternity hospital near us.

Thanks!

Actually was in for 5 days first time! Just checked dates. What a wuss! That's how the cost can mount up too.

Wow jellycat didn't realise it could be so expensive but I see now how it can add up. You're right, £20k certainly nothing to sniff at. Thank you for sharing your experiences!! Will have to talk it over with DP but I suspect he'll just go along with whatever I feel most comfortable with. He's so laid back about everything he's almost horizontal but I'm the complete opposite!

Thanks just watched the portland on catch up. I felt very sorry for the mums. Watch it op very interesting....

Hi Salmon. I'm a fellow Aussie in SW London - we're going with St Thomases despite C&W also being the closer hospital. To go private St Thomases (Westminster unit) is a little cheaper than Kensington wing, and the facilities are pretty comparable. It's my first time too but my experience so far has been really pleasant.
Hope that helps!

I had my dd privately at the John Radcliffe. Quite liked the idea of being in a building that had everything I needed should it need it.

I did have a look at the Portland (knee I had to have an elcs) and I really didn't like it all.

The rooms felt like a Travelodge and there were babies dotted about everywhere with nurses and midwives.

My consultant was wonderful and was on the end of the phone 24 hours a day throughout my whole pregnancy and for 6 weeks afterwards.

I almost forgot, huge congratulations

I went private at Queen Charlotte as they had the option to switch back to NHS for the baby if anything were to go wrong. It cost my £9k in all for a vaginal birth including a private room for 48 hours. I wanted the same consultant through my pregnancy & delivery due to past history of complex surgeries. Excellent consultant and didn't bankrupt me either.

Congratulations!

I have Just been listening to the care a woman received through the nhs on radio 4, unsurprisingly the medical staff didn't listen to her when she advised she had been told , following her first birth, that she must have a c-section next time due to having a narrow birth canal. The obstetrician during pregnancy 2 didn't listen, they didn't bother to access her notes until week 34, she was sent home twice in labour (once in tears due to worry) she was told 'her body will have changed second time round'. They used forceps, ventouse and then whisked her into surgery. Unfortunately the baby passed away. Why didn't they listen to her?

Lack of continuity of care and not listening to women I feel is a massive problem in nhs maternity care in the UK. You are regularly told 'you must do this' there is little communication or explanation. Paying privately and therefore speaking to one midwife and one consultant throughout the pregnancy should mean they are fully familiar with your medical history and hopefully feel accountable for your care, hopefully if you are whisked away to an nhs hospital your notes are accurate and the surgeon/caregivers are made fully aware of your medical history.

If I was having another baby I would pay to go private.

Hi, am reading this thread with interest - does anyone know if the Birmingham Women's Delivery Suite has the ability to offer Private Rooms?

Just watching the portland program. Seems strange to leave your newborn in a nursery all night.

I personally could never afford a private birth however understand why people would want it. My nhs care has been fantastic so far. I've seen the same.midwife and consultant all the way through and I couldn't fault it so far but I realise a lot of people have very different experiences. If you can afford it and it will set your mind at ease then go private.

MrBens yep pretty sure Birmingham has private rooms as my mum had two children there, one 7 years ago.

Thank you styling wax I will ask my midwife - when I finally meet her at 18 weeks - if I had the money to go private it would be no question!

can highly recommend Westminster suite at st Thomas. Do look at Fetal Medicine Centre for scans. I'm afraid I don't agree you get the same care on NHS, particularly in London and particularly if you don't have a straightforward pregnancy. The NHS is fabulous in an emergency, but post-natal care is often awful in the central London hospitals and due to cost constraints you are likely to be monitored much less often during your pregnancy than if you have private care - particularly if you are designated as low risk at the outset. I'm not knocking the NHS at all, but in my view the programme on the Portland isn't really representative of what you get with private care. NHS Maternity wards are chronically understaffed.
Private care at a top NHS hospital in London simply means a dedicated consultant who you have chosen (and who knows you and your pregnancy) is guaranteed to deliver your baby. You have 24/7 access to consultant throughout pregnancy, regular monitoring, dedicated midwife in addition to consultant at time of delivery, private room for postnatal so you can get as much rest as poss, partner can stay in room with you and gets a bed (not always poss to have partner stay overnight post natal in some wards), with postnatal care from midwives who are not overstretched so will respond as soon as you ring bell. If you have to stay in hospital post birth it is extremely helpful to have midwives on hand who actually have time to help you, a partner there to share the special time with and To help you and for that partner to have had some attempt at rest because they haven't had to sleep on floor or in a chair.
NHS hospital with private wing means you have access to intensive care and NICU if any problems with baby.
The antenatal care has been invaluable for me, I have avoided hospital admissions due to access to and proactive care from private consultant. Scans at FMC picked up issues in 1st pregnancy that weren't picked up on NHS scans.
OP good luck with whatever you decide.