Cheapest private maternity care in the UK?

[silverturtle]

Hello all,

I wonder what is the cheapest option for the private antenatal care + delivery in the UK?
It looks like I don't have free access to the NHS, so exploring alternative options currently. I am not very comfortable with paid-for NHS option, as it basically means signing an open cheque.
So far I found a full care package (midwife-led) for ~£8K - does this seem realistic, or too low and there will be extra charges?

Thank you very much xxx

Also an NHS midwife. We don't look at any ID documents ourselves but when a woman presents at reception to check in for her first midwife appt the receptionists are required to ask for ID. I've cared for a number of couples (central London) who have been informed at that stage that they'll be liable to pay for their care, and others who've been tracked down by the overseas manager later in the pregnancy. The care is still provided, but they're billed afterwards.
Personally, I (and most midwives I know) refuse to check ID myself or refer women I suspect to be ineligible for NHS care to the overseas manager. However, my understanding is that OP is correct - non-EU citizens do need indefinite leave to remain in order to be considered "ordinarily resident", which is the measure of eligibility for NHS care. I'll try and find the document that lays this regulation out.
A separate issue is how much money the NHS spends tracking down migrant healthcare users vs how much money it actually recovers that way... but that's probably a topic for a separate thread

@mayhew I’m also an NHS midwife, where on earth do you work that you don’t check NHS entitlement? We check at the booking appointment for all women!

Here's the (very long!) document I was looking for:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/697626/guidance_on_implementing_the_overseas_visitor_charging_regulations_april_2018.pdf
(Sorry, ugly link!) The explanation of eligibility starts on page 26.
And to the PP who mentioned Tooting, speaking a foreign language does not make someone a health tourist

'Expat but she’s surely entitled to do that?'

Not necessarily. You have to have indefinite leave to remain and have had that for a set period of time to apply to naturalise.

As the father is British, baby will definitely be entitled to NHS care. Im really surprised that you are not; I would also discuss with a lawyer as you definitely should be entitled through marriage combined with the fact you live and work here and have done so for a number of years.
There is no way you should have to pay for private obstetric care unless you choose to.

Expat - or be married to a British person...

Gilligan - read what I put! I didn’t say that. There is a high degree of immigrants in tooting though and sadly that does mean many of their family members come for health tourism. I’m afraid it’s fact not bias.

'Expat - or be married to a British person...'

You still have to have ILR, which you can obtain via being married to a British person for a certain length of time providing you meet the criterion. Then, after you have ILR for a certain length of time, you can apply to naturalise. But just being married to a British person does not entitle you to citizenship. Indeed, currently, just being married to a British person doesn't even entitle you to live in the UK if you don't meet the minimum income and other requirements.

I’m married to an immigrant! so yes...! She said she’s been in the uk paying higher rate taxes for 7 years so I think she’s entitled to apply...

She may well be entitled to apply for ILR.

Definitely get your local trust to clarify their policy. NHS midwife here in a London trust and we don’t ask for ID routinely we have a policy depending on how long you have been a resident but OP would qualify for NHS care.

Also just want to say that private care is not always better than NHS care OP. If your happy to go private look at all the local options be it private in NHS hospital or a private hospital, ask around for opinions and visit the local units before you make up your mind. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

When it was looking like I would be having a baby in England I looked at the private ward at St Mary's. It's not cheap.

The good news is that if you go through the NHS the charges are extremely reasonable. My son stopped breathing when visiting family and needed a whole team of specialists. Cost was less than £10k and he was admitted for 5 days. There is absolutely no way the care he received cost that.

If I were you I would apply for ILR as you have been married for 7 years and should qualify. Given your length of marriage to a British resident, your residency status and any submission to the home office, the NHS may allow you to qualify. If they tell you no I'd definitely be calling my MP to get it sorted.

I did not mean to create a controversy about health tourism and immigration.
There is no ILR at all under the EEA freedom of movement route, no matter how long have you lived here for or who you are married to. To qualify for ILR, one has to spend 5 years under the UK's own immigration rules.
Under the EEA permit, one can apply for permanent residence after 5 years and then naturalise. I have already applied for the permanent residence (took 8 months so far, and no light at the end of the tunnel), but have no particular desire to naturalise.
I am quite angry at myself at not bothering to check details before I actually got pregnant. I can afford private care (or NHS paid for care, which seems to be roughly in the same ballpark), just had other plans for this money
I will see if I can gently appeal the trust's decision, but not sure if I want to spend an equivalent amount in legal fees to challenge it in court lol

I think this is crazy! How can someone who has lived here for 7 years and paid (higher rate) taxes not be eligible for the NHS but a student who turns up, pays a few hundred pounds for the surcharge is? I think anyone who is working legally in the UK should be entitled to NHS care as a matter of course--whatever the visa.

I disagree with health tourism of course but at the same time I think there should be an exception for maternity/children's health care. It's not the child's fault their parent did something wrong and they shouldn't be penalised. Isn't this part of why we have maternity exemptions for prescriptions/dental? THey want to make sure every mother, regardless of income, gets the medication they need so as not to hurt their innocent baby.

2000 pounds in Northern Ireland x

silver When we have had issue with the NHS our MP has been amazing at getting them resolved. If you decide to submit an appeal with your NHS Trust I would speak to your MP first as they might be able to get it resolved for you with doing an appeal.

Which country are you from, OP?