Portland Hospital

[sakura1982]

Hello,
I’m looking at the planned c section at The Portland. They told me that included in package there’s one night for the baby in NICU if other nights needed then £4K a night. The anaesthetist charge is from the anaesthetist fully who will be arranged by my consultant, The Portland does not charge for the spinal block drug it’s with a consultant fees. The ratio midwife to patient is 1:4 but they have also nurses. They don’t use agency staff only bank staff that is on their books. Could anyone with the recent experience of The Portland Hospital let me know if that is true? Another private wing told me that on top The Portland is charging for needles and tapes and vials when they are taking blood or giving IV bag. Is that really true? Portland told me oral pain relief medicine and any routine med like heparin injections are included in the care while staying in The Portland, I don’t know if needles are then on top and the person drawing the blood too?
I would appreciate if anyone could help me.
Planned c section on nhs - it’s impossible to pick the surgeon (their skills do matter), Anaesthetist ( maybe a junior doctor), there may be a long wait for the surgery, due to covid no private rooms available and the wing may not have space so I m not so thrilled to stay in a 6 beds bay after a c section without my husband because of Covid.
Kensington Wing is an option too but I ll lose nhs care they told me and all the drugs to take home are charged. Also pre-admission blood for a planned section is not included in the package.
Many thanks!

I had a C - section at the Portland 7 weeks ago and the only extra charge is the anaesthetist. No extra charge for needles, tapes etc.
You’ll need an extra night, so have that cost in mind. The midwifes and nurses are great, but they are not mind readers. They take the time to listen, do not hesitate to ask for all the help you need.

@NewMama21

I had a C - section at the Portland 7 weeks ago and the only extra charge is the anaesthetist. No extra charge for needles, tapes etc. You’ll need an extra night, so have that cost in mind. The midwifes and nurses are great, but they are not mind readers. They take the time to listen, do not hesitate to ask for all the help you need.

I'm due to have a c section on august at the Portland. How was it regarding covid and your partner? How long were you In for? Who was your consultant

@NewMama21 many thanks for your advice , now I feel more reassured as I booked the Portland last week. In the meantime I hv had a chance to talk to their Patients navigator who is really great and listens to you. Other wings I talked to were not as informative.
They told me husbands allowed in, no positive case of Covid since pandemic started, nursery is closed but they give all meals to your husband instead. I’m planning to stay 3 nights same as last time. I think planned cs is just less riskier than VBAC, and I’m looking at the recovery n long term outcomes.
Only unknown is the drug charge as I’m not sure if this is included in the anaesthetist charge. Majority are £750-850. I was worried that with the number of births they do per year the level of care may be not as nice as in private wings.

@L4UX I was tested every 2 weeks from the 34th week of my pregnancy. Had my partner with me for all appointments and scans (we were both always masked). Had my partner and doula with me for beginning of labour, my partner in theatre for c-section and he was allowed to come and go freely for the duration of my stay at the hospital. We had a spare bed in the room so he could rest while baby & I slept.
I was there for 2 nights after a 7:45am delivery.

@NewMama21 May I please ask who was your consultant? Glad you had a good stay there.

@sakura1982 Lawrence Mascarenhas & Shazia Malik.
Both great. Lawrence did the op.

@NewMama21,Thank you for letting me know. I’m with Keith Duncan and looking into a second planned cs. Amazing that you were able to leave after just 2 nights. Last time I stayed 3 mainly due to my own wish and anxiety to go home after the surgery.

I am also considering a c section there end of July- I was going with the Fitzrovia suite in UCL but they told me they will be renovating at that time! Wondering if the standard room has a pull out bed in case hubby wants to stay? Also rough costs of meals? Anything else that you were charged for that you weren't expecting? When is your c section @sakura1982?!xXx

@Spshope I'm having planned c section in august with William Dennes. I am going next week for my booking appointment bloods etc. All meals are free for the mother's. Partners will have complimentary breakfast, but apparently the nursery is closed so they get all meals. I'm presume the smaller rooms have room for a foldout bed, I will find out next week! If you want me to ask anything with pleasure I will

@L4UX omg that is so kind! Thank you!!! I am thinking about Pat O'Brien as he is the consultant I'm under in the nhs. I didn't know all the meals were free for mother's and potentially partners if the nursery is closed - that's great!! Are you thinking of going for the standard room too? Thank you again! xXx

@Spshope my cs will be end of July. At the Portland they told me that the pull out bed is in the wardrobe and patient navigator Sharon Cooper sent me a video of the room. It didn’t look small. At UCLH private wing I’m only aware of Pat O’Brien who delivers there. Though the maternity unit on Elisabeth Anderson Wing requires improving so even though the costs are affordable I was afraid that the same personnel would work on the private part as on nhs part...Portland told me you can get Deliveroo or uber eats ordered to the hospital. Because of Covid they want to minimise the husbands moving in n out of the hospital so they provide the with free meals.
@L4UX I heard that the bloods are required 48h before the cs during the pre assessment, they need a fresh sample. I’m a bit panicky when it comes to needles and blood.

@Spshope my sister in law is having her second with Pat O'Brien next month she has nothing but good things to say about him. Yes we are getting a standard room too!

@sakura1982 yes in my paperwork it did say about going 48 hours for pre assessment and blood tests, I used to be funny with needles but after my first child I didn't have much choice

Hello! Booked my c section for the 30th July! @sakura1982 @L4UX I emailed Sharon/Portland and they said meals for partners are not included - has that changed for you guys? Thank you for the advice! Excited now!!!xXx

Hello
I was at the Portland for my booking appointment. There were two midwives and none said one of them was a student in learning until the end, she is at St Mary’s but said she doesn’t work at Lindo wing because she is in learning. She took my blood without asking, I was not aware that Portland allows students do it- my arm was all sore and bruised later. I made a complaint someone contacted me to tell me that they will make sure no students taking blood or doing injections. So it happens in the private care in Portland Hospital- I was shocked. It looks like nhs private wing is perhaps better but I’m pretty sure unqualified ppl are treating patients. Now I’m at two minds to cancel the Portland and move to Kensington Wing even if more expensive and less value...in the private care what is the most important is the care and it’s not a teaching hospital...
@Spshope the meals for partners are not included only breakfast (s) however they give the partners the meals to limit the trips. Nursery remains closed. They will review 21 June to stay in line with gov guidance.

How was your c section and experience with Portland in the end? Did you have a good one? I'm considering them now also. However, I'm scared as everyone I talk to says if something goes wrong then I'll be in trouble since they're not part of a hospital and I'll have ti be transferred to an NHS hospital which delays the care I need.

@Crystalxuk I think I put some review on the other tread regarding the Portland. I’m summary- I will book with them again and only stay 2 nights as the care goes downhill from there. We had wonderful time, meals offered to the partner, nursery was closed but not a big issue help was coming once u pressed a buzzer. I’m a second cs mum so was asking a lot of questions and if I didn’t the postnatal care would not be that great.The first 24 h they monitor u in an amazing way- u have your midwife for 12 h, they have really good pain killers that doesn’t make you constipated. The surgery was great, I was walking pain free the same day. Some midwives not aware what they do and some really rather butlers than medical professionals but everyone is super polite and helpful. I had a private birth prior also c section - it was st Thomas’s Westminster Suite- so much inferior to the Portland- no monitoring after c section locum midwife, longer recovery because anaesthesia was only spinal and mobilisation 30h later , no heparin given. Everyone is saying private wing of nhs hospital is safer - it is a myth. Portland is on the top of the things when it’s serious but later on if you are low risk they don’t look after you that well anymore…I guess everywhere would be same. If you are having a planned c section there’s really not many things that could go wrong…if it’s a natural delivery you have a consultant who is responsible for you…nhs is also not getting stuff right 100% Pls pm me for more details.

Thanks so much for responding! I'm so glad you had a positive experience. What a coincidence you had Westminster Suite for your first birth because that's the other place I'm considering. I will pm you now.

@Crystalxuk couldn't fault my experience, I didn't want to come home!
Had a planned c section in the morning and was up that evening. Midwives we're amazing nothing was too much for them. Husband got offered food every meal. Luckily the nursery opened 2 days before we went in so managed to leave baby in for the 3 nights which really helped with sleep and recovery. Pm if you have any questions

Wow! How the other half live! So jealous.

@Phoebesgift

Wow! How the other half live! So jealous.

I wouldn’t want to be leaving my 3 day old baby for others to look after. I guess different people have different priorities.

What do you mean? Leaving 3 day old babies where? I think the babies go home with their mothers/fathers don't they?

How did you all find the portland? Did anyone need the NICU? Would like a delivery there but worried the NICU isn’t as good as uch

How much is it likely to cost to go private rather than NHS?