Mixing private and HSC care

[Thecathouse]

Northern Ireland but any pointers on how it works with the NHS in other UK regions welcome

I now know I am pregnant, and need to work out what care to have from here forward. I will be notifying my GP early next week as they refer you. I'm not sure yet whether it's within our means to go the full private midwife route. My hope is I can be seen by community midwives for general ante natal care and I have my 12 week dating scan booked at a private centre.

I'm thinking I will also get my anomaly scan at 20 weeks done privately

I know the place forward scans and reports to your health care provider, and you also get a copy yourself. I assume I just say to the midwives not to book me in for the scans as I have my own arrangements in place? Maybe place a copy of the notes in my pregnancy book incase they get confused?

Has anybody had a problem getting the trust to accept the private scans in place of their own?

If community midwives aren't an option or if I don't get on with them I may be transferring my care to a private provider in which case I would imagine notes would be transferred from the trust to them and I would also allow them access to my copy is this right?

I have had private 12 week scans in both pregnancies. Both times the NHS have asked me to have another scan with the hospital just for dating which I’ve had without incident. Reason I have been given is that the regulation is different and they have to be sure someone complying to NHS regulations has done the basic scan.

Would this apply even with a CQC registered private clinic if the sonographers are registered with the HCPC?

I plan on using an ultrasound clinic that offers other diagnostic ultrasounds as well as pregnancy scans

May I ask why you only want private scans ? Just curious?

It's a mix of reasons really, convenience - I can plan a time and day that suits me best rather than whatever time they have available

My partner and toddler are allowed into the scans with me if I go private which is nice

I have little confidence in the care at the hospital available to me after my last birth there and would like to avoid them as much as possible

I may go completely private instead of just private scans if finances allow but it's a large chunk of money so planning on trying the community midwives in the maternity clinic at my GP surgery first to see if I gel with them.

I don’t know about your hospital. I went to the fetal medicine centre in Harley street which is run by a fetal medicine expert with doctors doing all scans, all of whom also do them in the NHS - they still wanted another scan at the hospital. Bit of a computer-says-no moment. But I went to those on my own and they were quick.

I've name changed for this OP as it could potentially 'out' my location.

Can I ask what hospital you would be planning on giving birth at?
Do you need consultant led care or are you low risk and could be considered for stand alone midwifery care and depending on where you are in Northern Ireland do you have a stand alone unit nearby.

I had my eldest In Lagan Valley midwifery led unit and it was a wonderful, positive experience. Unfortunately complications in a later pregnancy meant I wasn't a suitable candidate for the unit.

I also had private scans done mainly so my child could attend and due to anxieties as I had loses between my successful pregnancies. I used an ultrasound clinic but I did still have to have the scans where I was booked as well although I never questioned not having them. I don't think it is compulsory to be scanned in pregnancy so I am sure if you are content with only having the private scans then you could in theory decline the NHS scans.

Also not certain on private care in NI. It was something I vaguely considered due to losses and a high risk pregnancy with complications and I have had previous private gynae care and surgery however i was under the impression that delivery would still take place in an NHS hospital under NHS care but I couldn't be certain on this as I didn't investigate it too much.

If I have birth in hospital it would have to be South west acute hospital and I'm really not a fan, it's also a fair journey away

I should be considered low risk providing nothing untoward shows up on the scans so the plan would be for a homebirth.

The MLU is attached to the hospital and we don't seem to have a stand alone

I think if you go private but need a hospital birth it is in an NHS hospital which is another thing that puts me off private care if I'm unsuitable for a homebirth, it's a big outlay

I'm on the border with the republic (the republic hospital is slightly closer than SWAH) so that could be an option if I want to pay for care I suppose. Not sure how that would work mind, I don't know if cross border care is a possibility even if you pay.

I don't think the cross border hospital could turn you away. My friend travelled home to Derry to have baby (from belfast) they did ask a few questions on admittance but bar that was welcomed. Obviously they are both in the north. But the south hospital couldn't turn you away in labour, might be more complicated with access to online notes etc.
I'd ask your midwife.. say you due to go away at 37wks to the south & what would happen if you went into labour.. to suss it out. Not sure if the E111 card is still a thing but must be something to help cut costs.