The Portland hospital

[Tnib]

Hello, just wondering if anyone has had private healthcare for their pregnancy and birth? The NHS hospitals I’ve been to so far in the pregnancy have been fine but I feel a bit in the dark about various things and I’m a bit concerned. I have health insurance (through work) and think it will cover most of the maternity care and all of the delivery costs so thinking of going private and using the Portland hospital though we live in Enfield, which is likely more than an hour from where we live in traffic, and my fiancé is concerned about that. Has anyone else used the Portland hospital but lived a bit of distance or lived an hour or more from their hospital for delivery? I feel like the distance should be okay as I think we’d arrive in plenty of time and have spoken to the Portland hospital and they have said they can induce on a certain day…anyway I’m just trying to find out others experiences.

Any experiences would be much welcomed.

Thanks I’m advance

I didn't go private in the end cos my daughter came a bit too fast. like you i live an hour away from the nearest hospital. I didn't want portland (even though i was born there) as they are not connected to an NHS hospital if there are any major emergencies or baby needs specialist NICU (I am aware that portland has a NICU but its not as experienced at the NHS ones - you may also want to check if that would be covered by insurance as when i spoke to them they said first night was covered but any subsequent nights were £3k a night).

I would reccomend looking at Queen Charlotte and the Lindo Wing as they are connected to major NICUs for any issues. I chose Queen Charlotte due to the better parking.

There's also St Thomas but the journey there from Enfield would be a nightmare

No experience but I would choose one that is attached to an NHS hospital.

Thanks so much, that’s really useful to think about. I will check the details of my insurance and I’ll look at the other hospitals also.

I didn’t realise St Thomas’ had a private maternity care until you just mentioned it, I think that could be the closest/shortest option, and if I go back to working in the office, it’s really close too.

Thanks again

I went to the Portland for ds2 in 2015 and it was absolutely wonderful. I’d refused to consider getting pregnant again after my NHS birth with ds1 left me with PTSD and still requiring counselling nearly 10 years on (long story and hopefully a very isolated incident). Altogether for the c section, all blood tests, 2 night stay and all food it came to less than £30k.

We lived in Kent at the time and it was about a 90 minute drive. I’d had a c section and the drive home felt very long and was uncomfortable but manageable. Is this your first child? I live in Devon now and it’s easily an hour to the nearest maternity ward, many people across the country have a fair old drive to get to their nearest hospital.

Hello,

I'm booked into Lindo Wing for the end of September. It's about 40min drive from where I live without the traffic lol and I live in North London so it will all depends from time of the day, realistically I'm prepared for up to hour travel time.
When choosing hospital do have a look at consultants also. Mine only delivers babies in Lindo Wing and I think Portland. So that's also something that you want to factor in when choosing hospital.

Thanks for your reply, it’s reassuring to hear about the care at the Portland. It is my first and I’m 41, and the Portland said that meant consultant lead care and delivery, and a couple of friends 37 and 40 at the time said they had consultant lead care due to being “high risk”. As far as I’ve been told age is my only risk factor and I’m just over halfway and another friend who who had her daughter in New Zealand was considered high risk due to her age, which I think was only 35, and that made me think am I not getting the care I should? As well not feeling very well informed at the moment that’s what’s prompting me to consider going private but I wouldn’t know what it’s supposed to be like as I’ve not been here before.

I used to live in Kent and if I was still there and we got caught in traffic (for the birth) the journey could easily have been 1 hour plus.

It’d be great to know if others have had a longish drive to the hospital.

Thanks again

Thanks we will definitely look at the consultants as that’s very important. The distance is a big concern for my fiancé so I’m trying to find out from others how it was to make him feel more okay about going further afield to get what I think would be better care. We have a list of Consultants but haven’t looked at them yet as I still think this is concern for him as all the hospitals are roughly 50 minutes on a good day to 1 hour 20+ on a bad day.

I had mine at the Portland, but that was more than 26 years ago! The standard of care is excellent, and is consultant led. You will be very well supported and in recent years they have also focused on maternal mental health, which was ahead of it's time when I was there. I lived in North London, but I agree that the whole area can get busy with traffic if you have a rapid labour. Look at other hospitals nearer and see if they have private care packages available.