NHS versus Private c-section in London

[redxlondon]

I will be having a planned c-section because of a uterine abnormality. It is so rare that I’m nervous about having anyone inexperienced, but meeting with consultant soon to find out more. There are risks of complications, so it might be covered by private insurance, and could need emergency care. I’ve heard that NHS are better at handling emergencies, but I’ve read awful things about my local hospital in London (but I appreciate people who post reviews online tend to be ones with extreme views!).
I’ve got some recommendations of private consultants but I guess I’m nervous about facilities in private hospitals to cope with emergencies, as I read you often have to get transferred. I just know so little and reading different points of view online.
Has anyone had a high risk pregnancy and had to make a similar choice?

You can do private wing of an NHS hospital so best of both worlds- it’s all fully private but the emergency facilities are all there on site including the NICU if you need them. E.g. Kensington Wing at Chelsea and Westminster or Lindo Wing at St Mary’s - there are loads more if you want to say where you’re based. At C&W where I had mine all the maternity, NHS and private, is on one floor including the NICU so it’s really reassuring. The Kensington Wing rooms were lovely too. Unfortunately I can’t recommend my consultant because even though he was fab he’s since moved on to the Portland which I would personally avoid as I wouldn’t want to risk a fully private hospital in case something goes wrong and you need to be transferred. Better to have it all on site I think.

Thank you, that’s really helpful and sounds exactly like what I need to / wanted to look for. I live in South East London close to London Bridge.

St Thomas definitely has private maternity, would that be your closest?

Absolutely would use the private wing of an NHS hospital (think UCH has one, amongst others).

After having shitty post op care from a private hospital which resulted in me nearly dying (no exaggeration), I'd not have major surgery privately ever again. I'd feel more comfortable in an NHS hospital just because I'd feel that they were held as accountable as their NHS colleagues down the corridor, and easy access to emergency services.

Best of luck.

@inigomontoyahwillcox all doctors are held accountable whether in a private or NHS facility. Sorry you had a poor experience but things can-and do go wrong not always due to incompetence.

I know officially there is no lower level of accountability in private hospitals, but in reality there are. The NHS hospital that treated me for the life threatening condition actually (independently) initiated action against the private hospital due to their treatment of me. I understand that could have been just as easily another NHS hospital, but their processes and policies were brought into question and amended/updated due to my case.

I am a medical myself and my choice would echo the previous posters - the private wing of an NHS hospital. The private care gives you the comfort and control over which consultant does your procedure. However in an emergency you will always want the NHS. Private hospitals do not see emergencies regularly and they’re not slick to handle them. But NHS staff deal with emergencies far more regularly, and at any time of day or night there will be someone with the appropriate training and experience to care for you. Additionally, I would look for a centre with a level 4 NICU just in case. Guys and Tommy’s would be a great shout if you can make it.

Thank you, super helpful. I think I’ll meet with the consultant I’ve been booked with through my midwife, understand her experience with my condition and the set up of the local hospital. Then if I have any niggles St Thomas’s sounds like a perfect mix of the NHS facilities / emergency care and private aspects.

I had my first in St Thomas' with a long NICU stay due to prematurity all NHS. The NICU were utterly amazing and all the consultants I saw were great but I found access to doctors hard and the nursing staff basically negligent. Next pregnancy I'm going for St Thomas' again but privately. It has the same NICU and emergency backup but I have my consultant on call 24/7 and don't have to go through nurses and midwives to see a doctor.

Anything to have my own room. Being on a ward in UCLH having c section with the chaos, noise, lack of nurses, was absolutely vile. I feel troubled just thinking about it.

Good luck I'm sure you'll have a better experience!

Fyi, if you give birth on the nhs at St Thomas’
you can then pay for a private room in the private ward.

That’s probably only if they’re available as private patients will get priority. I don’t know whether it’s a realistic probability at St Thomas’ but I know people who’ve had an NHS birth at C&W, asked about the Kensington rooms but were told they were full. So I wouldn’t count on it unless you are actually able to prebook.

C & W has a higher profile among private patients. Everyone I know who wanted one at ST was able to get one.

How is it possible to have an NHS arrangement but pay for a private room? Do you know if you have to live within a certain distance from the hospital? I tried to research online but couldn’t find an answer about how it gets decided which hospitals you can get NHS maternity care at

In London you can basically choose any hospital. I know people who haven't got private rooms at St Thomas' and one who did for a night and was kicked back to NHS ward for second night. I really don't care about the private room but want dedicated consultant care throughout - depends on what you are worried about / prioritise.

No just if you happen to deliver on a night where the private wing isn’t full they’ll let you pay a few £100 per night to stay there once you’re out theatre. But there has to be a room free and if you stay in more than 1 night you might get the room the first night but then be booted out for a private patient. So no guarantees. And you still don’t get the continuity of care with your choice of consultant which was a big part of my decision to go private.