Private vs nhs maternity care

[APSR]

Currently 7w after fet. Struggled a lot to get here. Which one would be better going ahead privateers nhs for maternity care and delivery? (discharged from the fertility clinic)
recommendations for private obstetricians/ clinics please?

Yes, the one I went to did. St Thomas.

@APSR - I self referred to QC and registered under NHS and they did all my antenatal check ups. Closer to my due date I looked up the private consultants at the same hospital, did some research on who would best suit me and booked an appointment with them. From that point my care went private but my delivery/labour room were all in the NHS wards with my private consultant attending. the care was fabulous and exactly what i needed. Then i went to a private room post delivery. It's straightforward within the same hospital and felt safer both for me and baby.

I had Lindo Wing for an elective CS. It was great.

Absolutely this. I was so impressed with my maternity care and I had very low expectations. Everyone who cared for me was amazing, I felt looked after, even post c section all my ‘buzzer’ calls were answered very promptly.

Yes the postnatal ward was a bit hot and crap, but for the sake of 24 hours (might be less if you’re straightforward delivery) I’d save the £10k plus!

NHS have been amazing for both my births. One was 5 years ago and one was last week. Greater Manchester area.

No, the majority don’t. But there are quite a few in London that do if you are based there. I was at the Kensington Wing at Chelsea and Westminster.

I considered private, but I am glad I didn't go down that route. I had OHSS after a fresh ivf transfer and a high-risk pregnancy as my daughter was small for gestational age and was actually born right on the cut-off for IUGR. I had tens of scans, consultant appointments, and a section. It would have cost a fortune, and actually, I had good care from the NHS. Yes, post natal wards aren't great, but it's a short time for most mothers. Spend the money on a nanny or night nanny when the baby arrives (I didn't, but I am very lucky with DH's work being extremely flexible, and he took a month off, too).

If I were rich enough not to count the cost i would definitely thsse days choose a private wing in an NHS teaching hospital. I wish I didn't feel that way but the postnatal ward though technically absolutely fine was quite a difficult place to be and that was 20 years ago.

Many hospitals allow you to pay for a private room though can't guarantee it in case they are needed for infection control reasons or privacy due to a death/serious complications in childbirth. I actually found sharing the ward helpful as everyone was talking discussing how they were doing etc - was only there 10 hours anyway then was home. I would personally hire a post birth midwife/doula or breastfeeding nurse to help you for 3-4 days at home rather than the care which is fine. Also be aware that more scans can not be helpful if it just makes you anxious especially prior to 24 weeks when realistically there's nothing they can really do

Honestly watched This is going to hurt and it's the most overblown version of a private hospital i've ever seen - I've never seen a private hospital run like that. Some of the private wings are part of nhs hospitals with amazing NICUS inc St Thomas, Lindo Wing and Queen Charlotte. In London i would avoid the Portland as its the only one without access to a full nicu onsite and you'd be ambulanced to UCLH if there's an issue

We did plan to go privately with my daughter but she ended up coming a little too early and too fast for it. I am planning to go NHS this time but only cos my nearest is over an hour away and i had a fast labour.

I was under Bryony Jones who was brilliant

but i've heard great things about Karen Joash and Con Kheller too

I would say consider the cost though. It seems to suggest on the websites it's about £6-7k but its not. you need to pay the consultant, anaesthetist, tests etc on top. you won't get much change from £20k and that's if you have an uncomplicated delivery and can go home within a few days and no uk insurance companies will cover it (I know there are some international ones that do though)

The best thing about my post-natal stay was that my epidural was left in until the day I left hospital (four days after the CS) so I had absolutely no pain whatsoever during that period. They don't do that in an NHS hospital as it requires a high staffing input.

Did you need it? Obviously comes down to individual experiences but I had a c section and couldn’t wait to get everything out and go home.

I was walking round after about 12 hours and also had no pain. Just kept on top of the painkillers.

That wouldn’t be a factor in my decision looking at nhs vs private.

I went private at an NHS hospital in Berkshire for a CSection. Pregnancy care was with private consultant and so was the Op. The operating room was in the NHS hospital but then you get wheeled to your private room. Had lots of checks, pain meds, calm environment with great food!

Will definitely explore the option of private wing at Charlotte / chelsea
any consultant recommendations at these two ?

This isn’t fair as it isn’t representative of everyone’s experience. I spent 7 nights on the postnatal ward and although it was a horrendous experience due to having to share a ward with 4 other mums and their babies where sleep was nonexistent and trying to establish breastfeeding was challenging, the care we received from the midwives and doctors was amazing. The things I found difficult were things out of the hands of the staff looking after me. I was in awe of how hard the staff (midwives especially) worked day in day out

I am sorry that this was your experience though xx

I think it really depends on your area, there will be lots of mixed reviews about the NHS on here as different trusts seem to have a different level of care. I'm in Oxfordshire and couldn't fault the midwives in the John Radcliffe, post natal ward is not fun but there is an option to pay for a private recovery room. Personally I would do research into your specific NHS trust and try find reviews from there, I also personally would feel safer if I went private if that private wing was attached to an NHS hospital so again you have to consider whether that option is available in your region.

Some families live on £20k a year. That's bonkers. It's creating a two teir health service and it's terrifying.

I have opted (for my third) for NHS plus private midwife. For various reasons - I really can’t fault the NHS for quality of care I have had but like the idea of having an advocate in the room who is knowledgeable, and is there to advise me beforehand as well. Last time I spent a lot of time calling around for second opinions, lots of stress. It’s also so that I have someone to be with me just in case my DH needs to stay with kids. Gives him peace of mind.

I wholeheartedly recommend going private - I had one at St Thomas’ with Dr Eugene who I highly recommend.

Positives include - being about to see the consultant at every appointment and not random midwives with more frequent appointments every 2-3 weeks, being scanned each time, private en-suite room after birth and partner can stay, midwives who have time to provide proper care to me and the baby, proper meals and of course if there are any issues NHS is in the same hospital. Also I was able to contact my consultant directly via his mobile at any time if I had any queries.

Cons- the cost but for us it was worth the money. My c section scar was so small and the whole procedure was performed by the experienced consultant himself. Recovery was quite easy and I was walking later the same day after birth.

I concur with the comment above about avoiding Portland Hospital as they don’t have onsite NHS facilities.

We started off with NHS and switched half way so you could try that if you are thinking about it.

Exactly this!

I'd only go private if it's a private maternity ward within a NHS hospital. And be prepared that in emergency, your care would be NHS. I wouldn't risk a stand alone private hospital, they don't have emergency provision. Some NHS hospitals let you pay for a private room postpartum, if that's your concern.

Thanks all. Any recommendations for consultants at Queen Charlotte/ Chelsea and Westminster.
Both are around 30 mins drive from my place. And both have private maternity. Anyone having experience at these please lemme know about your consultants.

I went to the Private Wing of Chelsea and Kensington hospital, ( the Kensington wing) had absolutely amazing care and had the reassurance that there was a superb neonatal unit in the hospital should I have needed it.

I did both. I had a private doctor and an NHS doctor for extra scans and support.

But the doctor was the same!! So I stopped paying her privately and just accepted the NHS scans, they ended up giving me more scans anyway.