Nuchal fold scan with a blood test - only available privately or on the NHS

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Two years ago I had a nuchal fold at an NHS hospital but they didn't offer it with a blood test at the same time. I know I can get this at the Fetal Medicine Centre in Harley st. A friend has said you can now get in the local NHS hospital anybody else had both at the same time. I'm 38 so I'm keen to get the best test results possible.

Depends on where you live.

When I lived in Edinburgh, it was only available privately.

Where we are now, Argyll, it's provided on the NHS for women my age - 37.

I am having this on the NHS in 10 days time. They have already taken the blood for it so have the scan part to go.

I am going to Epsom hospital by the way.

Yes, got both at Chelsea and Westminster as was 35 at time of test - they do both as a matter of course if you are 35+. Depends on the hospital...

Yes, total postcode lottery - I had it first time in London, but they practically laughed at me here in Somerset...

We get this on NHS now in Winchester.

Didn't 4 years ago with Dd though, not even a 12wk dating scan.
Age irrelevent here too, offered to all.

I got it on the NHS in Surrey.

don't get it on NHS is Cambridge

I had it on the NHS at Kingston Hospital (kingston upon thames).

Had this at Kings College, London and was offered it at Epsom, Surrey (moved around time of appt) on NHS

Where are you?

Oooh lots of local MNetters on this thread, Epsom, Kingston...

we have a facebook group - and are meeting up in kingston on wednesday 16th July at 7.30pm if you're interested. Or anyone else around this area.... :-)

I've been offered them at St George's (Tooting) but my friend who was the same age I will be when this one is born (39) and had her baby in February this year was not offered the blood test so it must be new here. Most people at my GP's surgery have their babies at Kingston or St Helier and they have been offered there as standard for several years. My GP told me if it wasn't standard at St George's I could request it, I guess because of my age.

I'm not pregnant though! Have my baby!

Oh and fwiw OP my friend had her baby 5yrs ago when it wasn't standard and as she was over 35 they transferred her to a London hosp, should think you could get it.

I had the nuchal scan at St Thomas' and they offered me the combined blood test for £25 or something. they never charged us though.

you can still come and share your wisdom Chocorange05 is the organizer, but if you just message me, I can get you the info as well (or pass on to her if you'd like to join the facebook group).

We had to pay privately up here in the north west - was £110 - well worht it though as I was 37!

I am in the Midlands and was point blank refused the blood test even though the Nuchal came back with an elevated risk. I was given the name of a Co in Leeds that offered the private screening via bloods, however at 65% accuracy rate independent of the Nuchal which was 80%, didn't seem worthwhile.

I had it at St George's in Tooting as standard

I was offered nuchal and bloodtest in Northamptonshire (Kettering Hospital).

Not on NHS in Gwent, just paid £200 for scan on my twins...what annoyed me the most was that the midwives didn't tell me...it was a lovely MNetter who informed me on our antenatal thread...
If I had found out just 3 days later I wouldn't have been able to have the scan...

Not available on the NHS in Cambridge, sadly. We went to FMC, though they recommended the local service - just figured that if we had to pay, and it cost the same in both places, then may as well get the best (FMC director invented the test).

Gosh you can get nuchal scans on the nhs now? I was 42 the first time I managed to get pg, we had to travel a long way for a nuchal (and blood tests) at a private clinic and it cost a lot of money. And we went back 16m later for ds2.

I was 42 and my nhs midwife and consultant never even told me it was even available!

Can I ask, those of you who got the nuchal + bloods on the NHS, how old were you at the time?

Is it only for 35+?

evening

I live in Ascot, am 33 years old and was offered the blood test at around 10 weeks as a matter of course by the midwife, had nuchal fold done at around 12 weeks (although mine was around 14 weeks as it's so difficult to get an appointment!). Results came the following week - had very elevated risk and so was offered an amnio also via the NHS and really good counselling/hand holding service by a BRILLIANT midwife who totally saved me from just being a blubbering mess for weeks. We paid to have the tests processed in 2-3 days so we could get results quickly, but the test itself was done on the NHS. If we'd been prepared to play a horrible waiting game for around 3 weeks, it would have been entirely free.

When my last baby was born (2006) you were just offered the nuchal fold measurement at your 12 week scan, the blood testing bit is new here.

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