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Original poster

New to London - need help chosing a consultant for Portland Hospital

61 replies

skiingone · 20/08/2008 12:29

Just joined the site as it looks very helpful. To all other women who are pregnant I wish easy pregnancies, easy deliveries and healthy babies.
Ok, I' 32 and just mived to London, following my partner's move for his job and now I'm about 5-6 weeks pregnant with my first child. I don't have any family or any close friends here yet. So I would like to get some advice from recent mums on which consultant I should contact to make my life easier. The good thing is that my partner's insurance would cover most of the costs of private care. I live close to Portland hospital and if anyone has used a good consultant that whould lead me through this-please let mr know. I found Dr. Donald GIBB on the internet, but then I saw lost of negative feedback on this site about him, so now I'm doubting that he would be a good choice. Any advice would be appreciated. Thansks a lot in advance.

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bundle · 20/08/2008 12:43

why the portland?

what kind of care/birth do you want?

Original poster
skiingone · 20/08/2008 12:50

Hi bundle,
Portland is around the corner ( 5 minute walk) from me and sounds like a good option.I'm not quite sure about the care options yet, the pregnancy wasn't planned, so need to read up. Haven't seeing any doctors yet, but probably will be looking at normal hospital birth unless doctors advise otherwise. Sorry, this is new for me and I'm not quite prepared information wise.

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georgiemum · 20/08/2008 12:58

What's your local NHS hospital? See if they have a private wing (St Marys is close to you and has the Lindo Wing - where Princess Diana had her kids - which has a good reputation). If they are paying you may as well take advantage - if you try a local hospital you will have the benefit of being closer to home. St Marys also has very good pre- and post- natal classes

Ask your GP for a list - you can always go and see a consultant and change if you don't like them.

I'm not sure how true this is but when my mum was having her cancer op she was going to go private but the consultant told her that he worked in the private hospital part of the week and NHS the rest. He advised her to go to the NHS because 'if anything serious happened she'd end up in the NHS one anyway' as the private hospitals weren't equipped for this!

whampsteadgirl · 20/08/2008 13:23

Hi skiingone, welcome to the UK. I'm an expat too, and pregnant with my first child. I found the book London Baby Guide, published by Harden's indespensible in explaining how the healthcare system works here. You can get it on Amazon, or I picked mine up in Borders.

My gynacologist is Julie Price, and she does deliveries at the Portland. I'm actually going to go to the Chelsea & Westminster myself, but I've always trusted and valued Julie's advice and care.

Good luck!

Original poster
skiingone · 20/08/2008 13:24

Thansk for advice. I'm signing up with a GP tomorrow and they nmay have some suggestions as well.
I looked through the list of obstetricians and there is Mr Tiong Teoh who delivers in St. Mary's and at Portland. I guess I could see him and ask for advice about which hospital he would recommend.

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Original poster
skiingone · 20/08/2008 13:26

Thanks whampsteadgirl, I'll get the book and will check Julie out as well I think I saw her on the list. Good luck!

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eandz · 20/08/2008 13:31

skiigone,
if i was delivering at the portland i would choose dr economides.

www.myscan.co.uk/about_us.asp

he's fantastic. i love the man. i personally dislike the idea of having my baby at the portland (but I've only seen one room and apparently the rest of the rooms are much nicer than the one they showed me). The portland otherwise has amazing support facilities that I still use. (physiotherapy, massage, antenatal classes).

Economides is my favorite doctor ever and hopefully the next time I won't make the mistake of picking a hospital over the doctor.

eandz · 20/08/2008 13:33

oooh, Donald Gibb was really nice when I went in for a scan with him. (i've had a lot of time to interview and scope out private drs during this pregnancy). but to be honest he was VERY abrupt and did rush me out of there when another patient came in with her waters broken. But I let it slide.

this reminds me, I have to email another mn about a few drs I've met.

if you want to email me, your more than welcome: kishmish at gmail dot com . i live close by and would love to make more london mum to be friends.

Original poster
skiingone · 20/08/2008 14:12

Thanks for advice everyone. Will check these doctors out and see what they recommend regarding the hospital.

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slinkiemalinki · 20/08/2008 14:21

I have a friend who's had two with Mr Armstrong at the Portland and been very happy, good births. My doctor Keith Duncan also delivers at the Portland but I am with him at C&W privately where I think he tends to book up quickly first. He is great so far and is a fetal medicine/ultrasound specialist so does all my scans too (I've seen nobody else throughout my pregnancy which is great).

bundle · 20/08/2008 14:23

do look at St John's and St Elizabeth's - they have a good reputation and a friend had her normal deliveries there

eandz · 20/08/2008 14:36

slinkie,

i tried to get keith duncan when i found out i was pregnant...but he was booked by the time i got around to asking. your a lucky girl!

hoxtonchick · 20/08/2008 14:38

mr teoh is fabulous. he looked after me for free on the lovely nhs at st mary's .

eandz · 20/08/2008 14:40

hoxtonchick
i met teoh once when i thought i was miscarrying...do you have his contact info by any chance? i was just looking for it and can't seem to find it. like his secretarys email or office number. (I need it for a friend and also my aunt has just gotten pregnant and wants to use him).

Original poster
skiingone · 20/08/2008 14:46

ok, got myself an appointment with Keith Duncan for next Tuesday as he seems to be booked out frequently, if I don't like him ( although it looks like he is lovely from most recommendations) I'll make appointments with others.

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hoxtonchick · 20/08/2008 14:49

sorry eandz, as i said, i was an nhs patient with a high risk pregnancy & saw him at st mary's as that's what he specialises in. i'm sure if you ring the st mary's switchboard they can put you through to his secretary.

bundle · 20/08/2008 14:51

Dr T.G Teoh
Lindo Wing, St. Mary's Hospital, Praed St, London, W2 1NY
Tel: 020 7402 2888

hoxtonchick · 20/08/2008 14:52

bundle is much more helpful than me .

eandz · 20/08/2008 14:52

thanks bundle!

bundle · 20/08/2008 14:53

obv I am veeeeeeeeeeeerry busy at work

not

hoxtonchick · 20/08/2008 14:53

ditto!

MatBackFack · 20/08/2008 14:57

why do you need a consultant? If all normal and you are happy to have a normal birth you could just go with Midwives or go to a birth centre? The one in Tooting that's name escapes me at the moment (The Birth Centre?) is private and supposed to be very good.

slinkiemalinki · 20/08/2008 15:05

But why would you go to a birth centre in Tooting if you lived in central London?

Original poster
skiingone · 20/08/2008 15:10

It's my first pregnancy and I have a couple of existing health issues, so would like to check with a competent consultants what the best options for me might be first. I guess I'll decide on what birth I'm going for when I have more info. Thanks for advice though.

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orangina · 20/08/2008 15:10

To be honest, if dh's insurance will pay for it, definitely go private. The continuity of care is great, not having to sluice out the blood spattered shower in the post natal ward a joy (!), plus having someone pop into your room offering you tea and biscuits at regular (post natal) intervals is a dream.

I loved the Lindo Wing ...