Chelsea&Westminster or St Thomas's privately? Post Reply

[oab]

Hello,

For my 2nd pregnancy, i need to choose between Chelsea&Westminster and St Thomas's.
For the 1st pregnancy, we went to St Thomas's and was overall happy. However we have moved in the meanwhile, and we are now much closer to C&W (about 10 mins drive with no traffic vs about 30 mins drive to St Thomas's), so i am wondering if C&W is a better option

Does anyone have experience of both/either?

thank you!

[LP73]

I'm at C&W and the care is fantastic. The Kensington Wing is a lovely, relaxing ward. I would suggest having a visit to see what you think.
Also it makes a difference if you're going down the midwife or consultant led care, if consultant led care then it would be a good idea to select your consultant first.
If you are consultant led then your check ups will more than likely be at the Woman's Wellness Clinic on Fulham Road which is probably easier for you to get to also.
I can highly recommend Mr Keith Duncan.

[oab]

Thank you vm.
I'll go for consultant-led, i know Keith Duncan is available, so thank you for the recommendation.
Do you happen to know which other consultants cover for him if he is unavailable?

[LP73]

There are quite a few who cover him. Nick Wales is one and comes highly recommended. I've met him in person and he was very nice. I also saw Charlotte Dunn when Keith was on holiday who was lovely.
Keith can come over as not very chatty and a little shy, we don't mind this as he came highly recommended from both friends and other medical professionals. I guess you need the surgeons for their talent.

[LP73]

Here is the list for you http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/private-care ... tetricians

[babyintuition]

Please make sure you know where your postnatal care is coming from. I am hearing from mums who live in Wandsworth but having their baby at C&W or St Thomas they often experience a delay in their first home visit. This is due to a delay in their papers being transferred to the St Georges community team who cover Wandsworth post codes. julie@babyintuition.co.uk

[stayathomemuminsw11]

I had both mine privately at C&W and can't recommend it highly enough. First time round I had Gubby Ayida, who was fine, but I didn't 'click' with-however she handled my emergency c-section extremely well.

Second time I had Zoe Penn who was AMAZING in all respects, but sadly I think she's retired now.

I've hear good things about Charlotte Deans, Nick Wales and Keith Duncan too. Good luck.

[Elsa09]

Hello,
I have had all 3 of my children at St. Tommies. The first one, 8 years ago one the Lansdell suite, the last to one on the Westminster suite. I can not recommend this hospital enough and feel it is often over looked amung mummies. I would not have a baby there on the NHS, but if you can afford private I recon this is the best you can get. I have had a wonderful consultant called Con Kelleher look after me in all 3 pregnancies. Extremely good doctor with a wonderful bedside manner. Available to see his ladies at The Portland hospital, Tommies or just off Harley street. Unlike so many private consultants- he is not shy, or cold, or awkward but warm, friendly and very caring about his ladies.
I have had very complicated pregnancies and deliveries and never questioned his medical care.
The midwives at Tommies on the Westminster suite are simply amazing and help you through every stage of pregnancy. Their support after the birth is invaluable and am still in contact with them 18 months on from my last delivery.
The great thing about Tommies is you have emergency back up with a world renowned ACU if things take a turn.
And the food is delish too!

[ordinarygirl09]

My little girl is 3 months old and I had her at C&W Kensington wing. It was a really positive experience. My. Consultant was Nick Wales. I would definitely recommend him. He is laid back, friendly but an excellent physician in a high risk situation, which is what I needed.

Mark Johnson is also excellent but he books up very early.

Good luck with whatever you choose..

[Bluebird27]

I'm at C&W for my 2nd baby coming this April. I decided to go with C&W because that is where my consultant is based, though I was really impressed with the Portland hospital. At the end of the day I think it comes down to the consultant you choose really. My consultant is Mark Johnson and he has been really great. I would highly recommend him if you can get in with him.

[whirlwind]

I would also recommend Con Kelleher. He delivered both of my children and I highly valued his care and skill. I don't know if things have changed since I did the research (about 4yrs ago), but St Thomas' was a better "class" of hospital than C&W at the time, ie had more departments such that if you're unlucky and something goes horribly wrong, they can call in a specialist from a different department and you can stay at St Thomas'. I had a friend (outside London) who ended up having to be transferred to a different hospital while her newborn stayed behind, and that caused untold added stress at a time that was already stressful. My advice would be to look round both the Kensington wing and the Westminster suites, and also go and meet the consultant you choose. If you don't "click", don't be shy to walk away, as the last thing you want is someone you don't entirely trust or get on with delivering your baby.

[fairyviv]

I had my son at C&W - on the NHS - and they were fantastic, so i can only imagine private would be brilliant.I had a high risk birth and had Vasiliki Terzidou as a consultant - she was great, though she went on Maternity leave herself before the end of my care (I wasn't told this would happen). I was assigned her junior collegues who had been in on all my appointments anyway.

I went to the midwife led unit in the end - and this was great. but I will be going private next time, just to have a room to myself, for the second.

if anything - it's great being accross the road from Carluccios!

[ordinarygirl09]

I really don't understand what is meant by better 'class'? I fail to see in what way C&W hospital is inferior to St Thomas' in terms of medical care?

I did some research before deciding on C&W as we knew that our baby would need to see a specialist cardiologist at birth. The cardiologists and paediatricians were thorough, helpful and I could not fault their care. Also the special care baby wing is right next door to the kensington wing, only a minute's walk.

[kayladoula]

I find this an interesting debate. I have worked at both as a doula and I find the care to be a very similar standard; they can both be absolutely fantastic and then sadly just very occasionally both a little lacking!! At the end of day I think it boils down to where you feel most comfortable (safe) and your requirements i.e. distance from home, familiarity, ease of antenatal appointments, aesthetics etc. As someone has suggested a visit to the Kensington wing would probably solve your dilemma.

I will be interested in which you choose and wish you a wonderful birth.