Third Pregnancy/Third C-Section - NHS vs private Post Reply

[firsttimerSW11]

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I can't comment on Thomas's as I had my little one at C&W via planned C-Section but I think the modus operandi vis a vis private rooms is similar, they are on a FCFS basis, as well as priority of need - often women with multiple birth situations or women whose babies have been taken away to the NICU might understandably get priority.
For example, I had a private room at C&W and in the middle of the night they came into me extremely apologetically asking if I would mind moving to the ward due to a medical emergency (but that I didn't have to if I didn't want to). I was very happy to do so as it happens. When I gave birth at C&W, private rooms were around the £300 mark but from what I hear they are more than double that now presumably to reduce demand which always far exceeded supply.

[DietCokefan]

Congratulations and best of luck!
My experience of this area is that each hospital has its own rules/policy. When I had my first child at St Thomas' (nearly 10 years ago), it was NOT possible to book the private after-birth care. You could request to go into the private unit after birth, but could not book it in advance unless you were also having a private delivery. The private unit there had a separate team of midwives (rather than simply being a nicer room/food etc), and the NHS medical team covered it. It was expensive, around £600 per night then. This is in contrast to my second delivery at another hospital, where you could request/pay for a private room after the birth, but you received the same food/service/clinical staff; that was around £120 per night.

With NHS obstetrics I have never come across a hospital where you could choose your doctor. They work in teams and your delivery will be under whoever is on that day. NHS deliveries, including c-sections, will often be undertaken by registrars (the level below consultants) - this is totally normal practice. If you opt to pay for a private delivery most will be with a specific doctor - I'm not sure how those doctors schedule this in around their NHS work, but is seems to be the norm.

Message if you want any further info. Best wishes.