Help to navigate NHS Post Reply

[FromNYCtoBalhamMum]

Hello

My husband and I moved from the US to the UK about six months ago - we have a 17 month old daughter. We joined a GP and my daughter and husband have both been. It is a completely different system than I am familiar with - Family doctors instead of individual - internist, pediatrician, gynacologist etc. I am fairly certain that there are many programs and other opportunities and benefits that we are missing out on because we just don't know about them. I was wondering if anyone could help me out or point me in the direction of information that is easy to read and understand (for a person who is used to a different healthcare system).
My next question/concern is more for the ladies who have moved here from the US. We are considering having another child - I will be 38 in two months. I had a miscarriage before my daughter and it was devastating - my daughter was a c-section birth because I had placenta previa. I guess I am nervous about having a baby here because we have had some difficulties and I think I need the hand holding type of care that I had in the states. Also I have made myself a bit crazy reading about people's experiences with the NHS and miscarriage. Has anyone had a baby here? How was it? I know that private care is an option but it is extremely expensive. Also we don't have Cigna International - we just have regular Cigna and NHS so I am not eligible for private care unless we pay thousands of pounds. I would greatly appreciate any advice or information.
Thanks

[mumble]

I couldn't not post because you seem to have got yourself in a bit of a tiz It was the 'has anyone had a baby here?' question here on nappyvalleynet in the heart of nappy valley judged by some to have the highest birth rate in Europe (or is it per capita?) have you seen the number of pushchairs on the street?

Sorry I'm only teasing!

The NHS is quite easy if you have a problem you go to your GP who will then refer you on if needed, generally if you are referred you will be given a choice of hospitals (that is dictated by where you live-amongst other things) Part of the function of GPs though is not to refer so don't be disappointed if you do not get sent to see a specialist (much more normal not to)
TBH (IMHO) hospitals are all much of a muchness around here unless you have something vanishingly rare (which it's hopeful you don't) and things like parking, travel, visiting should be considered too.
Of course if you have something serious chest pain, broken leg etc etc then you go straight to A&E, ambulances are free. (dial 999)

Health care here is different from the states it is less consumer driven and of course funded by general taxation so not really set up for hand holding, sorry. Try not to get affected by the experience of others what is deeply upsetting to one is water off a ducks back to someone else! It doesn't mean that you will get substandard care.

So when you get pregnant go and see your GP (early) who will give you a choice of local hospitals, come back and ask us then what they are like because they do change with time they will then refer you on for 12 week scan and to see midwife, in the meantime you can think a bit more as to whether you wish to have private health care (some consultants will get booked up very early)

I'm not sure what you mean in the first para about programmes and benefits you normally get what you need due to cost constraints you don't get what you don't (my cousin the the States has ?monthly certainly regular paed visits etc which just make me laugh there is nothing like that here) there is however health visitors which some people find useful if you want to check stuff eg a friend was concerned about the way her daughter walked, they weigh babies too if you feel the need for that kind of thing, however I stress if you/your baby is ill it's the GP you need.

However if you've not been here long have you found enough to do? Do you know all about the places to go and the things to see and do from 1 o'clock clubs to music classes, battersea Zoo/National Army museum to NHS walks and nice coffee shops. Come back and ask if not.
There was a bunch of ladies from America trying to meet up on here a while ago I don't know if they managed it or not maybe try and message them too?

I hope that wasn't too patronising (telling you how to dial 999!!!sorry) try not to overthink it and worry too much about the things you can't control and enjoy Londonl

[mrseff]

Hi - I'm a US-born mum (mom) myself who only has had experience of pregnancy and birth here in the UK - feel free to PM me if you want to chat. I have a 4 y.o. who was born after 2 m/c's so am quite au fait with our local health services' approach to supporting pregnancy after m/c.

I've lived here 14 years so would hope I can help with "navigating" in general!

Posey

[shaneleone]

I'm from California myself, lived here for a few years and just had a baby boy last Sept on the NHS - I'm not as familiar with the US healthcare system as I've lived abroad most of my adult life, but am certainly familiar with the NHS here - feel free to send me a message. There's also a group of us American mums who try to meet up locally if you're interested too.
Shannon

[anootka]

Hi there,
I completely understand where you are coming from. When I first moved here I had the hardest time with NHS. And if you don't feel confident and know you will want additional attention I highly recommend going private. NHS is definitely not about hand holding, it is a good standard of care and if you can be very laid back about it then NHS is great, however if you are not then NHS is not the right thing. I've had 2 babies here and when I tell my sister my experience it does not in any way compare to hers in Scarsdale, NY (Weschester). A couple of my friends have had private care throughout pregnancy care, and had a fabulous experience. I personally had a good standard of care (had both at Chelsea and Westminster). Good luck! Hope everything goes well.
A

[kiwimummy]

hi, i had my first baby in Europe, with really full on dedicated medical cover, so i get where you are coming from. it was an excellent experience.

i am the same age as you, and I have since had my second baby on the nhs and experienced complications during the pregnancy. please feel free to PM me and i can give you my experiences and also the names of the private ob/gyn and sonographer i used to supplement my nhs care. they were expensive, but worth it to keep me sane during a difficult time in the pregnancy.

the delivery is very expensive if you go private, but pre and post natal private care does not have to be, and it may be some additional appointments could give you some reassurance. i had particular issues post natally with the nhs, so here i do have some recommendations.

you should also look into National Childbirth Trust antenatal classes, which gave me an excellent insight into how to manage the delivery and stay at the hospital. i have some advice about how to book those too!

[DinosMom]

HI There,
I am in your boat too. Had my first child in the US at 38 (a homebirth with a private midwife - just wonderful care!) and now I am pregnant with our 2nd baby at age 41 and going with the NHS at St. George's for another homebirth. (I had a miscarriage this past summer before I got pregnant with this baby) I feel like cattle at appointments. Different faces every time. Different offices for this or that. I hate it. I don't even know who will be attending my birth until I meet the new "Homebirth Case Load Team" when I am 28 weeks! It is nerve racking. We were going to go private for a homebirth but the Birth Centre where I live just went out of business! But they were expensive compared to the US midwifery fees.

So,not happy with the system here either. And GP's take care of your baby. You go to the same office as sick adults for all "pediatric" appointments. But they will come to your home when the baby is born so you don't have to bring them in that young. Where do you live? What hospital are you considering. It sounds like homebirth isn't an option for you b/c of placentia previa in the past. My friend loved Chelsea Westminster for her C Section.

I live in Wandsworth if you want to get together for coffee sometime. We moved here from California and have an almost 4 year old son.We've been here over a year now.
Best,
Deborah

[TXmum]

Hi - I am currently 34 wks pregnant and 36 years old. This is my first, but had some pre-existing issues that have made my pregnancy slightly more complicated. Like you, I was leery of NHS care, but found the private route completely cost-prohibitive. I was referred to an OB consultant at 13 weeks by my midwives to do a risk assessment based on my background. After an hour and a half long appointment, with quite possibly one of the most knowledgeable OB's I've ever encountered (and I've had specialist gyno's since I was 16), we had a plan for managing my pregnancy and birth that I was comfortable with. I also managed to find a 'trainee' at my GP's office who had done an OB Residency at Johns Hopkins so I quizzed the heck out of him about the two different systems.
I've had moments of comfort with my level of care, and moments of complete dissatisfaction. I think the absolute biggest difference is cultural more than quality of care related. American doctors talk to you, examine you for a few minutes, and then make a diagnosis. British doctors come across as less confident, but I think that's more due to their reserve and perhaps a system that is less competitive for business. I think that goes a long way to trusting their opinion vs. having doubts. We're so used to doctors firing off diagnoses and treatments that we learn to trust that kind of authority. Whereas when we see a British GP erming and arring about what it might be and looking up how we might treat it, then we start to doubt them.
Overall, what am I trying to say.... There is specialist care that is quite good here, and available through NHS. But you have to ask for it (some say demand) and if they don't think you need it, then they're not going to spend the money to give it.
For what it's worth, I am having my baby at St. Thomas', and have found them to be fantastic through all of my pre-natal care. I've heard ugly rumors about post-natal care, but I'll have to report on that in a month!
Please feel free to PM me if you'd like to know anything more!

[Caroline1972]

You've clearly had lots of advice from the other posts here, so I wont add much but I also had trouble getting pregnant, miscarried, IVF etc, but had a lot of great private care just to get pregnant. Once I was pregnant I then thought I would go back into the NHS system, but was horrified and terrified by what I experienced. It felt like a conveyor belt and not a very nice one at that. What I realised once I stopped being overly emotional (which is difficult when you are pregnant!) was that it doesn't all have to be one way or the other adn that it was in my hands (and my husbands of course) to choose what care we wanted. I did choose to deliver on the NHS in St Georges, and had an amazing delivery team, but supplemented that care with my own private midwife who was with me and gave me the personal support that frankly the NHS is just not resourced up for. You can visit lots of hospitals and change GPs, you don't have to accept what is initially presented to you. Equally for post natal care there are lots of options and so I would just encourage you to research everything that is available and work out what is best for you and your family. It takes a bit of time but once you start you will get recommendations and hear of other people's experiences along the way that will help guide you. And its not all scarily expensive.

I am more than happy to share any of my experiences or contacts with you if it would be of help, but just didn't want to put up an enormous long response if it wasn't of any use! Just message me back.

Best wishes, C