Choosing a private Obstetrician can be tricky as there are so many to choose from and it is important to make the best individual choice.
The first thing to look for is location. It is important that the Obstetrician is reasonably accessible. There will be several antenatal visits, ultrasound scans and blood tests as well as hospital visits during the pregnancy. In addition, it is not ideal to have to travel too far in case of an emergency. Location is therefore very important.
Some women however, do choose a private hospital which is not near their work or home, in which case they need to also be prepared to go to the local hospital in case of emergency.
The next important thing to look out for is availability. This is important not just so that appointments can be made at a convenient time but also in case of any emergency! Some Obstetricians work as sole practitioners which makes it very difficult for them to be available at all times. They will then arrange cover for such emergencies as they arise and may not have well organised back up arrangements.
It is therefore probably better to see someone who has an organised cover arrangement with one or a few other Obstetricians. There should then be an opportunity to meet other members of the team who may be called on should the named Obstetrician not be available. This allows for greater continuity of care and enables the woman to feel more confident she will be looked after by someone she knows when in labour.
It might also be sensible to check where the Consultant lives, their practice may be in central London but they may not!
Some private Obstetricians are happy to give out their mobile phone numbers and e-mail details which makes it easier to keep in touch.
The most important decision when choosing an Obstetrician is based on philosophy of care, the way they practice, the type of care they can deliver and their experience. Much of this can be gathered from the internet as most Obstetricians will have web-sites which outline their philosophy and the way in which they deliver antenatal care. The decision can also be informed by personal recommendations, and friends or colleagues who have recently had a baby privately can be helpful in this regard.
Another way forward is to choose a private hospital first and then look at the hospital website to see which doctors work there, check out their websites choose an Obstetrician that way.
Most doctors are affiliated to one or more private hospitals but not all of them also work in the NHS. Private Obstetricians usually deliver between 10 and 150 babies a year, this is a relatively small number compared to the births they supervise annually in the NHS, which may number 500-1000! As emergency complications are relatively rare (1 in 500) it is probably best to choose an Obstetrician who either works in the NHS, or does a lot of deliveries privately in order to be up to date and be capable of dealing with emergencies should they arise.
Most women will use a combination of strategies to gain as much information as possible about an Obstetrician before arranging an appointment.
The first appointment is the best time to make a decision about whether or not to have care with that particular Obstetrician, so it is a good idea to have questions written down beforehand. It is very important that there is a good bond between patient and Obstetrician and that they are on the same wavelength.
The Obstetrician must understand the type of care that the woman is choosing, and feel comfortable in delivering that type of care. The woman must feel that she has been listened to and that her individual concerns are being addressed.
The best type of approach from an Obstetrician is probably an open minded one, with a clear objective to individualise care for each woman so that she has the best possible experience of pregnancy and childbirth. Taking into account her individual choices and birth preferences, whilst at the same time maximising safety for mother and baby.
If you have any queries on our services or would like to make an appointment,
please do feel free to give us a call. We are always happy to help.
For Chris Barnick, please call on: 020 7390 8440 or email chrisbarnick@obgynmatters.co.uk
For Alison Wright, please call on:07540 128755 or email alisonwright@obgynmatters.co.uk
