How much to have a baby if you don't qualify for NHS?

[michaels]

My sister in law lives in Antigua and is not eligable for the NHS. She had her first baby privately in Jamaica where the hospitals are better. I was wondering if she could have her next one in this country - either privately or better through the NHS but paid for. Anyone know if this is possible and what it might cost?

[lynzpower]

I suspect a hell of a lot cheaper there.

I used to work in a hospital in london and I do remember figures of about a grand thats just for delivery, anye & post natal care additional.

It is priced to put people off I suspect.

you can speak with your overseas officer in your hospital they should give you a price. However, say baby has additional health needs, such as special care then the price per day leaps up. I saw this happen with a young family from Suadi and what they were charged was heart breaking as baby was in SC for some weeks. NO getting away with it either, the NHS works with customs & excise to prevent leaving the UK until youve paid up.

[Nicki]

I had my two children privately at the Portland Hospital in London, the most recent about 5 years ago. They will give you a quote for a routine delivery in advance, which covers your room and midwifery expenses. On top you will have to pay your consultant for ante-natal care and the delivery. My consultant charged about £2k for this. If you have a c-section, you will be in hospital for about 5 days so the hospital costs will be much greater - ditto if you have any complications. I had a c-section first time round and complications following a natural delivery second time round, so my total costs first time were about £4.5k and second time would have been £10k+ but fortunately my insurers stepped in and paid part of the bill as although they did not cover any costs relating to the birth, they did cover the complications I developed. This was as I have said more than 5 years ago however so I would expect the rates to have gone up a lot since then

[inkie]

Rather than going for the NHS option - approach an independant midwife - they mainly do Home births but do have honorary contracts with trusts to cover the eventuality of hospitalisation. Normal pregnacy and birth can be managed by us midwives - indeed we are the experts - consultant obstsricians are only needed when there is a clinical need.

[michaels]

Useful posts - especially re midwifes (tho not sure if sister in law would fancy home birth even tho it is her second) and issue of cost of complications - I wonder if you can get insurance against this?