I have been a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist for over 30 years, have delivered more than 4,000 babies both in NHS and in other private hospitals, and I am delighted to practice and deliver exclusively at The Portland now.
The Portland Hospital is the only private hospital in the UK dedicated to the care of women and children. Its maternity unit is second to none, both in terms of its medical facilities and the standards of comfort, but what I find immediately notable is the ambience: calm and discreet.
At The Portland, clinical excellence and five-star luxury are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they complement each other perfectly to create, in my opinion, the ultimate birthing experience that is safe, serene, and profoundly joyous. It is a pleasure to deliver my patients here.
Clinical Excellence and Safety
The Portland’s state-of-the-art facilities offer peace of mind for me and for my patients. The delivery rooms are beautifully appointed, and equipped with customisable mood lighting and surround sound to create a calming ambience, but crucially, behind the soothing aesthetics there is world-class medical care. We can expertly handle complex and high-risk pregnancies, and with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on site, I feel confident in managing any situation, knowing that the absolute highest standards of safety are in place for Mother and Baby at all times.
Patients often ask me whether The Portland can really be as safe as a hospital attached to an NHS site. Many private maternity wings sit inside NHS hospitals and share their emergency facilities, which means that those same resources can be called upon from both sides at once. The Portland is entirely self-contained and has to confirm with stringent safety and review from the CQC as all maternity units do. The delivery rooms are equipped to manage complex and high-risk births, and the Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is on site and can take babies from 28 weeks. There is a separate emergency theatre and planned Caeresans are performed in the main theatre area to avoid delays, which can occur when these facilities are shared. There is a high dependency unit for dealing with high risk cases which are discussed at a Multidisciplinary Team Meeting should concerns arise and plans can be made. The surroundings are undeniably comfortable, but nothing in the clinical care has been traded for them.
Luxury Postnatal Recovery
One should not underestimate the emotional and physical upheaval that birth can cause. The days immediately following delivery are critical for a mother's long-term well-being, and this is where The Portland’s renowned hotel-style hospitality becomes a vital part of the medical recovery process for my patients, a veritable cocoon of care and comfort.
The postnatal ward has fully private, en-suite rooms designed to feel like a luxury boutique hotel. Each room is designed to also accommodate partners overnight on proper, comfortable beds, with breakfast included, as their support is crucial during these first few days.
For families who would like extra space, the accommodation seamlessly scales up to multi-room premier suites.
Culinary Excellence
Thanks to a top-tier team of in-house chefs, The Portland offers seasonal fine-dining menus entirely cooked to order, guaranteeing nutritious meals when Mums need it most. Whether they need a full course a la carte dinner, or a club sandwich at three o’clock in the morning, their physical recovery is fuelled by exceptional cuisine.
24 Hour Postnatal Nursery
There is no greater form of recovery for a new mother than uninterrupted sleep. That is why The Portland has a 24-hour postnatal nursery, enabling parents to settle their newborn into the hands of our expert nursery nurses overnight so that they may achieve proper rest until the staff bring Baby back when requested or for a feed.
After a good night’s rest, the nursery nurses are on hand to offer mothers calm, hands-on guidance in swaddling, bathing, and soothing.
The Result of a Birthing Experience at The Portland
When I sign discharge papers, I don't just see a patient who is medically recovered; I also see a confident, well-rested family who are ready to step out into the world.
Choosing where to give birth is a deeply significant decision. In my opinion, there is no safer or more joyous place than The Portland.
Frequently Asked Questions
The media often portrays the hospital as a C-section factory. However, The Portland actively supports and facilitates low-intervention, entirely natural births, complete with state-of-the-art water-birthing suites.
Whilst The Portland is noted as a favourite of royals and celebrities, a large proportion of the hospital’s clientele consists of everyday professionals and expats who have budgeted and saved specifically for a private birth experience, or those who are lucky enough to have medical insurance cover.
The Portland Hospital allow extended family and guests to visit daily 10am until 8pm, to ensure that new mothers, babies, and partners staying overnight can get essential rest.
There is no reason to be worried about The Portland being a standalone private hospital. As an obstetrician with over 4,000 births to my name, I would not practice here if there were any safety concerns. In fact, unlike many private maternity wings attached to NHS hospitals where emergency facilities are shared with the NHS, with pressures on those emergency facilities coming from both sides, The Portland is fully equipped to handle complex and high-risk births, with state-of-the-art delivery rooms alongside an on-site Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Rest assured that despite the fancy surroundings and premium service, there is no compromise on safety.
