Hi, I am 24 and my partner is 23. I have known since I was 15 that I could not have children naturally. We are on the ivf waiting list but have decided to have a few goes privately(as the waiting list is 4yrs). We are now faced with the dilema of which clinic or hospital to use. We were told that Leeds had good sucess rates, but after looking at posts in the ivf forum it sounds like the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead is better. We live on the border of Northumberland and Cumbria so Gateshead is alot nearer to us than leeds, but we are prepared to go where the best results are. I would really appreciate hearing from people who have used either of these hospitals, or any in Newcastle.
Hope some one can give me some advice. Emma xx
Need ivf advice.Who's best. Leeds, Newcastle, Gateshead???
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emmalouise
- Newbie
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 10:30 am
- Location: cumbria
We live on the boarder of Northumberland and Gateshead. We are having treatment at the Centre for Life in Newcastle. I can't comment on any other clinic BUT the C 4 L have been fantastic with us. The nurses and doctors are so lovely, helpful, honest and don't care how many times I phone them with stupid questions! We have had 2 ICSI and 3 DIUI there - granted all unsuccessful - but the support I have received has been first class. I like the fact that it is totally away from the main hospital and so there is no chance of having to walk past pregnant ladies or people bringing babies home. It is a brand new (nearly), purpose built place which feels very freindly and not at all clinical. It is not like walking into a hospital clinic at all. Hope this helps.
Hi Emma Louise
I am having my treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and can fully recommend them too! The staff are wonderful, they are more like friends than doctors and nurses, there is only about 5/6 of them, and the unit is quite small so they really get to know you personnally. Only downside is you do have to enter the IVF unit through the maternity ward and this can be upsetting at times (when things arrn't going well).
The QE hospital is listed as No.7 out of the top 10 IVF units in the country, based on their success rates.
I can throughly recommend them, and, although my first attempt was a neg - starting again on 3 May - so can't wait.
You can call them on 0191 445 2768 to gain informaiton or even just for a chat.
Good Luck xx
I am having my treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and can fully recommend them too! The staff are wonderful, they are more like friends than doctors and nurses, there is only about 5/6 of them, and the unit is quite small so they really get to know you personnally. Only downside is you do have to enter the IVF unit through the maternity ward and this can be upsetting at times (when things arrn't going well).
The QE hospital is listed as No.7 out of the top 10 IVF units in the country, based on their success rates.
I can throughly recommend them, and, although my first attempt was a neg - starting again on 3 May - so can't wait.
You can call them on 0191 445 2768 to gain informaiton or even just for a chat.
Good Luck xx
1 failed ICSI, 1 failed FET, next treatment starts in May with EC on 1 June 2004, hoping for a 2005 baby!
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emmalouise
- Newbie
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 10:30 am
- Location: cumbria
Just wanted to say Hi to, Womphas, Lotti and Angelina. And thank you all for your messages.Whompas, the centre for life at Newcastle sounds really nice, do you know the most recent statistics for there? I'm really sorry you have not been succesful yet, are you going to have another try soon? If so, I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Let me know how you get on. Hi Lotti, Sorry to hear your first attempt was unsuccesful. Bet your dying for your next go. Hope everything goes well for you and i'll keep my fingers crossed for you too. Thanks for the info about Queen Elizabeth. They definatley sound the best at the moment and it will be far more easier than travelling to Leeds. Do you know how the long the nhs waiting list is for there? Anyway, it would be nice to hear how you get on next time. Hope to hear from you soon x Hi Angelina. I am so pleased to hear your news. You must be over the moon. Especially when you found out you were having twins. I hope that's me soon 
. The docs and nurses sound lovely there, and the fact that it is small is much more appealing. I was wondering if any of you could tell me how much the whole ivf procedure costs? I was told it would be around £3000 private and wondering if those figures sound about right.Anyway, gonna go now. Thanks again for your messages. Hope to hear from you all again. Love Emma xx
Hi Emma L
Yes you are correct IVF is about £3,000 at the QE - I had ICSI which is slightly more expensive, costing around £3,400.
I think the waiting list for NHS is quite long
as they only have funds to treat 60 patients per year. Therefore you are looking at a 2 year wait.
For me that was too long as I am 39 - so hence I am having my 2nd attempt in May/June. My last attempts was October 2003.
I am also on the NHS list, and I will be 41 when that happens - but I am hoping I don't need it!
Angelina - I am over the moon for you, and twins as well!!! You must be in heaven - well done girl.
Yes you are correct IVF is about £3,000 at the QE - I had ICSI which is slightly more expensive, costing around £3,400.
I think the waiting list for NHS is quite long
as they only have funds to treat 60 patients per year. Therefore you are looking at a 2 year wait.For me that was too long as I am 39 - so hence I am having my 2nd attempt in May/June. My last attempts was October 2003.
I am also on the NHS list, and I will be 41 when that happens - but I am hoping I don't need it!
Angelina - I am over the moon for you, and twins as well!!! You must be in heaven - well done girl.
1 failed ICSI, 1 failed FET, next treatment starts in May with EC on 1 June 2004, hoping for a 2005 baby!
Emma
my computer has just been returned to us as it was away getting fixed so I apologise for the lateness of this reply.
I have had treatment at both the QE in Gateshead and the CFL in Newcastle. I found the QE staff lovely, they kept you away from other patients, nothing was to much trouble for them, however, space and facilities were slightly lacking and you had to go in through the maternity entrance ( not a nice experience) we were on their waiting list but paid privately after about a year, approx £3,000 or just over for IVF. It was unsuccessful and they told us the waiting list was at the very least 2 years ( I think it is now nearly 3 years) I visited the CFL and asked to be transferred as their list was shorter, this was agreed and 5 months later I started IVF there. I found it a lot less personal you saw other patients and I didn't have the same kind of relationship with the staff. However, it is not attached to a hospital, they have a seperate ward for you to recover after e/c and it was successful. I am now 31 weeks pregnant with twins.
This isn't going to answer your question but I would go to either of them again, they both had pros and cons. I would visit the hospitals and meet staff and get a feel about what is better for you.
Good luck
Lisa xx
my computer has just been returned to us as it was away getting fixed so I apologise for the lateness of this reply.
I have had treatment at both the QE in Gateshead and the CFL in Newcastle. I found the QE staff lovely, they kept you away from other patients, nothing was to much trouble for them, however, space and facilities were slightly lacking and you had to go in through the maternity entrance ( not a nice experience) we were on their waiting list but paid privately after about a year, approx £3,000 or just over for IVF. It was unsuccessful and they told us the waiting list was at the very least 2 years ( I think it is now nearly 3 years) I visited the CFL and asked to be transferred as their list was shorter, this was agreed and 5 months later I started IVF there. I found it a lot less personal you saw other patients and I didn't have the same kind of relationship with the staff. However, it is not attached to a hospital, they have a seperate ward for you to recover after e/c and it was successful. I am now 31 weeks pregnant with twins.
This isn't going to answer your question but I would go to either of them again, they both had pros and cons. I would visit the hospitals and meet staff and get a feel about what is better for you.
Good luck
Lisa xx