Hospital Zones

[Earthmama]

Does anyone know where I can get a list of which suburbs belong to which hospitals in terms of zones? I really want to go back to the womens but they've said no. My doctor wrote a referral letter stating my case and spoke the the head of obstetrics (who ended up hanging up on her !) because she wasn't taking no for an answer. I just wonder if we moved a little closer to the city, how close I would have to move to be in the Royal Womens Hospital "Zone"? I don't want to move to close to the city. I don't know any other way around this

[Ambersky]

Sorry i don't know about zones.. but do you have a friend whos postal address you could use maybe..

[LionsandBears]

I'm pretty sure the Women's zone is the West.

There's a reason they've zoned the hospitals now. Unless you're high risk, they use their limited resources for the women in their catchment. The other 2 tertiary hospitals are Monash and Mercy. They want low-risk women in the low-risk hospitals, so the resources at the tertiary hospitals are spent on the high risks.

ETA - alternatively, if you have PHI or are prepared to pay out of pocket, you could go to Frances Perry.

[Earthmama]

Sorry i don't know about zones.. but do you have a friend whos postal address you could use maybe..

I thought of that but because now I feel like the head of obstetrics at the womens knows my name and well... I'm a bit scared to fib now

Sorry LionsandBears I don't understand what PHI means ? Could you elaborate ? I don't really want to go private .....

[HotI]

phi = private health insurance

[Earthmama]

Oh thanks. Can't really afford PHI . Isn't there a waiting period anyway ?? Oh I'm stressing bout this.

[LionsandBears]

Is there a specific reason you want to go to the Women's?

[Earthmama]

Yes there is. Why do you ask ? My doctor wrote it all in the referral if that's what you were thinking...is that what you were thinking ?

[HotI]

IF YOU think that you meet the criteria for acceptance (e.g. high risk) and they have made a mistake by not accepting you, you could talk to the hospital consumer advocate about getting the decision reviewed.

i found the consumer advocate quite helpful

[Earthmama]

I don't think i'm high risk but I did have a really good first experience there when i had my dd before the zoning came in. I don't feel comfortable with the hospitals in my zone but I guess that's not a good enough reason for them... Unless you live in the area then it's no way Jose

[k4t]

If you do end up at a hospital that's not your first choice maybe think about hiring a private midwife or doula? Would be much cheaper than a private delivery and still give you a bit more sense of control over the situation.

[Bengal]

The only way to get into the women's is to use an address in the zone, be it yours, or a friends postal
Addy

They gave so many women birthing there :

As for the head of obstetrics : she won't see your admissions paperwork stand out, as you are one of thousands
Who register to deliver there . There are heaps of dept heads : needle in a haystack Hun ...

[ScottyDuck]

Another way to get in there is to be deemed a "high risk" pregnancy... I'm not exactly side what their criteria for "high risk" include but previous still birth is definitely one of them as that's how we were able to receive our little princess there


From the guy that gave the world Ianto and Amelia

[Earthmama]

I'm so sorry ScottyDuck for your loss and thrilled you were able to get your princess. I haven't had any such high risk pregnancies and I'm pretty sure I'm going well with this one (I'm 10 weeks ) so a little early to tell in terms of GD, HBP etc but obviously don't want any of those things to arise just so I can choose which hospital I want to birth in. I just thought I may have had a chance if my doctor wrote me a referral that I'd be considered. Thankyou for sharing your story.

[TeniBear]

Your doctor, if they're on board, *should* be able to write a referral and see how you go from there, but sometimes they don't want to The GP that referred me to the Womens' really didn't want to, and it took me breaking down and telling her that I couldn't give birth in our local hospital to get her to sign the form I'm ScottyDuck's wife, btw, so I suppose you can guess why I didn't want to go back!

[Earthmama]

The only way to get into the women's is to use an address in the zone, be it yours, or a friends postal
Addy

They gave so many women birthing there :

As for the head of obstetrics : she won't see your admissions paperwork stand out, as you are one of thousands
Who register to deliver there . There are heaps of dept heads : needle in a haystack Hun ...

OMG I just saw your post ! Thanks so much for replying, you've given me hope !!!! Thankyou !!

[Nai]

I live in the zone, just sayin'

[Earthmama]

Your doctor, if they're on board, *should* be able to write a referral and see how you go from there, but sometimes they don't want to The GP that referred me to the Womens' really didn't want to, and it took me breaking down and telling her that I couldn't give birth in our local hospital to get her to sign the form I'm ScottyDuck's wife, btw, so I suppose you can guess why I didn't want to go back!

Thanks heaps TeniBear, My DR did write a referral, and was happy to do it. She told me I am on your side and that's why head of obstetrics hung up on her because she wasn't taking no for an answer, but it didn't help. I'm sorry you had to go through the ordeal of breaking down crying but I'm glad you got your choice in the end. I completely understand why you didn't want to go back to your local hospital. It's so hard when you have to fight for your choice to be heard....Thanks for replying