Claire - spot on, that is exactly how I felt. And I too at the time wasn't in the frame of mind to battle with them about it. With my first baby, I did try and get into our public hospital as a private patient, but they didn't offer it because they were so busy. I haven't checked with our now local (we moved from where we had our first daughter) hospital, so that may be an option - not sure if their birthing suites would be as good as the Gold Coast ones were though. It's sad that either side seems to be lacking something.

ETA - When I mentioned that the Ob made me give birth on my back and I was shocked by it to one of the middies on the ward she said, 'well I guess he is the one delivering it!' Pffft... what a joke! lol. Don't worry about the poor laboring woman now will you.