I went to westmead hospital as a public patient. In westmead public you can be public or private patient the difference is that private has a blue carpet and public had an older yellow carpet and that private was one bed to a room and public was 2 or 4 depnding on the size of the room. The delivery suite was the same regardless. My SIL went to westmead private which is private only. At the public hospital I got a much better standard of care, friendlier nurses and also follow up visits at home which SIL didn't get. I geuss that it depends on where you live but I think that I would be mad to pay for private when I can get better care through the public system. DH and I are thinking of private cover but even if we do get it we'll still be using the public hospital.
Although I must say that the cafe at the private hospital was much nicer.