Im not too sure about your hospital but if it is a public hospital they have to take you. As a public patient it is the law, if not they have refer you on to a hospital that can. Many hospitals have a midwife run program that often fills quick as there are limited places, they also have a maternity ward were you can birth. The difference is in the midwife program you will only see a midwife for check ups while pregnant and will deliver with a midwife, as long as you are considered low risk. If you are considered high risk you will have to go through the main maternity ward of a hospital.
Other options besides an OB can include a private midwife, they often do homebirths but many also attend a hospital birth so even if you just rick up to a hospital in labour your private midwife is at least someone who knows you, but the do cost a bit as most health insurance companies don't pay out on them and neither does Medicare.
Might be worth looking at any other hospitals near by or checking out the Maternity Coalition in your area. I hope you can sort it out soon, it can be very stressing.
If its a public hospital you dont need a referral. Just ring them up and tell them you want to go there to have your baby. Dont even bother telling them you've got this doctor, just tell the hospital you'll see their midwives and it should all be fine for you to book in. They actually cant turn you away, so just give them another call and talk again. Maybe they thought you wanted to book into the birthcentre or something, and they were all booked up there. But the maternity ward has to take you.
I'd firstly try just ringing and booking in over the phone. Don't mention any drs, just tell them you've just found out you're prg and want to book in. Telling you that you have to have booked in at 6 weeks is ridiculous.
If all else fails, I'd give Nepean a call. I've had both my babies there, booked in to have my third too and have had very positive experiences.
is it a public or private hospital (sorry, not from Sydney!)
i'm just asking as refusing to accept referral from a specific doctor sounds like they are a private hospy and only certain doctors have delivery rights within that hospital... in which case it makes sense them saying no - they also have limited places and may only be able to accept so many people. if it's a public hospital, you don't need a referral at all, but you may be required to see the hospital Ob's during your pregnancy...
It is just my local public hospital.
I went in and spoke in person to the head maternity lady and she was no help.
I rang nepean this morning, and explained to the lady on admin my situation (not maternity admin, as its only open mon-fri)
But the lady on general enquiries seemed helpful, and as i explained my situation she was appaled by how the other hospital had treated me.
She told me to come in monday and speak to the nepean head maternity warden, i think there is a longer waiting list to get in there, but if they will take me at 12 weeks, and be more helpful...im willing to take the chance.
I had heard bad things about hawkesbury, and didnt believe it all...till now.
Thanks for your advice all, I have been non stop stressing about this...and to make matters worse, i got pulled over by a cop on the way home from the hospital for speeding I lost 3 demerits and got a 250 buck fine.....
Please complain about this - send a strongly worded letter to the hospital administrator saying that you have been denied maternity services for no reason at your locally defined public hospital, and make sure you copy in the health minister - putting the cc at the bottom of the letter to the administrator! It is simply not good enough that you are denied access to legitimate health care because of some administrative tripe and I suspect that it is actually illegal to do so. Whether or not you choose to deliver there, they should be held accountable for their poor practises.
You will have NO problems getting into Nepean. I had Lyta, Sam and Haz there and booked in at 20 weeks and over with all 3. I might add that I absolutely LOVE their antenatal pathologist. Only woman I have ever trusted near me with needles!
They ARE a typical hospital though and you need to make it very clear what you want when it comes to labour. They *will* respect your wishes. I have only met one midwife there I didn't like and that was back in 2003 - so chances are, you wont meet her! LOL.
oh, thats good then.
I have heard a lot of positive things about nepean. Im so scared to go there tomorrow and get turned down, like hawkesbury did.
I just hope they are a little more accomodating for me.
As i really want to go throught the hospital midwifes from now on, and get rid of this dodgy doctor i am seeing at the moment.
Does anyone know what kind of maternity services they offer at nepean.??
Is it just the usual maternity ward, or do they have more services, like a birthing centres? etc
Not sure on where or what site i might be able to read more about nepeans' services
Oh thank goodness.
I have gone to my doc today, got a referal for nepean hospital, and ive been booked in to have an interview with admissions on 2nd june, after that i can see midwife for checkups, and have ultrasounds done through the hospital.
So glad, but couldnt believe the earliest appointment was 2nd june...wow....!!
so by the time i go in for my interview i will be 18 weeks and need my 18-20 week ultrasound
but still, im into nepean !!!! I HOPE, but all seems good so far :fingerscrossed:
gosh that's not right! 6 weeks!?
My Dr, who is a baby Dr wasn't doing any hospital stuff with me til 20 weeks.
I'd complain about that, that's just insane!
Reply With Quote
I lost 3 demerits and got a 250 buck fine.....
Bookmarks