OMG The hospital wont take me

[first_time_mummy]

Oh my god.
Please help.
Im currently 12 1/2 weeks and I have been seeing a doctor, whom (up til now), i thought was great.
I went to see her at 6 weeks for my first appointment, and she did blood tests etc, then told me to come back at 8 weeks, and then again at 12 weeks.

Well, on every visit to her, I have asked her. 'When do i need to book into the hospital?'
She said, not to worry, and that at my 12 week appointment she would write me a referal to hawkesbury hospital.

I have been anxiously awaiting this referal, and my friends and family have been worried as to why im still not booked into the hospital.
So I decided to take matters into my own hands and i went into hawkesbury hospital to speak to the head maternity warden.

I explained the situation, i am currently 12 weeks, still waiting to be refered to the hospital by my doc.

The maternity warden looked at me, and said, oh, im sorry, but your too late, you needed to book in at 6 weeks.
I was shocked, i explained that this is my first child and i have been waiting on a referal from my doctor, she asked wat doctor?.....when i told her which one, she said 'no we dont accept referals from that doctor'.

So im standing there, very upset, as i was wanting to go through a hospital midwife for the remainder of my pregnancy.....
I aske dher what i should do, and she gave me 2 options.

1) I pay for a gyno, and go to him for the rest of the pregnancy (which i just cant afford as im not currently working)

or 2) I just continue to see my current doctor, and when im in labour, i just rock up and hope they have someone to deliver it.

Im so upset, and dont know what to do, i dont know whether to blame my doctor? or myself?

I really want to go through the hospital, but head maternity warden wont even let me sign in

PLEASE HELP

[Salsa]

I`m so sorry your going through this.
I had a similar problem when I arrived new to Australia last year already 3 mths pregnant myself.

I have no advise except to say that your still in early stage of pregnancy - and so by the time your ready to have baby, something will be sorted.

I`m sure you will get some advise and support from here.

[Stevie]

oh no
thats not fair i would be going back to that doctor. i dont know what to tell you.

(I hope that this doesnt happen with me coz my doctor ol\nly sent my referal away yesterday >.<)

Is there anyone above the maternity warden you can speak with? surely someone can sort somethingout for you. How were you to know it had to be done at 6 week?

Oh you poor thing

[HotI]

Does the hospital have a social work department (pretty sure most of them do)? Drop in or give them a call and ask for their advice or advocacy in talking to the maternity people.

What other hospitals are in your area?

[AnyDream]

I suggest you ring the mat ward back and ask if there are any local gynos who operate on a shared care model...that could mean some appts at gyno and some at hospital, which could be a bit cheaper than gyno all the way.

Alternatively you could book into see a gyno and at your first appt explain your situation, they may be able to bulk bill your appts or offer a reduced rate given your circumstances.

Don't fret hun, it's stressful now but there is a solution! You just have to find it.

[Counting Days]

maybe you could find an OB that is happy to do shared care with your current GP (I would be finding a new one) you see the GP in the early stages and the OB in the later

the OB should be able to book you in now, you can not just turn up to a hospital in labour and hope for the best you need to know who is going to be caring for you during the birth etc for your own sake

as far as the doctor goes a complaint needs to be registered with someone as it sounds like this is not the first time this may have happened the Dr should know the procedures for local hospitals

[Von]

Oh no you poor thing..I had to book into the hospital myself I didn't realise yo needed a referel to go to the hospital, although i did have to havea OB to go there...

Can you perhaps ring up and speak to someone else....just pretend you have not yet gone there and find out when you have to book in and how yo go about it...maybe you will get a different response....

I don't believe the hospital can turn you away if you arrive there in labour I may be wrong but that was my understanding maybe someone else can fill you in on that....Also surly there are other maternity hospitals around your area I would be ringing them now and booking in just incase you need an alternative to the first hospital you mentioned...regarding your dr I would like to know why they don't take referrels form your dr has she done something in the past?????

Also don't blame yourself this in no way is your fault your dr should have known when you should book into the hospital..I really hope this works out for you..wishing you all the best

[Macca79]

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.

[Reborn]

Oh that is so very much the doctors fault!!!! I'd write a very strongly worded letter first about the doctor and then to the hospital. Send it as far up as you can go. Even as far as the health minister if you have to. You do not have to sit around and go with the flow. Be one of those fish that swims upstream to get what you want!!!!!

[Kitt3n]

that is utterly ridiculous - many people dont even know they are pregnant at 6 weeks! and yet you have to be booked into a hospital... at 6 weeks you havent even had a hance to look into your birth choices!!

what a joke! Other Sydney hospitals dont want to know you till you are 20 weeks. (such as RPA)

now that you have seen how you will be treated in hossy you might want to look into having your baby at home

[AliBaby]

that is utterly ridiculous - many people dont even know they are pregnant at 6 weeks! and yet you have to be booked into a hospital... at 6 weeks you havent even had a hance to look into your birth choices!!

what a joke! Other Sydney hospitals dont want to know you till you are 20 weeks. (such as RPA)

now that you have seen how you will be treated in hossy you might want to look into having your baby at home

:yeahthat: Exactly that!!! I would go back and speak to someone else. Is it a public hospital? If it is and you are in there area they have to accept you.

SOunds like someone has spun you some BS there hun. You poor thing. Last thing you need.

[Schmickers]

I'm pretty sure Hawkesbury is a private hospital, but it's been a long time since I worked there. I think you're better off at Nepean anyway. I did quite a few shifts in their children's ward some time ago, and it was quite a good ward.

[butterfly_warrior]

Hawkesbury is a private catholic hospital that takes public patients.

I live less than three minutes away, but chose to deliver at Nepean (private). It seems to be one of those hospitals that you either love or hate, and I've heard too many "hate" experiences from others.

How long would the drive to Nepean be?

BW