I have private health insurance and chose to go in as a private patient in a public hospital.

I would see the public hospital OB (whom also worked at the local private hospital) if there were any concerns during my pregnancy so my care was always of great standard as far as i could see.

Like Raven mentioned there are no guarantees you will get a private room if none are available in a public hospital. If i had DD only minutes later i would have missed out on the last private room available as another patient (public patient) was about to get the private room but cause i wheeled my baby there 1st and i was a private patient i got it 1st.

I have many friends whom had their 1st baby at a private hospital and their OB didn't even make it to their births which they felt let down so chose to go public with the next baby.

GOOD-LUCK with your decision

P.S - Like Holly suggested ask your local hospital if they have a policy or program as such where you can pay just the excess (which i did) ... my local public hospital had a program (or maybe scheme is a better word for it) where they are encouraging private patients to use their hospital. I was even given a choice of a voucher as a gift from the public hospital in doing so for example there was a day spa voucher worth $300 ... but i chose a $500 gift voucher to spend at a local baby/child's clothing shop