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Was looking at responses in "Hospital stay" I was also curious, upon reading many of your replies, which of you went through the public or private system?
By that I mean, private obs, midwife, douhla (not sure of spelling), private or public hospital?
Just curious as not sure whether is worth getting private health insurance specifically for having a bubs, or not....
What do you guys think and what have been your experiences?
Keen
I went public with everything and had no dramas at all. Of course you are in your own private room when you are in labour ;) and at my hospital there was only two ladies to each maternity room anyway, and personally I liked the company.
With Kameron I had a lady with me the night I delivered and she went home the next day so I had the room to myself anyway. With Lachlan I was alone the first 24 hrs then another lady joined me, and it was nice to have someone to chat too who had just gone thru labour herself.
Love
Hi Keen,
I went public with all three of mine, couldn't complain at all. I had them at the Royal Womans in Brisbane, but am guessing that it is pretty much the same everywhere you go. You'll get good and bad.
I have thought about taking out private health cover, but only because I am now much older and there are more risks, but then I thought that if there is some kind of emergency, I might not be able to have my doc there, and I should get the same treatment as a Private patient.
In the passed I've had an elective operation, for which I went as a private patient, the cost was less than it would have been had I been forking out fees for who knows how long, I got the Medicare rebate for the surgeon and anesthesist. The only thing that I had to pay 100% out of my pocket was the actual hospital room, which was shared with another lady and cost me about $250 for the stay.
So my vote is for public :)
Public too! & I loved my hospital & the team of midwives. I had my own room which I shared the bathroom with one other woman, and that was fantastic. I had an amazing team looking out for me & I wouldn't go anywhere else again.
Mine is a tricky circumstance. In theory, I would be totally happy to go public. However, circumstances for meant that I went private. We already had full top hospital private medical insurance due to a previous sickness of mine, and also we thought that we might need to go down the IVF route (we didn't) so hence we had full private cover.
When I finally got pg with Olivia we had moved to Darwin, where there is a distinct lack of medical services (as not many Dr's want to live in the Territory and there is no Med Shcool up here).
There is one public OB who had just recently been in court for negligence, so that scared me, so we opted for private.
Through my pregnancy I saw my OB fortnightly and had a scan at each consultation, which for me was fantastic, having had a late missed MC previously, those scans gave me SO much reassurance and made me so much happier and confident.
I had a simple labour and delivery, which was attended by my OB, but could have easily been handled by midwives. I did really appreciate the private room and I really appreciated the on-site paedeatrician (sp) which wouldn't have been available in the public.
DH was able to stay with me in a double bed and got fed for the whole time we were in the hospital, which was great adn supportive and convenient.
So, for me private was great........
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.
I'm going public - I dont have obs cover on my insurance.
It doesn't worry me at all - In Geelong the private obs have to do time in the public system anyway, so there is a good chance if you are having problems, the best ob in ton will see you anyway.
I've had no problems at all with public, the only issue is the outpatients clinic at the hospital for the rooutine checks schedules you in between 9 and 12, which is really inconvenient for my work.
So I went Shared Care instead which means I get to choose my appt time with my GP, and have additional checks with the midwives.
The hospital looks fabulous, the birthing suites are reall nice, but I haven't seen the wards yet. I've been told they have been recently upgraded, and there is pay TV for each bed (if you want to pay for it....)
Fi
Well the private hospital near me no longer allows the father to stay overnight. They have to leave by 10pm! I think f you're paying for it and no-one else is in the room then they should be allowed, but no!
The public hospital has ok birthing rooms but the bed rooms have 4 beds in most rooms.
Hhhmmmm.... am thinking might be best to save my money!
Keen
I went Public with Aidyn as well.
It was alright I guess...
-we had a bit of a wait (more than half a day) to get a delivery suite after my waters had broken.
-Some of the midwives were not-so-nice... but I dont think it matters whether you are pucblic or private.
-DP was not allowed to stay overnight either... Aidyn was born at 3am, and when I was moved up to the ward DP was told to go home, which sort of sucked.
-I was in a room sharing with 4 others, until I cracked it on day 2. Had just gotten Aidyn to sleep after 12 hours crying, then the lady next to me got about 10 guests at once... just as I was trying to sleep. So I started bawling, and they moved me into a private room. Not bad hey? LOL
I went private. I wanted to be able to have my own obstetrician, my own room, and for DH to be able to be with me as much as we liked!
I had some shocking midwives, but I think you get good ones and bad ones no matter where you are......in fact, I had SERIOUS issues with some of them, that to this day that still upset me!
I haven't had a baby yet but....We considered both and decided to go private. The main reasons were:
- Own OB
- Private room rather than shared ward - privacy and DH can stay
- Staying for 5 days rather than 24 hrs - feel a little better with our first although will probably want to go home
My friend recently went public and generally had excellent care although baby was breach and they let her go into labour for 11 hours because a doctor wasn't available to deliver. She had to share the room and was recovering from a ceasar, other people were noisy with lots of visitors toddlers were running through the room into her area. She said she would have liked to go private if she had the cover.
It cost her no more than $600 for her care and expenses for the whole pg
and my hospital fee alone will be $780 + other costs and the OB is expensive.
i went public last time and ahd no dramas, and lovley midwives, am going publie again this time, havent met my midwives yet but the one that booked me in seemed really nice
take care
Lesley
I went public last time in the UK and they still have wards so you have to share an area with sometimes up to 8 women.
They did have rooms but you had to pay for them.
I am going public again. I can't wait to have my own room or share with just one other person.
I did post this before, but for some reason it didn't stay here...
I was public with Alex, and there's no way I would ever go private.
I was hospitalised for a month prior to Alex's birth, and with the excess of (minimum) $50 per night, that's $1400 just for the prenatal care. Then when Alex was born, he (and I) were in hospital for a further 10 days (each) at $50 per night, which is another $1000.
I just couldn't afford to have private health cover with that sort of out of pocket expense.
And even if I did, I wouldn't have had Alex in the local private hospital, because Shepparton Private didn't do birth, you had to have the baby at the local Base Hospital and then transfer to the Private in a taxi. Not my idea of a good time.
I wouldn't have been able to have Alex in Shepparton anyway, because he was so early, and also because I was so sick.
This is my first bubs but we`re going Private - private OB and his midwife and will be delivering in a Private Hospital.
I was hospitalised 5 weeks ago with a severe kidney infection, I was admitted as a Public Patient as I wasn`t fully covered (will be in 6 days time) but I still saw my Private OB and had a private room with my own TV and got free newspapers daily.
My sister had always gone public and a friend of mine had her babies private and the difference in care they received was enormous that`s one of the reasons I swang towards going Private. And I like the idea of getting to know my OB and trusting in him before bubs is born rather then having someone you don`t know there.
Take Care
Deeanne
Well this'll be our first as well but I'm seeing private OB but we don't have private health insurance so the birth itself will be through the public system... Except our public hospital here doesn't have a maternity section and all deliveries are done at the private hospital so I don't think it makes too much of a difference in my case anyway LOL!
I geuss that knowing your ob is an issue but depending on the model of care you choose in a public hospital it is possible to have your baby delivered by someone you know. If you can access a team midwife service you will see the same group throughout your pregnancy and one of them will deliver your baby. I geuss I'm lucky to be near a hospital that offers a range of options in terms of care.
I felt a bit sorry for the other lady in my room she was from the country somewhere and she had been airlifted in because of complications during her labour. It must have been awful to give birth in such an unfamiliar environment so far from home.
You just reminded me Dachlostar... I was able to book myself into a special group of Midwives at my hospital... I got one of the last places available. Basically it is to give you a better chance of getting to know them, and them you. Throughout my antenatal appt I never got the same midwife from that team twice though... but one of them who delivered Aidyn had actually seen me the day before for my 39wk appt, which was really cool.
I went public (Royal Brisbane) and the whole thing didn't cost me a cent. I was the same as Ambah - I saw the same team of midwives for all my antenatal appointments, so the one I had for the birth I had seen twice before. The care was fantastic and I wouldn't hesitate going public again. The only negative is sharing a room (and toilet!) with 3 others - I'll definately have to try your trick next time Ambah!
it depends on what services are available in your area.
The public and private hospital closest to me are actually next door to each other, the same OB's service both, both have single rooms where the partner can stay. The main difference is the decor and the menu ;)
However having been to both the midwives are much better in the public sector and the intervention rates are much lower. The midwives also come out to your home after you've been discharged a few times so you aren't just tossed out without any support which is great. There is also a lactation consultant onsite for free and you can come back and visit whenever you like.
The private hospital does not offer any of these potnatal services and who cares about who the Ob is anyway? They only turn up for the last 10 mins - it's the midwives who are there throughout your labour who make a difference. If you are in the public sector and something is wrong are you really going to care who is looking after you as long as they can do the job?
If you just want someone you know in labour hire a doula, independant midwife or get a midwifery student to come with you to the birth. Not all OB's can guarantee that they will get there - it may be their weekend off at another birth etc.
So really it's a personal preference about what kind of services are important to you and whether you want to pay for them.
Cheers,Larissa
I went private and will again. However, my private hospital doesn't guarantee your own room for the whole stay - in fact the usual is to spend the first couple of nights in a room with one other person, and then be transferred to a private room with a double bed where your husband can stay overnight.
I think the public system is under-resourced and over-used and so "on principle" we are going private. However, I have friends and sisters who went public and were very happy with the standard of care and their hospital stays.
the more I read this thread the more I realise that my local public hospital is great!!!! When I got really upset because DH had to go home one night they moved me to a room with a fold out bed for DH and they did the same thing for another girl who was in the ante-natal ward before I gave birth. I didn't even stop to think before now about how unusual it is for DH's to stay the night in the public system.
I feel a bit guilty now for not sending them a card and some choccies.
I went Public & will do so again, I have my own OB that I see for check ups, if there are any complications he is called but if not as in Maddy's case the midwives delivered her. I had 24 hr access to Paediatrician if I so required, on call breast feeding clinics, I was in a room with another lady & so we kept each other company & as it was her 3rd, she actually was explaining things to me. She left the next day & i had the next 2 days by myself, my friends & family could stay as long as they liked those 2 days which was great as i got really bored!
All of the midwives & nurses were gorgeous (except one with wide hands & stumpy fingers!)
One of my g/f went private & said never again when she found out how much it cost '0' in public & hers was a few thousand out of pocket!
Also at the Angliss I read in a newspaper article how many babies are born there yearly etc compare to the nearest Private hospital & they did triple+ so I guess they have more experience???
I hope my OB doesn't just turn up for the last 10 mins, he is costing $700 just to turn up and I expect him to be there. Reading the posts gives a good indication of private or public. There are some great public hospitals with great care.
We are lucky to all have access to a high standard of care. Apparently in England women giving birth are discharged from hospital after one day! I have heard great appraisals about public and private hospital experiences here from lots of people.
are ultrasounds and other doctors visits covered by public or private cover??
Karina - you can have bulk billing ultrasounds otherwise you pay up front and get some back from medicare. It's best to ask where you go what the gap will be as it varies greatly. If you reach the medicare safety net threshold then you will get most back.
I had Jack in my local country hospital which is public. I was put into a private single room anyway as I was in hospital early due to pre-eclampsia, but it wouldn't have worried me if I had to share a room as there is only 2 maternity rooms with 2 beds in each! But when I was in there, there was 4 of us that had just delivered and the midwives put the other ladies in their own rooms, too cool! I also had the choice of Doctor and I was told after the event that i could have asked for a specific midwife as well!
Not sure what is going to happen next time (if there is a next time) as the hospital has suspended it's obs service, it was to reopen in Jan of this year but I think due to the difficulty of a new obs hours it has been postponed! This obs only wants to work mon-fri 9-5 I kid you not!
I decided I wanted to have my bubs in a private hospital after spending a week in hospital with snoring wardmates when I had my appendix out. I wanted some privacy!
In the long run I guess it has cost heaps if you take into account the premiums over 4 years I've had top cover.
If you take out a health care table with a single excess payment instead of a daily co payment the costs will be lower if you or the baby have a longer than expected stay. The hospital told me that if you or the baby have special needs that they can't cater for, you will be transferred out anyway so I'm not sure how that affects your excess.
I loved having DH stay with me and having my own OB. Although there is a chance he may be on holidays and in that case it would be his locum.
The only downside is the private hospital that I had Mason in had a staff shortage and they had lots of temps who I felt were not as caring at the permanent staff. One didn't know how to fill out the discharge paperwork though I'm sure it wasn't entirely her fault.
So, with private you would get to choose your own OB ?
I have a GP who is really good and i have been seeing forever (not that go more than once a year or two) my GP is also an OB, so that would mean if i had private cover i would be able to choose to have him as my OB, rather than being given a random one?
Karina, yes you certainly can choose your own OB. We can`t claim any of our fees back from NIB for our OB but can through medicare and considering we reached our medicare threshold in early Feb we get quite a bit back.
Take Care
Deeanne
We went private, and I would go private again.
The experience of giving birth is a private one, and like some of the comments above, the thought of sharing the first few hours and days with another patient and their relatives wasn't appealing in the slightest.
I went to North West Private Hospital in Brisbane, and they were superb. The care couldn't be faulted and the privacy was incredible. DH wasn't allowed to sleep at the hospital (We didn't have a room with a dbl bed - otherwise he could have) but as long as he was awake he could stay as long as he liked. Not much different really.
My sister had her baby in a public hospital and shared the experience with 8 other women, their babies and families and friends. What an eye openner that was! Private all the way for us.
Firstly, I live in Melbourne, so heaps of choices.
If I was having my first baby, I would go for private midwife homebirth with private OB as backup in case hospital admission needed, which would mean private hospital booking. I would get an OB recommended by the midwife as someone who doesn’t have a reputation for un-necessary intervention. I would talk to them a great deal about what happens in the chosen hospital, ie make sure you can bring your own midwife, check out their policies on everything. And spend a great deal of time on the birth plan and have everyone sign it & a copy on everyone’s file. This is what I did for my first, and same for 2nd but with public hospital booking as backup. Expensive, but I highly recommend it and I had excellent care.
Feeling more confident (and broke) 3rd time, I just went public at Birralee (Box Hill), but was lucky enough to have the same midwife for my appointments & on call for the labour!! Same midwife for this pregnancy too, so delighted. The food can’t be eaten, but the birthing rooms are fine with double bed, couch, table & ensuite, & there are 2 big round bathtubs. DH was not going to be kicked out, but I wasn’t moved out of the birthing room to the ward anyway as I preferred to go home. If I had needed to stay, the wards had 4 beds I think, & I would have enjoyed the company. The staff I met were all really nice & I felt safe. They seemed overworked, but it had a good vibe & I felt my birth plan was supported.
What mattered to me was having a midwife I trusted who was fully supportive of my birth plan. You can always bring your own food, (and this time I will, lol. Yucky hospital food).
So Yvette are you planning to go public with the twins? And if its not too personal, are you planning to try vaginal birth or a planned c/section or you dont know yet?
Im going to have to file away your homebirth/back up etc ideas away in my brain for later :D
K
Public again at Birralee Kirby, and I'll be having the same midwife as with Angus which is lovely. I'm just very nervous about the babies being OK this time, but fully intend to birth vaginally again if I can. We'll have to see how they go.
Hi all
I just want to say that when i went to have stitch in cervix, my husband had to be out by 8pm, but the person next to me was allowed to have her husband with her as long as she wanted.
Unfortunately i went into early labour and lost twin girls in public hospital and they gave my husband a bed and let him sleep. O:)
When and if i get the chance to have anymore children, i will have private doc in public hospital. [-o<
Hi Confusedegg & welcome to BellyBelly.
I'm so sorry to hear of your recent loss. I can only imagine how hard that must have been for you to go through, & I'm sure you're still grieving. You'll find plenty of support & people to talk to here.
Big hugs.
I had been tossing up whether or not to bother with private but I am so glad I did - I went to visit a friend in a major public hospital last night and couldn't believe how impersonal it all seemed. My friend was so exhausted and was having trouble getting her bub to feed properly, and 4 people to a room plus relatives and screaming babies hardly seemed like an ideal environment to recuperate after giving birth and get to know the bub. I know that a lot of people have fantastic experiences in public hospitals and I also realise that I only saw a snapshot during the time I was there, but it made me confident in my decision to go private. Not sure if we will be able to afford it forever, but for my first bub it is the way I want to go.
Karen
I went private for my first daughter and although I was happy with it I didn't like the fact I still had to pay for things that you get for free in the public system when you fork out so much money for Health Insurance. When I had my second daughter, we didn't have health insurance but we did have the money to go private. But I decided I'd rather keep the $3,000 and try public. I have to say I was so happy going public and felt proud that I had saved myself all that money! I don't like staying in hospital at all be it public or private and only stayed 2 days after my 2nd daughter's birth, but then had to go to Princess Margaret Hospital anyway as my 2nd daughter had a few problems and well they have excellent care there and I had my own room etc. This time I decided to go public again. At my local hospital they said the minimum stay is 3 days but if I chose to go home earlier, if all was well, they'd let me go. Like I said I don't like hospitals be it public or private and would prefer to be home in my own bed. In all honesty I found nurses coming in a disturbing me more of a pain than visitors. I actually enjoyed sharing my room with another lady at the public hospital and the nurses & midwives were fantastic, so that sealed the decision for me this time too. But I am having my own Ob.