OMG The hospital wont take me

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

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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.

oh no :(:hug:
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 :(

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?

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. :hug:

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

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!!!!!

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

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 :)

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.....:(

It was the worst day EVER:doh:

I am so glad you have found an alternative hospital...damn for the speeding find and the huge find

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.

When I was pg with my son I found myself in a similar situation in that a lot of the "good hospitals" especially the birth centre filled up so quickly that you basically had to book in the moment you peed on a stick. I remember going on a tour of the birth centre at 8wks and being told that they were pretty full and if I wanted to birth there I would have to book in pretty much that day. Luckily I found another hospital that although wasn't a birth centre was actually a lot more relaxed and had a less medical environment and had a beautiful birth there so hope it all works out for you.

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.

Good luck!

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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 :)

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: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. :hug: You poor thing. Last thing you need.

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.

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

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

Hey hun, if you book in at Nepean you will go through the midwifery clinic for your antenatal care. That is, you will (mostly) see the same antenatal midwife throughout your prg. Nepean has a birthing centre but unfortunately it's been closed for many years due to lack of funding and staff etc :( - a real bummer because that would have been my first choice every time.

You will deliver in the delivery suite, be cared for by whatever midwives happen to be on that shift and then you'll transfer upstairs to the postnatal ward. The delivery suites are fantastic, they have huge corner baths where I've wallowed through both of my labours so far! LOL. Unfortunately no water birth for me due to slight complications but it is possible depending on the experience of the midwife who happens to care for you (if you're interested in that sort of thing).

My last prg I went in as a private patient with my own ob at the delivery, but the midwifery care I received during labour and on the postnatal ward was fantastic, as it was with my first birth when I went in as a public patient through the midwifery clinic.

You won't have any problems booking in at 12 weeks - however, be prepared because they are very, very busy and you may have a wait before your first appt. This isn't a big deal, but it might mean you have to see your Dr for shared care for a bit longer.

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:

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How long would the drive to Nepean be?

BW

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Its only about 20-25 mins drive away, not too bad i guess, Im willing to have a little longer drive, if it means having much nicer staff....:)

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.... The delivery suites are fantastic, they have huge corner baths

......however, be prepared because they are very, very busy and you may have a wait before your first appt. This isn't a big deal, but it might mean you have to see your Dr for shared care for a bit longer.

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OMG willow, you know the exact story, youve obviously had many experience in nepean hospital :)


I have been told the earliest appointment is june 2nd, which is ok i guess, but i was suprised on the lengthy wait..

also, you mentioned the delivery suites have corner baths etc...is this definately in nepean public??? Or just nepean private
Thats awsome if it is nepean public!!!! :)

Definitely the public. The baths in the private delivery suite were kinda squidgy. Not that I was allowed to go anywhere near them having a very fast, premature labour.

Glad to hear you got in to Nepean. It was around a 20 minute drive for us (we're in Windsor) and even with contractions every 4-5 minutes it was ok.

BW

Yes, the midwife clinic at Hawkesbury Hospital is very popular, but booking in at 6 weeks is utterly ridiculous. I've heard only good things about them though. They also have cutoffs for all sorts of things, including being overweight. Nepean seems to be a much more accepting hospital.

I hopefully won't be setting foot inside a hospital, as I'm planning a homebirth!

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I hopefully won't be setting foot inside a hospital, as I'm planning a homebirth!

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ohh, all the best, thats great...
I was considering it, but being my first, i felt the hospital might be a better way to go.

all the best xxx

It's my first bub too! ;)

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!