Hey :)
First time pregnant currently 8w5days. I was wondering on peoples experiences on public or private and any hidden costs involved with private? Also how do you pick a Dr when going private, any tips? They all just look like drs to me. I'm in QLD and are thinking between Northwest Private and Caboolture Hospital public or private??
Thank you for guidance, appreciate it as its all getting alittle to overwhelming
4 Replies
I went private for a number of reasons. My local, you're just another number and they're chock a block, always full and the classes had 30 + couples in them. I visited a friend there and it was dirty, understaffed and had no security in place for the ward.
To further help us make our decision, we needed a C-Section and the public system wanted to class it as "elective" and charge us for it despite being 100% medically necessary and no other option. They couldn't give me an exact date as they leave theatre for emergencies and I was not at all allowed to carry beyond 39 weeks, however they wanted me to go to at least my due date and beyond.
I had a choice of numerous private hospitals with my Ob, we chose the most local one and where I regularly attend. It was clean, you had a team of midwives who saw you daily, physio, stayed until YOU were ready to leave (not shoved out the door like the local to me), we had 4 couples in our classes and well, just everything was better. I knew the date of my scheduled C-Section by 30 weeks and it was recognised as medically necessary to help with my private health insurance claims. Didn't have to pay for TV or any extras. Had a private bed (queen size) and my partner stayed with me every night. It was a closed off section of the hospital with access only via 3 manned/coded doors.
We had to pay the Obs per appt. - about $80 per one and we got $60 back from Medicare once we reached the threshold. Her fee for delivery was $5k which we got $2000 back from Medicare. I was able to see bubs every 2-4 weeks via scans at her office. Had I had a vaginal, the only cost would be my excess and any medication/epidural/anaesthetist fees. For the C-Section, we had a bit more to pay and ended up about $7k out of pocket with anaesthetist, assistants, paediatrician and a few other things.
I chose my Doctor by recommendation from my GP, I flat out only wanted a female. It just didn't sit right with me having a male deliver my child without knowing it from a female's perspective and not having that intimacy.. plus how exposed you are being naked and on full show. I know, frowned upon view but my body my choice :-) Once I had the referral, I went home and did research and contacted a few women on some local pregnancy pages who also used her and she came very highly recommended.
I went public in Brisbane and birthed at the Mater. I had GP Shared Care and saw my GP for all appointments except 2 with the midwives at the hospital. I cannot fault the care I received there. I had to go in for monitoring one day as I wasn't feeling good and was admitted to maternity straight away, and well looked after. My pregnancy was relatively uncomplicated but the birth was difficult and resulted in an unplanned c-section. The midwives present were amazing and the OB who operated was fantastic - he even came and debriefed me the day after, explained everything that happened and why we had to have a c-section. After care was also terrific and I was very happy with all of it. Best of all, I only had to pay for one set of bloods and the rest was bulk-billed.
Where we live now, I would not birth in our public hospital, and the fact that we would not be able to afford to go private was one of the contributing factors in sticking with one baby.
Get some feedback from locals on your public hospital. I see no reason to pay for medical care if good quality care can be sourced for free.
I was a public patient who spent 6 weeks in hospital with pre-eclampsia (30-36) and had an emergency csection. Daughter weighed 4lbs and also spent 6 weeks in. Couldn't have gotten better care even if we were private.
I had both my kids at caboolture as a public patient and cannot fault them. Wonderful nurses and drs. My second was a medically advised csection which yes is classed as elective as its not emergency. I did not get charged for it. I had my own room for my csection spent 4 nights. My first I was in a 2 bed share room (they only have 2 to a room) and I had 3 nights there. Still nice just not as private.
I worked at north west and have had friends birth there. They recommend it but rate there experience similar to mine. Only difference they were out of pocket and had a private room no matter how they birthed.
Its up to you what you want you can always have a look at both. Look at cost can you afford private if you end up with an emergency csection can you afford the cost. Talk to private health insurance find out what they cover (not alot no ob appts no scans etc).
Congrats and all the besf for your pregnancy and birth.