Private Health Insurance... OR NOT?, which way did you go, and would you again? Options

[Shellsibelle]

The only thing that I will add is that first labours can be long and with a private hospital, they won't let you labour for too long before intervening (their philosophy "the sun will never set twice on a labouring woman").

We will be going private, but this does concern me. I want as little intervention as possible, but have heard that in private hospitals an OB is more likely to intervene to assist with delivery sooner, as opposed to midwives who encourage one to keep on labouring. Not sure if this is true, but that's what I've heard.

[stacie]

I went private with my first and am going private again with this one. I considered going public this time, but given that I had a few complications my gp advised that I wouldn't be able to go through the birth centre with midwifery led care.

Shellsibelle, I've heard that too. And I would say that it is true for some cases, so it needs to be something you discuss with your obs when the time comes.

[Emma-Jane]

I am fortunate that my work pays for my PHI (HBA Ultimate Cover) I'm not sure what I will be covered for - my waiting period finishes in Feb - which is when we are TTC.

On that I will have to do some research as to whether we go public or private - the local public hospitals around here are pretty good, but I wouldn't mind having a private room

[claire_p]

We went public with Keira (because our private health insurance didnt kick in till 2 months later). It was okay. I just saw the midwives, usually different ones each time all through the pregnancy, the birth was fine although I heamoraged after and no-one realised until hours later. I had to share a room with one other girl who complained all the time.

Went Private with Liam. I liked that I got to see the same ob at each appointment and she gave me an ultrasound at every appointment. Her offices were away from the hospital so I always got a park okay and didnt have to pay for parking. Unfortunatley the weekend I had Liam, my ob was away for a conference but I got the other female ob from the same offices which was fine. I liked that I had my own room this time as I had a toddler visiting all the time and I felt better knowing she couldnt bother anyone else.

It cost a little bit more going Private. I had to pay the $400 excess to the hospital and paid for ALL scans and appointments with the obs, but got most of that back from medicare anyway. I think I would of only been out of pocket about $1500 max. Where as with the public I only paid for the NT scan as that wasnt a routine scan.

The Public and Private are next door to each other and if you go into labour before 34 weeks you had to have bub at the public anyway and would be transfered across.

Will be going Private next time too.

[anjele]

I read this post with interest. I work in an occupation where I am closely involved with international nurses and doctors and I wonder if some of the negative experiences that people have are related in any way to the staff on hand at the time who may not be Australian trained. Unfortunately, Australia's medical professionals are in such short supply that the quality of care is probably not anywhere near what it should be. And while there are medical boards which approve registration of all doctors and nurses, it is a fact that some international doctors and nurses get registration and end up being grossly unqualified (usually this is only revealed through several on-the-job incidents.) The highest nationality of medical professionals currently entering Australia are from a country with extremely lower health standards to us. This is bound to have an impact on thier interaction with patients and the patients experience in that particular hospital.

I also note that almost all of these internationally trained doctors and nurses are being employed by public hospitals.

If I was in a public hospital and I felt uncomfortable in any way about my attendings, I would have no hesitation in requesting another doctor, nurse or midwife. And if you have a negative experience make a formal complaint, not only to the hospital but also to the medical or nurses board that governs your state/territory.

[Framboise]

The only thing that I will add is that first labours can be long and with a private hospital, they won't let you labour for too long before intervening (their philosophy "the sun will never set twice on a labouring woman").

This wasn't my experience in a private hospital at all. I was in the labour ward from 12pm Saturday to 10pm Sunday evening (so 34 hours, including 2 sunsets ) and the only intervention I had was an epidural that I insisted on about 3pm Sunday. In fact, they were going to start me on a drip to get contractions going on the Sunday morning and wanted to put in the line on the Saturday evening but I said I'd prefer not to do it that way. My OB concurred and all was fine. My waters broke and there was meconium in them but I wasn't even monitored that much at all. And in fact I quite enjoyed the chance to sit back and watch the monitor.

I am going private again. The main reason being that I can't IMAGINE sharing a room with anyone else except my baby in those first few days. You are so vulnerable, sore, weepy and tender and getting to know your baby. I can't imagine sharing the space with a stranger. I had my own bathroom and space and never left it for the first 24 hours...it was just my little nest.

The choice of OB and continuity of care issue is also important. Mind you, my OB has just been off to Sth America for a month so I've seen 2 different locums and know from experience that the midwives do all the work in the delivery suite. So that is secondary to me. I don't feel I'd get better treatment from an OB than a midwife.

Interestingly, I've found the biggest difference this time round being that I'm seeing a young female OB not an older male OB. It has made the absolute WORLD of difference - but that is possibly another whole discussion topic!

[lozgrl]

...
Interestingly, I've found the biggest difference this time round being that I'm seeing a young female OB not an older male OB. It has made the absolute WORLD of difference - but that is possibly another whole discussion topic!

Sorry I know this is OT but I was wondering which of the two OBs you preferred Framboise? We're hoping to get UTD next year so I'm trying to get a little organised! At this stage I'm leaning towards a female OBs. Someone I know (acquaintance not a friend) said she had to have a male OBs as she "couldn't take directions from a woman" which I think is quite bizarre and archaic!

I'm with you on the sharing a room, couldn't do it! I like my privacy.

[toffee]

I went private, i absolutely loved it, & wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
I had an amazing obstetrician as well. I definately thought it was worth it.

Although i've never gone public so i have nothing to compare it to, but i was really happy with my private experience so i'll do it again if there's a next time.

[~Kristy~]

We went public and couldn't have been happier with our care.
I am a diabetic so was seen by obs not midwives plus i was closely monitored by dieticians. I had regular u/s covered by medicare to monitor bubs size too.
I shared a room the first night but had the room to myself the next night, i would be seen as soon as i pressed the buzzer and they were happy to help me with even the simplest things like how to wrap her or change a nappy & consoled me when i had no milk come in and i was feeling guilty about FF. We will definatly be going public again next time

[Windsor]

Now that we've moved, there are only 3 Obs in town, all of whom practice at the local hospital which is privately run but accepts public patients so I won't be paying the extra $$ to have pretty much the same care minus a few ultrasounds.

If we still lived in our old place I would probably go public again as I believe going through the midwife clinic would be my best bet of achieving a VBAC and I do not want to homebirth.

[**Vanessa**]

I went public and had absolutely fantastic care my whole pregnancy.

I had group midwifery care and lucky for me my favourite one happened to be on the day of my induction.

They were so thorough with everything and for those that don't know I was in and out of hospital with HG and a bleed. I cannot praise the diligence of the staff enough, everything I said was taken seriously and investigated to the highest degree.

The birthing suite was very modern and had only just been renovated. I was able to push for as long as wanted, but had to go with forceps in the end.

The first night I shared a room, then was transferred to my own room. I was never pressured to leave and was there from Wednesday night until Monday afternoon. In fact, I was the one begging to leave!

The hospital offer fantastic support services such a physio and psychologists to see after the birth as an outpatient, all free of charge.

As you can probably tell, I loved my hospital experience and I did not pay a cent.

[Monica]

We will be going private, but this does concern me. I want as little intervention as possible, but have heard that in private hospitals an OB is more likely to intervene to assist with delivery sooner, as opposed to midwives who encourage one to keep on labouring. Not sure if this is true, but that's what I've heard.

It is something to discuss with your OB. I am sure that if you advise him that you don't want intervention, he will do everything in his power to make that happen. If things aren't progressing as quickly as they should be and there needs to be intervention, I would rather an OB than a midwife, sorry, just my opinion and of course it is because of what I went through. I think it was terribly cruel for them to let me labour as long as I did and I could have done with intervention a lot sooner.


I for one would have liked to have an OB keeping more of a closer eye on me as things may not have gone how they did.

[Monica]

This wasn't my experience in a private hospital at all. I was in the labour ward from 12pm Saturday to 10pm Sunday evening (so 34 hours, including 2 sunsets ) and the only intervention I had was an epidural that I insisted on about 3pm Sunday. In fact, they were going to start me on a drip to get contractions going on the Sunday morning and wanted to put in the line on the Saturday evening but I said I'd prefer not to do it that way. My OB concurred and all was fine. My waters broke and there was meconium in them but I wasn't even monitored that much at all. And in fact I quite enjoyed the chance to sit back and watch the monitor.

I am going private again. The main reason being that I can't IMAGINE sharing a room with anyone else except my baby in those first few days. You are so vulnerable, sore, weepy and tender and getting to know your baby. I can't imagine sharing the space with a stranger. I had my own bathroom and space and never left it for the first 24 hours...it was just my little nest.

The choice of OB and continuity of care issue is also important. Mind you, my OB has just been off to Sth America for a month so I've seen 2 different locums and know from experience that the midwives do all the work in the delivery suite. So that is secondary to me. I don't feel I'd get better treatment from an OB than a midwife.

Interestingly, I've found the biggest difference this time round being that I'm seeing a young female OB not an older male OB. It has made the absolute WORLD of difference - but that is possibly another whole discussion topic!

This wasn't my experience in a private hospital at all. I was in the labour ward from 12pm Saturday to 10pm Sunday evening (so 34 hours, including 2 sunsets ) and the only intervention I had was an epidural that [b]I insisted on about 3pm Sunday. In fact, they were going to start me on a drip to get contractions going on the Sunday morning and wanted to put in the line on the Saturday evening but I said I'd prefer not to do it that way. My OB concurred and all was fine. My waters broke and there was meconium in them but I wasn't even monitored that much at all. And in fact I quite enjoyed the chance to sit back and watch the monitor. [/b]

I am going private again. The main reason being that I can't IMAGINE sharing a room with anyone else except my baby in those first few days. You are so vulnerable, sore, weepy and tender and getting to know your baby. I can't imagine sharing the space with a stranger. I had my own bathroom and space and never left it for the first 24 hours...it was just my little nest.

The choice of OB and continuity of care issue is also important. Mind you, my OB has just been off to Sth America for a month so I've seen 2 different locums and know from experience that the midwives do all the work in the delivery suite. So that is secondary to me. I don't feel I'd get better treatment from an OB than a midwife.

Interestingly, I've found the biggest difference this time round being that I'm seeing a young female OB not an older male OB. It has made the absolute WORLD of difference - but that is possibly another whole discussion topic!

He was prepared to intervene though yes?
That was my point. You can certainly say you don't want intervention and they will adhere to this if all is going along fine which was the case for you

[Framboise]

He was prepared to intervene though yes?
That was my point. You can certainly say you don't want intervention and they will adhere to this if all is going along fine which was the case for you

Actually it was the midwives who wanted to intervene!!! He was the one who said 'no, let her go naturally'.

[rosered]

And while there are medical boards which approve registration of all doctors and nurses, it is a fact that some international doctors and nurses get registration and end up being grossly unqualified (usually this is only revealed through several on-the-job incidents.) The highest nationality of medical professionals currently entering Australia are from a country with extremely lower health standards to us. This is bound to have an impact on thier interaction with patients and the patients experience in that particular hospital.

I also note that almost all of these internationally trained doctors and nurses are being employed by public hospitals.

The Australian Medical Council exists to stop inadequately qualified doctors from practising here. Internationally trained doctors have to go through a *lot* of hoops to be allowed to practise in Australia, and there's no rubber-stamping involved.

Back to the original question...

I went public the first time for ideological reasons and found the care absolutely wonderful (it was at Royal North Shore of all places). Because of my complications I even scored a private room.

The second time I was at Calvary in Canberra, and went public on the strength of my first experience. This time they were even better - yes, I saw different midwives each time, but they were all professionals and all helpful. I had the room to myself the first night, and shared the second, and it wasn't the end of the world. I'm the most intensely introverted and private person I know, and if I can pull the curtains shut and share, it can't be that bad!

Neither time did I feel I was being pushed out to make room, nor did I feel like I was getting second-tier service. I also didn't feel concerned because the doctor I saw wasn't Australian-born.