Westmead Private vs Westmead Public

[Jackie11]

Can anyone advise me if I should go private or public at Westmead hospital. I am covered by my private health insurance for maternity cost. So people public nowaday is better than private. Is this true?

[kellie2113]

I also had private health care cover but was told I would have to pay around $4,000 on top of what was covered by private health insurance - however your fund may pay more benefits than mine.

I ended up going to Westmead public for my DS birth (my sister was a midwife there at the time which also influenced my decision to go public) and i have no regrets. I found the midwives in the birthing unit very kind and helpful and the whole birth experience went very smoothly.

They have recently upgraded their facilities and have brand new birthing rooms and maternity ward rooms - with the maternity ward you are either put in a single room or a double - so you won't be with more than one other mum and there is a shower/toilet in each room.

However, I found the nurses in the maternity ward to be very rushed and pushy and dad's are kicked out at 9pm sharp.

I also used the midwives clinic at the hospital for my antenatal appointments. This service was OK but expect to wait an hour or so to be seen (i guess this happens in a GP's waiting room as well).

Overall I was happy with the service especially the midwives in the birthing unit (I think the ones in the Maternity ward may be understaffed & perhaps that's why they are pushy trying to do too much to quickly??) but I will definitely go public again for my next baby.

I can't comment on Westmead private as have not been there.

I hope this helps - if u have any more questions re: Westmead public I would be happy to answers them :)

[natski]

I had my son in 06 at the public hospital as a private patient - so had my choice of obstetrician and a private room, which was great, as my husband slept in a fold-out bed and they didn't push us to go home because we were private. The staff were great and my son ended up in Special Care and they were also fantastic.

I had my stay in the old part as the new upgrade was still being built - I have been told that the birthing suites are fantastic but to compensate, they've put less beds in. I had a great experience there and would be going back, but my obstetrician doesn't deliver there anymore.

I haven't been to Westmead Private, but had some friends who had babies there - some loved it, others had mixed feelings. But I think you're going to get that everywhere - someone will have a good experience, others will not. It's hard.

I'd suggest taking a tour of the birthing suites and maternity rooms - that's what we did with Westmead Public. Just ring and they'll tell you when they're on. I'm not sure if Westmead Private does tours though - you can always ask.

Good luck!

[Jackie11]

Thank you for your advice. I think I will go to Westmead Public as a private patient. The thought of having a massive bill at the end of the day really scares me.
Do I need to make a booking now with Westmead Public? :sunshine: I am due in late January

[natski]

I'd book in asap - just to be sure. I booked through my obstetrician last time, so i'm not sure how to book - i guess just contact the hospital? I think it's a better experience as a private patient - well it was for me anyway :) Good Luck

[Ky]

I had great treatment as a public patient at Westmead in January ... mind you, my bub was transferred to Childrens within an hour so I was given a private room after my c/s so that I didn't disturb people with my coming and going at odd hours and also so that I could (almost) shut out the sounds of other people's babies.

They were very caring and did things like made sure I got my meals even if I had been at Childrens all day.

[kellie2113]

Yeah you should book in asap. You will need to get a referral from your GP and then fax it to Westmead hospital. Not sure of the fax number but the phone number for the appointment Office is 9845-6544 - give them a call and they will advise of all the information you will need to fax in ie. due date, referral, type of care etc they will then send you a letter confirming your booked in (which usually takes a few weeks to arrive) - Good luck!

[Larski]

Thank you for your advice. I think I will go to Westmead Public as a private patient. The thought of having a massive bill at the end of the day really scares me.
Do I need to make a booking now with Westmead Public? :sunshine: I am due in late January

Just double check this! I had my baby through the private system in May and the extra costs were doctors fee, nothing for the hospital stay. But I paid the doctors fees along the way so i didnt have a bill at the end at all!

[Rodmon69]

One of my choices was Westmead Public I had heard they refurbished but haven't seen it. My friend had both her children 6 & 9 yrs ago there & thought they were great. At least they are consistent.

Good luck:)

[Bronwyn]

Jackie
Congrats and enjoy your pregnancy.
Ring your healthfund and find out exactly what they cover?
The cost of the hospital is covered by your excess regardless of which hospital you go into - even if you go private thru the public system you are considered a private patient and the hospital will charge and you will find you have to pay the excess either way. the bulk of the costs are your obs and anaethatist (if needed).
There are a couple of differences though - the private hospital has a better nurse to pt ratio and depending where your obstetricians rooms are (normally in the private hospital) they will come and visit you everyday.
Don't get me wrong Westmead Public is a good hospital with excellenat staff (I used to work there and my husband still does) but if you have private health insurance USE IT and get the little extras that you are paying your premiums for.
My experience was wonderful at Westmead Private and I had lots of admissions from 28 weeks with pre-eclampsia which meant I paid my excess ($50) on my first overnight visit and was admitted as many times as necessary under that one excess.
I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever choice you make.
Regards
Bronwyn

[peach blossom]

hi,

for those that went into a public hospital as a private patient, did you still have to organise your own private OB (which charges the pregnancy management fee) or could you just get a midwife or OB on duty at the public hospital maternity/birthing units to do the delivery??
is there still a chance that you may have to pay some sort of "gap" to cover the doctors fee even if its a public hospital doctor/midwife just because your a "private" patient?
i know i would only have to pay the excess on my health fund for the hospital stay - but would i have to pay gap costs for the doctor too?

[Bronwyn]

Hi Peachblossom


If you went into a public hospital as a private patient and picked your own obstetrician you would have to pay the normal obs fees and also the excess for the hospital stay - if you were going to do that you might as well be in a private hospital

However if you chose to go as a public patient thru the midwife clinic then you won't have to pay a cent for anything but you don't get your choice of ob - normally just who is rostered on when you go into labour.

Nothing wrong with either way just what suits you.

[twisted sister]

So nice to here nice things said about westmead public.
I just had my son there but I also work there.

Yes its nice and new and very beautiful but still very busy.

[MumtoAva]

I had my daughter at Westmead Private 2 years ago and am due to have my 2nd there any day now :fingerscrossed:. If you have paid for private health insurance i'd strongly suggest that you use it, the only out of pocket expenses we incurred was for my Obs and once you hit the Medicare Safety Net you get more back (and if you're getting Family Assistance A the threshold is lower so you reach it sooner :yelclap:).
I also got a bill from the anethesist for my epidural but you can also claim for a refund on that from Medicare so in all we weren't out of pocket that much. We also had to pay our health insurance xs.
When we got our statement from our health insurance provider to what they had been charged by the hospital it was in xs of $4000 so when you think of what you pay in premium each year it's such a good feeling knowing you're actually getting something from your health fund cause I don't know about you but we hardly claim anything so it was great to get something back.
I can't compare the hospitals cause I haven't been to Westmead Public but I was so happy with Westmead Private and couldn't fault them with anything.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy :)

[Jackie11]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have booked myself in Westmead public as a private patient.
I understand my healthfund should cover the maternity cost if I choose to go with private. The only concern is that if my baby needs to go to special care nursery due there is any congenital problem, the healthfund does not cover.

[MumtoMackenzie]

I am booked into Westmead Public as a public...and i am seeing a specialist there...due to previouse complications....and i am so pleased to hear good things about them!!! Thanks again!!!

[twisted sister]

I saw Prof Trudinger at westmead public, was very happy with my care.

[MumtoMackenzie]

I am seeing Dr Athayde (started in his preconception clinic) so I see one of his crew and they all seem nice...can't thank Dr Athayde enough...he was able to sort out why I kept misscarring....so I have made it 17weeks...I am so pleased!!!:yelclap:

[NicholaG]

Does anyone know the names of any good obstetricians that deliver at Westmead Public Hospital?:)

[AnastasiaOZ]

Hi girls,

I am a new here and really need your HELP!!!
I am 11 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I had my first baby in WA, but we have now live in Sydney, Inner West and actually moving to the new suburb Stanhope Gardens (near Kellyville Ridge, Glenwood) next week. I have no idea about any hospitals, birth centres over there. Looked through your forum and thought that Westmead Public would be the best option for me (I don't have any health insurance) - got the refferal from my GP yestarday, called the Westmead today, and :crying: they told me that they only take patients from the area. My suburb - Stanhope gardens is under Blacktown council, the next suburb (only a cross the road Bella Vista is under Baulkaham Hills) - so they would take someone from the Baulkahm Hills, but can't take people who are under Blacktwon council :no: I got so upsad and have no idea what to do next. Definately don't want to have a baby in the Blacktown hopsital, but what would be my other option? Looked at the Hills Private (looks like the closest one to me), but how much would it cost for non insured person? What would you suggest? Are there any other birth centres or public hospitals in the area close to me, which Im not aware of? Thanks for all your help!

[twisted sister]

Hi girls,

I am a new here and really need your HELP!!!
I am 11 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I had my first baby in WA, but we have now live in Sydney, Inner West and actually moving to the new suburb Stanhope Gardens (near Kellyville Ridge, Glenwood) next week. I have no idea about any hospitals, birth centres over there. Looked through your forum and thought that Westmead Public would be the best option for me (I don't have any health insurance) - got the refferal from my GP yestarday, called the Westmead today, and :crying: they told me that they only take patients from the area. My suburb - Stanhope gardens is under Blacktown council, the next suburb (only a cross the road Bella Vista is under Baulkaham Hills) - so they would take someone from the Baulkahm Hills, but can't take people who are under Blacktwon council :no: I got so upsad and have no idea what to do next. Definately don't want to have a baby in the Blacktown hopsital, but what would be my other option? Looked at the Hills Private (looks like the closest one to me), but how much would it cost for non insured person? What would you suggest? Are there any other birth centres or public hospitals in the area close to me, which Im not aware of? Thanks for all your help!

Hi there,

Just letting you know my SIL had the same problem and just moved to Stanhope Gardens. Westmead wouldnt let them book in due to being out of area even though Im a midwife there myself:no:. So she booked into the birth centre at blacktown and the middys there aer fantastic, she is really happy so far (baby due in January). I also had 2 babys at blacktown, many years ago though, and recently a baby at westmead and I never had any problems with Blacktown. In fact I can tell you this from an insider- westmead does way too much intervention and Id have to say Blacktown has great staff (yes there is always one bad one Im sure).
Id ring up and speak to the staff in the birth centre at Blacktown and go there, its suppose to be very nice and you dont have to stay in hospy for very long afterwards, infact I went home early and had midwives come to my house which was much better.
My SIL also goes to the aquanatal classes at Stanhope gardens if your interested.

I hope this helps

[MelissafromSyd]

the private hospital has a better nurse to pt ratio
Having worked in both, respectfully I have to disagree.

The ratios are actually worse in the private hospital. It's a business that exists to make a profit and staff is the biggest expense, hence this is an area that private hospitals cut.
It's not uncommon for a midwife to have 8 patients at the private hospital and 5 or 6 in the public hospital.

The other issue is that you're more likely to be cared for by a midwife in the public hospital than the private hospital, and it's important that women are cared for by the appropriate professional. Nurses don't study midwifery and therefore are not fully qualified to care for postnatal women.

[AnastasiaOZ]

Twisted sister, thank you for your reply! I will also try to call to the private Westmead to find out their costs, if its going to end up too expensive will try to contact Blacktown. Do you know if I can go to the Public Westmead and pay? Or does the private westmead have their antenatal clinic? I don't want to see OB, I would be happy with midwifes.
If you can give me the details for aqua classes that would be very helpful!!! Thank you very much!!!

[twisted sister]

I'd have to agree with Melissa, private hospys are far worse for nurse patient ratio than public. I also know they employ unqualified nurses to cover shifts. When I was training I worked in some of the best private hospys in Sydney, you'd be surprised.

Anastasia- If you go to westmead private you need to go under an OB, Im pretty sure you can go under an Ob and pay to go to westmead public but not sure, they changed the rules only recently due to EVERYONE wanting to have their baby there.

To be honest Blacktown is fine. As Ive said I had 2 babys there under midwife care and loved it, I also as I've said had a baby recently at westmead too and I work there. Yes its a new hospital and all renovated but they are very big on intervention and this is one thing that I hate about it because alot of the time its not nessassary.

Id go check blacktown out and see for yourself first.

The aqua classes are in the stanhope gardens swimming pool, I think on a thursday night she goes but says they are great. If you go there her name is Sarah maybe you could talk to her about blacktown to make you feel more comfy.

[MelissafromSyd]

I second (or third!) Blacktown :) It's a lovely hospital and the staff are wonderful there. Smaller hospital, more caring, you get to know the staff who'll be there when you give birth. Just my opinion though.

[happychild]

i just called westmead as well and got an ultra-grumpy lady (she really doesnt sound like she likes her job)...anyway...when I told her where i lived (rhodes) she said I was out of the area and I cant be admitted as a public patient =(. Does that mean that I cant be admitted in the public system as a private patient either?????? or will the rules change slightly if i go in the public system as a private patient??? I was too scared to ask her any questions.

[MelissafromSyd]

Maybe try RPA birth centre or Bankstown Hosp? Not sure but I think RPA is closer to you.

[NicholaG]

I'm 14 weeks pregnant and I've chosen to get a private obstetrician and go to the Westmead Public Hospital for the delivery. I live out of the area (Schofields) and didn't have a problem booking into the public hopsital.

It does cost a little more to get an obstetrician, but for me it's peace of mind and he's been so helpful. I'm with Dr Siri-Wardena.

[AnastasiaOZ]

Girls, thank you for your help!
I will definately go to the aqua classes in Stanhope Gardens - so might meet your SIL, twisted sister! Thank you...will also try the blacktown and maybe try to call the westmead again (as my 1st experience wasn't very good - I must of had the same lady as happychild...)