Giving birth in public hospital and recover in Private hospital, Its it a option?????

[jjnella]

I used to live in Tamworth NSW and alot of women there used to give birth in the public hospital and transfer to the private hospital for the rest of their stay. I have since moved to Brisbane and wondered if it was an option everywhere?? We are starting to plan for another baby and im looking into all options.

[Ange&Seth]

Do you have private health insurance?

[jjnella]

Yes i do have private health cover.

[Ange&Seth]

But you're not covered for Obstetrics? Sorry, I'm trying to understand why you want to birth in public then transfer to private so I can understand exactly what you're after.

[jjnella]

No we are covered for everything im just looking at different options. I also was looking into having a doula or IM so i thought by going public i could still do that and stay on as a private patient so i could have my own room.

[Ange&Seth]

Depending on how your excess is geared with your health fund, it mightn't be any cheaper to deliver in the public and then transfer to the private hospital than it would be to deliver in the private hospital right from the start - hospital wise anyway, not necessarily cheaper if you include obs fees etc.

You could use your health insurance and go through the public system but as a private patient and request your own room. As a private patient, you would have preference for the private room but nothing is guaranteed.

[MelissafromSyd]

I also was looking into having a doula or IM so i thought by going public i could still do that and stay on as a private patient so i could have my own room.

You can have a doula (birth support person) at a public or private hospital. Independent midwives generally attend home births, but most also provide hospital support, again in a public or private hospital.

A private room is not guaranteed, even in a private hospital(unless they have only private rooms). It's often a first-come, first-serve basis, or an as-needs basis.

What kind of birth experience are you after?

Cheers,
Melissa.

[mum2cheeky1]

im not sure how it works everywhere else but i was told even as a private patient in the public hospital you will not get piority to have a private room..

they normal reserve private rooms for the ladies who have had a tough birth.

[Izy]

Yep- In most cases you can ask to be transfered for your recovery. As long as the Dr's don't take that as a sign to say that you're fit to be discharged ;)

[SomewhereOverTheRainbow]

mum2cheeky1 is right :yes:. I work in a general surgical ward (not maternity) but we only have single rooms for pts who need them (and it doesn't matter if you are private or not). Usually the people in the single rooms (we only have 2 single rooms) are either infectious and are in there for isolation, or are dying and we put them in a single room so their family can stay, privacy etc.
The maternity ward at my hospital only has 1 private room, it has a double bed in it. It is usually reserved for people who have twins etc (I suppose so they have space to feed them both?). It is also used for stillbirths, and late miscarriages/births. I used it myself only a few months ago and it was excellent as DH could stay while I was in labour and support me as it was a pretty sad time.
But the way the hospital system is at the moment you are very lucky to get a bed in either a private or public hospital. Period. :no: