Hornsby Hospital

[jhana]

Hi guys, I'm a newbie here. :wave: Great site and thanks for all the great advice!

I was wondering if anyone has been to Hornsby Hospital and if the experience was good or bad? I hear that they are building a new maternity unit, scheduled to open in Jan. I'm due mid Jan so hopefully it will be ready for my birth :fingerscrossed:

Any comments on service, staff, facilities, birthing rooms etc will be appreciated. Thanks!

[O&GMUM]

My friend had her baby there and loved it. When I went to see her in hospital I thought it was really old so Im glad they are doing a new maternity unit. She is pg now with her second due in August and is going back there even though she has moved to the central coast so it must be good!!

[becca74]

Hornsby hospital has a notorious nickname " Ceasers Palace " ....

They have frighteningly high C/section rates. On the night I had my emergency c/section, 3 other women also had emergency c/sections (only about 2 others that night had a vb). I was told by all the staff there that this was pretty normal in this hospital! So that gives you about a 2 in 3 chance of ending up with a ceaser. So, either 2 in 3 women who live round Hornsby way have highly defective bodies, or the hospital has a highly defective attitude to women's bodies!

Wouldnt touch that place with a barge pole!

Not only is there c/section rate too high, the operating theatres are nowhere near the maternity/labour wards, so they use this as an excuse to separate you from your new baby for 2-3 hours. (in my first c/section in the UK, I had my baby in recovery, so my separation time was only about 20 mins - so I was totally shocked at this hospital protocol that Hornsby have).

Hideous place - sorry....

[saparella]

Hi,
I'm due the beginning of November with my second child and am going through Hornsby Hospital, midwives clinic. Have had a good experience so far. The hopital is a little old and shabby looking, but don't really care as long as the quality of care is good. That would be great if the new ward is completed by January.
Cheers,
Jennifer

[melbryan]

I went there not for a birth and found it really good. It was for an operation and I had the best of care.

[saparella]

Hi Princess Niamh,

Can't find your post - I'm scared to ask, but curious.

Cheers,

Jennifer


i had ds there..
my story is in the birth trauma section..I will say no more lol

[jhana]

Hi guys thanks all for our input.
Becca, forgive me for being totally clueless but you said in your post that Hornsby hospital is reknowned for CSections: stupid question but why would a hospital opt to cut women up when it sounds like it costs alot more for a CS? I would have thought the doctor performing the surgery plus the anaesthetic would cost alot more then a natural birth so why would a hospital opt for CS when a women does not require such a procedure?

[becca74]

Hi guys thanks all for our input.
Becca, forgive me for being totally clueless but you said in your post that Hornsby hospital is reknowned for CSections: stupid question but why would a hospital opt to cut women up when it sounds like it costs alot more for a CS? I would have thought the doctor performing the surgery plus the anaesthetic would cost alot more then a natural birth so why would a hospital opt for CS when a women does not require such a procedure?

It's beyond me also, and I agree, I would feel it much easier that they try and support women for a natural unless it is a real emergency, especially because it costs the health system alot more!

Obstetricians are surgeons. Surgeons do surgery. Surgery is a 'good' outcome for them, hence they dont see it as a negative outcome. OBs also gets paid more to do surgery, so I think there is a little 'ch-ching' going on in their heads....

All I can say, is the Obstetrician who surgically extracted my baby at Hornsby Hospital commented to me as he pulled my baby out that it was 'just as well' as my baby's head circ was 34cms, and from what he could see, would never have fit through my pelvis.

Having just had a homebirth last friday, naturally delivering my biggest baby, who had a bigger, 36cm head circ (and I didnt even need a stitch!), all I can say is that Obstetrician was an idiot, and I would definately NOT recommend Hornsby hospital to anyone!

Dont risk it, you are too precious!

[dynnyrne]

I have a friend who had her son there about 8 months ago and was treated really well. She had midwives and the full birthing suite. She was encouraged through a natural birth and her and her husband left with their bub all day in the birthing suite.
Only negative would be when we went to visit she was in the ward which was cramped (2 mums & bubs in a small room) and old looking.
She had trouble breatfeeding and felt very supported by the midwives and was kept an extra day till all was going well.

[Wish_Bear]

Hornsby Hospital is a great hospital. I had my daughter there and eveyone was fantastic!!! The midwife clinic was superb and so helpful. Whenever I had any probs they were more than happy to check me out or I'd just call and they would tell me what to do etc.

I had trouble BF and they went out of their way to help me succeed.

My DD had breathing probs and they were qucik to recognise it and sorted it out straight away. Whenever I needed a rest they would put her in the nursery so I could sleep.

I admit it was a little old 3.5yrs ago but I hear they are building a new maternity unit.

I highly reccomend Hornsby to anyone, it's a wonderful hospital with fantastic caring staff.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[saparella]

Hi,

A friend sent me through a copy of the Mothers and Babies Report from 2004 (couldn't find any more recent) put out through the NSW Health Dept link - http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/subs/sub_maternal.html (http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/subs/sub_maternal.html)
According to the report, Hornsby rates well. In terms of caesars, out of all births that year 16% were elective caesars and only 12.5% were emergency caesars. Pretty standard in comparison to other hopsitals in NSW. For example, Royal North Shore - 16.3% elective and 14.9% emergency.

Cheers,

Jennifer