share-care and public hospitals brisbane

[dragonflyblu]

I have recently moved to Brisbane from sydney. I am 13 weeks pregnant due Jan 1st (yay :smiliedance: ) I am a public patient. In Sydney I went to my doctor to confirm I was pregnant, do all the blood tests and book in for an ultrsound to make sure all was well before we went to europe for 4 weeks. My doctor was really organised, told me my options, explained various tests and gave me the RPA protocol for antenatal shared care so I felt at ease and would know what I had to do week by week.

I don't have a doctor in Brisbane and today I thought I would go to a medical centre recommended by one of my husbands work friends. It was an awful experience. :gloomy: We are currently living in Kangaroo Point and I was told that I had to book into the Mater Mothers beacuse it is in my zone, but then I was told that they have a quota and I may not get in. In that case I was to phone this doctor back and she would give me a referral to the Royal Brisbane and womens hospital. I told her I would like to try to get into the RBWH birth centre and was told by her that the QLD health system is not like Sydney, it is very crowded and I dont have a choice. I asked her about my options and she told me as a public patientI do not have options, but I could pay for private if I was worried.

I feel really disempowered and would like to go to another doctor but I really dont know any. It is our first baby and I am very new to QLD. Can anyone tell me some good medical centres?

I really need to work this out soon as the doctor I went to today said it was highky unlikely that I would get into the Birth Centre even if RBWH even accepted me. I tried to ring RBWH to find out if I need to do shared care (the doctor today told me there was no other option) and if I need a referral but RBWH do not pick up the phone and only accept faxes.

[Sarie]

I can't help you with a Doctor in that area I was with on on the north side. RWBH is great (even just birth suites - could use birth centre as I had GD.) I did share care with them till I developed GD then I went to the Diabetes clinic, at RWBH
If you're not happy with your doctor shop around. I'm sure some girls in you area will come to your aid soon!

[BJelly]

Hi, welcome to Brissy!

Yes our public hospital system truly does suck:thumbsdown: .

I was not able to get into the birth centre, but the RB&WH has Midwife run programs: Pegasus and Phoenix. So if you'd prefer to be looked after by Midwives it's a good alternative.

I went with the Phoenix Midwives and found that they were very supportive of active birth with minimal unnecessary intervention - I'm presuming that is something you are looking for seeing as your first preference is the birth centre.
The good thing about this program is that each team is made up of 6 or so Midwives so that you should meet all of them at some stage during your antenatal visits so when you give birth, you should know the person helping you give birth, which is always nice.

If you have any trouble during labour they can call an OB, and I've heard the special care unit is very good if bubs has any probs - it's nice to know there is good back up if (heaven forbid) anything goes wrong.

If you have found a good GP the shared care system might be good too.

[belinda]

if you would like a nice doctor who is in clayfield and is a lady just pm me she is lovly.... good luck with everything...

[serenitynow]

Congratulations!

I, too was newly pregnant, new to Brisbane, incidently KP as well and a public patient. I went to a fantastic doctor in KP (pm me if you want details - small clinic, all female doctors, very professional and empathetic), who I did share care with. I didn't like the Mater, so I got a referral and was booked into the Royal.

I didn't use the BC or suites as I had a planned C/S, but between the midwives, the ob and my gp, I felt I was in great hands. All were willing to listen, answer silly questions, talk to my specialist when required (dodgy kidneys), and I had a wonderful experience.

The only disadvantage to being out of your zone, so to speak, is that there is no home visit from nurse after you go home. That said, you can arrange that through your community childcare nurse, if required.

Good luck and please feel free to pm should you require any firther info regarding doctors, etc.

[gillianf]

Firstly, dont panic! I did (we were new to Australia when we discovered our pregnancy - no medicare, no family, no backup budget plan...etc) and we've survived thusfar! :D

I've heard from friends that the Royal is wonderful - holding thumbs you get in! I have found that the public system here is SO much better than South Africa! The fact that I'm attempting a VBAC this time round and finding everybody SO supportive is very encouraging - as is the fact that everybody is geared towards an active labour which is what I really want!

I hope you find a great GP (I'm still not quite happy with mine, but she charges me medicare rates, so I'm staying for now...hehe)

[~Emmylou~]

I can recommend a Medical centre in Red Hill - Red Hill Surgery, any of the doctors there are wonderful. They do share care and many of the drs have special interest in obstetrics. Red Hill is about 5 minutes drive from Kangaroo Point.

I can also tell you that if you live in Kangaroo Point the Mater will take you. You get priority over other people that live further away. I was told this in my last pregnancy when I lived in Hawthorne and called to book in a panic thinking I had missed out - the person I spoke to said as I live so close I get first priority. Kang. Pt is even closer.

Your doctor should be supporting your request to try for a place at the birthing centre too if that's what you want. That centre is THERE for public patients, it is hard to get into though and you have to be considered "low risk". Definitely change dr's the one you have sounds like an *ss.

[dragonflyblu]

Thankyou to everyone who replied so quickly. I am going to shop around for a doctor today and I am going to look into the midwife option. I also found this web site http://www.doctors-4u.com/brisbane which looks useful so I am going to phone around and see if i can find a good doctor. I think I just got a really awful women at a time when I needed help with my options and some understanding.

So far, only 13 weeks in, everything looks normal so I am just going to assume I will not need high intervention. It seems that if I did need high intervention the system copes fine.

[nuddle]

hi, I just wanted to say that I totally agree, after Sydney, the public/medicare system in brisbane is ****....

I am booked into redlands public, I have had other surgery there, and have been happy with them, so hoping the pg/delivery will go well with them as well.

good luck

[dragonflyblu]

Just in case anyones interested I have been booked into RBWH Midwife program so no more shared care for me. I was also booked into the mater but have recently moved and now I am out of their 'zone' so I would not get a home visit after the birth. Also the mater were charging us for the classes and the royal bulk bill everything! I feel much happier now:smiliedance:

[kittycat_black]

Hey! I am 8 weeks along and I'm just over in Indooroopilly... not toooo far away. I've been asking similar questions to the ones you are right now.... glad to hear you sorted it all out. I am also planned for the royal brisbane hospital.

Hey if you are free during the week you may be interested in this cafe meet up happening this tuesday over here in Indooroopilly.. http://bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=35792

Just thought I'd pass on the word.. there's a bunch of us going so far. :D

[dragonflyblu]

Thaks Kittycat_black Ill have a look.