Sandrigham Hospital

[luckytiger]

Hi,
This is the second hospital that I am going to the prev one was hopless they never told me about charges and they gave me the wrong info.

So I am hoping to get a respond from someone that has delt with the Sandringham Hospital and I hope you can let me know of costs and what they offer and do not offer, I have spoken to a couple of people from there but the info that they have given me in inconsistant they have told me differant thing, and I am not really sure what to believe when it come to hospitals anymore.

Any and all info about this hospital would be highly appreciated.

[candyn]

Luckytiger, first of all welcome!
Second i am not a firstimer, but i definately can try and help you on some opinions on Sandy.

I live in the bayside suburbs, as mums talk alot, well 2 people who have had their babies at the Sandy Hospital did not have good things to say about it.

But hey there are always different opinions and someones experience may not be yours! just thought i'd let you know!

I can definately recommend Dandenong Hospital, it might be little out of your way but they were fantastic with my first, i had my 2nd at Cabrini and they were brilliant, i will having my 3rd there! But as far as public hospitals there isn't much choice at our end!!!

Dandenong maternity is newer than Monash maternity and you get fantastic midwifery care!!:D

Goodluck sweetie!!

[NayNay]

Hey there
I'm currently booked in at Sandringham as a public patient, but am now looking at going private, so not sure if I'll stay with Sandi or not.
When I had my tour as a public patient, they told us we'd have to pay some money upfront to secure our spot - yet we have never received an invoice from them saying what money we might need to pay (as a public patient at that stage, I was surprised they were asking for money at all!). (I'm now 30 weeks and did the tour around 5 weeks - and havent received a bill or anything.) (Though, I booked in for the ante-natal classes and they have charged me $60 a session... most people have said it was free, or only $20 a session - ?!)
The hospital seemed alright. Bit old and rundown, but I have not seen other maternity wards to really be able to comment.
They have newly installed a bath in there which you can use to ease labour pains, but they'll get you out of it if you're getting close to birth, as they dont do water births.
They have one private room, but if you're booked in there and a public patient has twins or a difficult labour, you'll get booted out that room and put in the public rooms so they can get the private room. (Which, to be fair, have no more than 2 beds in each room, and a bathroom to share.)
I've had a couple friends go to Sandi (as public patients) who were really happy with the level of service.
My only real concern is that the public rooms are in a circular shape, running off the nurses station which is located in the centre. When I was there, the nurses were standing around all chatting at the tops of their voices, so my concern was how noisy it would get if you are trying to sleep and the nurses are all based right out front of your door!
As far as what they offer... we did our tour right at the start when we hadnt even read any books, so had no idea what to ask for! I do recall they had some fitballs there, and birthing stools, and a shower for use during labour, plus the bath. I'm not sure even now what else is important, but thats about all I can remember. Hope it helps in some way!

[candyn]

Fee upfront and to pay for your antenatal classes doesn't sound right!!
Public hospital is all paid by medicare, i paid nothing with my first child!!!
I am going to Cabrini with my current pregnancy and the antenatal classes are free!!! I went to Cabrini with my 2nd too and all the classes were free and this is a private hospital. My first was at Dandenong and there were no fees!:no:

[jody@melb]

:wave: Hi lucktiger

I was just reading your enquiry about the Sandringham hospital. I had my youngest daughter (now 3) at Sandy and had the best experience with her, the staff are great and while the hospital did look a bit run down everything to do with the birth/aftercare etc was Perfect..:thumbsup:

Unfortunately in regards to the private room being over taken by twins birth or difficult birth this is TRUE (they told me this aswell).:(

As this was my second child I did not attend classes there. I am now expecting our third child in February and as we are further down at the moment in Seaford I am going to Frankston Hospital and they do also charge a fee or birthing classes and it is not cheap.

Hope this helps

Bye for now

[luckytiger]

Thank you very much for all of your help and just wondering could you please tell me what the booking in fee was to get a spot guarenteed?
Ok, other than Sandy where would you guy's recommend that is in my area...

[candyn]

I live in Bentleigh, What used to be great was the monash hospital, moorabbin campus but they closed the birthing unit down a while ago.
Monash is Ok, but have heard better things about Danenong Hospital (no fees) and great birthing unit, fantastic!!! Thats about it for our area!!! The sandy is the only public hospital serving the inner bayside area of melb!!
There are always the options of the Royal womens hospital, Frankston i hear is good, from my experience i truly recommend Dandenong had my first there and totally thought they were awesome it's relatively new far better facilities than Monash IMO.
i have heard mixed things about SAndy, the only draw back is if you go private you will most likely still get a shared ward, as the single room goes to ceserean and twin births.

[AquaDevil78]

Well i guess im lucky then living in elwood at the moment but soon to move i will only be going to sandringham one or twice. They sound like the pits. I am a public patient and the woman i spoke to was very nice , said she send me forms to bring which i got, but mentioned no feees on the phone, and the only fee they mention in my forms is that i would have to pay the difference for ultra sounds?? But from what i have read about the public system on the vic government site, public should be 100% free unless you choose to get private treatment??

Anyway myself and DP are planning to move as out lease expires back to the S/E Subs wantirna, ftg etc etc so he suggested FTG Hospital? But i might also look at Dandenong then after reading these posts :thumbsup:

Forgot to mention that i read that Sandy does rely on and welcome donations could it be that people have been pressured or tricked into paying a donation as opposed to a fee?

[candyn]

Acquadevil you are right you are not meant to pay a cent under the public system so i do not know why Sandy does this!!!! Another mum at kindy mentioned this to me and she was upset as she was told too late in the pregnancy!!!!
Definately recommend Dandenong, Fantastic reputation and no expenses, also have to mention i had the best after care aswell!1

[luckytiger]

After I dogive birth could you please tell me what is the average timing that I should or would stay in the hospital I am hearing very mixed things about this aswell between differant hospitals

[candyn]

It depends whether you go into a birthing unit or not. Birthing unit you stay 24hrs then get discharged. Normal labour ward 3-4days, Ceserean up to 6days.