Ob in Perth

[MRS C]

I have just started looking for a Ob in Perth. I have Private cover but will not be qaulified until Jan and Bub due April. I have heaps of Q's so bare wuth me
1. Suggestions on Obs and hospitals in Perth
2. Was your Ob a 'no gap' Ob.
3. What is a rough cost per visit if not cover by private cover and does medicare cover any of these visits

Thanks for your help in advance ;)

[Chickadee]

1. I was with Dr Linda Wong, her office is in Subiaco. Delivered at St John of God Subiaco, which was excellent, like being in a hotel.

2. I can't answer this one. I had no medicare & was on overseas visitors cover, so technically there wasn't a gap. But at around 7.5 months my insurance provider decreased the amount they pay back for specialists, from 100% they dropped it to only 80%. I never discussed it with Linda but I suspect she lowered her delivery fee for me to reflect my reduced insurance coverage.

3. I think it was around $55 a visit, but that was nearly 2 years ago. Can't answer on the medicare part.

[mitchsmum]

1. We were with Dr Susan Isdale she works from the private hospital at joondalup Her and Dr Margo Norman work together both are fantastic

2. I think this always depends on your cover but I know that we had no gap

3. Same thing again it depends on your cover but I am pretty sure cover is only for hospital on maternity visit were around $60 and yes medicare covers some of it.

There are a couple of big charges like first visit and a $300 one cant remember what that was for and when you are going private you will be charged for ultrasounds $120 (around) unless you ask if you can be bulk billed (not sure if they do this) medicare covers some of this.

Because we had to have a csection a Baby Dr had to be present, we were charged for this as our little fella was not considered paitent, he also had to have a couple of checks while in hospital which we were billed for. Medicare covered some of the cost.

Sorry this is so long hope it helps if you have any other questions you think I can help with feel free to PM me :)

[Merlion]

1. I was with Dr Linda Wong, her office is in Subiaco. Delivered at St John of God Subiaco, which was excellent, like being in a hotel.

2. I can't answer this one. I had no medicare & was on overseas visitors cover, so technically there wasn't a gap. But at around 7.5 months my insurance provider decreased the amount they pay back for specialists, from 100% they dropped it to only 80%. I never discussed it with Linda but I suspect she lowered her delivery fee for me to reflect my reduced insurance coverage.

3. I think it was around $55 a visit, but that was nearly 2 years ago. Can't answer on the medicare part.

1. I had Dr Simon Turner, his office is in Subiaco. Delivered at St John of God Subiaco, which was excellent but as they were in middle of renovations a bit of inconvenience for parking.

2. I'm just looking at my costs to see him per visit, It used to cost me $45.70 per antenatal visit and medicare covered $30.20. He sent one bill for my first visit and then a total bill of antenatal visit after bubs was born (I had Jessica in December last year). I saw him a total of 10 times before bubs was born. He checked my urine sample, took my b/pressure, weight and did a ultrasound (he has a small machine in the office) every visit. One of my friends paid $200 per visit. He was excellent doctor.

Another thing about medicare/health cover let them know at least 2 weeks before hand before you have bubs that you are going to add on someone else so when you have the baby it will be covered. I got hubbie to call two days after jess was born as i had an emergency c-section and was in hospital for 12 days and SGIO covered it.

Make sure you also check if your health cover covers a padeatrician because some covers don't and it could cost you a bundle if he has to see bubs more than once.

If you need more information don't hesitate to PM.

[pickles]

1. I actually went private in a public hospital with Dr Chris Gunnell ( in Attadale ).
2. Antenatal visits were $60 with around $45 back.
3. Insurance costs were $500, half at beginning ,half toward end.
4. $1500 for delivery which i got all back from HBF.
5. $100 excess for delivery suite. ( this was just the amount from my private health fund)
6. We went home the next day , but even the basic health cover will cover you fully in a public hospital ( KEMH - delivery suite is like a hotel - mini bar / tv / vcr etc). you will only get a private room if one is available - most wards however put their antenatal patients in shared rooms.
hope that helps
pickles
DD - 03
DS - march 05

[mygirls]

:) Hi Mrs C

I too had Chris Gunnell (Attadale) for all 3 of my girls, they were born at SJOG Murdoch, he is a wonderful OB. I paid $60.00 a visit plus medicare rebate, plus this time around i had an insurance of $250 to pay (usually around $500 - loyal member discount from Chris for bub #3). Im with Medibank so i had no gaps at all to pay with Chris & i paid Murdoch an extra $80.00 because my hubby stayed 2 nights with us, but everything else was covered (except our excess). Do have some bad news :( Chris and nearly every other Ob in Perth is very hard to get into. You really need to start ringing around to get into some one, pick a hospital you want to deliver at then get a list of Obs for that hospital. I dont know how far Murdoch is from you but they have quite a list (all who i've heard GOOD reports) -McKenna, Nichols,Price,Blair. Attadle hosp has Gunnell, Clarke i haven't heard anything good or bad on any others so i can;t help. Oh & if you're private (don't know about Subi) but at Attadale & Murdoch you get a pediatrician too they cost about $80 out of your pocket for the general checks they do of bub - ive had Slattery for all 3 and he is brilliant! :) i hope this helps some & Good Luck with the bub

Kristy 24
Troy 30
Adelaide 03.06.02
Brooklyn 18.12.03
Savannah 09.04.05

[cchinnery]

My obstetrician was Lincoln Brett, rooms just across the road from SJOG Subi. He was nice enough but tends to a 'medical' view of childbirth, advocating epidurals (his comment was 'you wouldn't have an operation without pain relief, so why do childbirth without it?' which tends to suggest he is not into the idea of natural pain relief from massage, positioning etc etc), mini pill as contraception post delivery and medical intervention during labour to ensure safety of Mum and baby. If you are interested in the more natural side of things I would suggest he would not suit you.

Costs were approx $70 per visit (my baby was born in May this year), with a fee of $800 for the second visit. None of this was covered by HBF but I claimed on medicare and pretty quickly hit the safety net thing so I got about 80% back after that.

Cost of birth (C section) and stay in SJOG (6 days) was around $5000, fully covered by HBF although blood tests and paediatrician cost extra.

SJOG Subi was great, lots of support and education, although it can vary a bit depending on how busy it is.

Hope this helps
Claire