Royal North Shore Private or Mater??

[kayokok]

Hi,

I will have my very first baby and I'm end of 6wks pregnant.

I've got a private insurance with MBF (Advantage Hospital with $500 excess), and living in Chatswood so thinking about Royal North Shore Private or Mater Private.

Has anyone had baby in either private hospital? How was your experience at there?

Also, if you could recommend any obstetrician, that would be great as I have not booked one yet....

Thank you!:)

[mummykells]

I am 28 weeks pregnant with my second and Dr. Stephen Morris is my Ob. He is a fantastic ob and tells you what you need to know. We are going to North Shore Private because we were told although the Mater is lovely, if the baby was sick it would be taken to North Shore Private. We just decided to go there just incase and then at least we would be in the same hospital.

[ivorybub]

I had my first child at the Mater and thoroughly enjoyed it there. The rooms, food, midwives, and classes (physio, breastfeeding etc) were all great. My baby was admitted into the Special Care Nursery and I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff in there - they were able to turn a not-so-nice situation into something I remember fondly.
My only complaint is that the midwife with me during the labour didn't call my Ob to the hospital in time and he missed my delivery. This could have happened at any hospital though, and she did do a wonderful job at delivering my baby in his absence.
I am also tossing up between Mater and NSP for my second as some of my friends rave about NSP so I'd be keen to hear of other people's experiences too.
My Ob was Jim Ferry who was excellent but will be away around my due date this time so I have booked with Paul Fowler who also comes highly recommended by my GP.

[elleandsam]

I had dr Vijay Roach at north shore private with dd and he was fantastic and the hospital was wonderful! He was everything I wanted in an ob!

[babybutton1]

I can highly recommend Dr Steven Tan at the Mater - he has rooms in the hospital itself and saw me several times during my labour - I really bonded with him and he felt more like a close friend than a doctor. Midwives were great at the Mater too. Book in early though . . . Dr Tan had to personally arrange a bed for me as I was too late in booking a bed!:yelclap:

[Xtina]

I've gone with Dr Steven Tan and he's been fantastic so far.

This is our first bub and he has been contactable on email for all my freaked out mummy to be questions and also does not really limit your appointments if you have any concerns and need to see him. His receptionists are also really nice- spoke to some awful ones when ringing around when finding an ob.

We were tossing up between the Mater and NSP and went with NSP as they have guaranteed private room, much newer facilities and the option of a parenting suite if you are lucky enough to get one which means hubby or partners can stay with you the whole visit (they have 6 rooms).

NSP has tours which is a good way of checking out the facilities but we also got a private tour of the Mater by one of the midwives who was really lovely. I think both would have excellent staff but NSP is much more modern.

Hope this helps :)

[wigglemum]

Well, I have just had my 3rd baby withDr Stephen Morris and cannot recommend him enough. He is absolutely fantastic - quite sad I wont be seeing him again. And north Shore private is pretty good. Good Luck

[MountainGirl]

Well, I have just had my 3rd baby withDr Stephen Morris and cannot recommend him enough. He is absolutely fantastic - quite sad I wont be seeing him again. And north Shore private is pretty good. Good Luck

I could have written this word for word! I have also had 3 babies with Stephen @ RNSP,.. Stephen was DIVINE!!!!

[ivorybub]

I've decided to go back to the Mater for my second - I feel comfortable going there because it's what I know and I couldn't fault the care during my stay. I have to say though, the rooms at NSP are lovely but I'd be going there purely for the flatscreen tv. :)

[kayokok]

Thank you so much, I decided to go to North Shore Private.
Has anyone have feedback for Dr David Smith?

I'm still nervous, but hope everything goes well

[seasgreen]

Thumbs up for Dr Steven Tan - relaxed and calm, yet full of knowledge and reassuring. I have been to a few drs and he is by far the best!:goodvibes:

[northshore]

I had this very same dilemma! I chose North Shore Private in the end - for all the reasons mentioned here.

I'm also booked with Stephen Morris and have been very happy so far!

The parenting suites cost $400 a night which is not claimable on private health insurance. Just trying to work out if it is worth the extra money...What do you think?

[AmericanMumInSydney]

The paperwork I have from NSPH states that the parenting suites are $400 total for the length of your stay.
If you have a c-section though, you can't start off in a parenting suite. (They can't fit the big beds through the door so they can't get you out of the room quickly if you have any complications). But they said a c-section mum could move to one on the 2nd day if it's available.

Also, if there is something seriously wrong with the baby it will be taken to the NICU at Royal North Shore (across the street from NSPH) but you would still be much closer to the baby than if you were at the Mater.

[oddmumout]

I went NSP and it is fabulous. It's a lot like staying in a hotel actually and has a nice homely feel. Parents are also given a dinner together while the nurses look after the baby.
Paul is a lovely OB even if more expensive (and there's no description of the costs until you pay in full - PM me if you want to know) - I just don't recall speaking to him at the birth though.

I've seen Stephen Morris' name around and always wondered what he was really like - doesn't he have a facebook ad?

[bellisimobaby]

I second Dr Steven Tan - HE IS THE BEST!:cheerleader2: