Public or Private?

[FourAngelKisses]

I will be going public. We don't have private insurance.....plus the private hospital here doesn't deliver babies.

[brisbanegirl]

Private for us - I have had private insurance for so long it will be nice to be able to use it for once!

[allalone]

Whatever I have read on Bub-Hub, the public hospital near my place is much better than the Private one. So even though I have Pvt Health insurance, I would be going public. The pvt insurance can cover the other bits and pieces if the need arises:)

[Yummy Mummy of 5]

Have used public and had no troubles at all. In Tassie if your baby is really sick they are taken stright to the RHH (public). The only thing is at a private hospitals is your room is a lot nicer and you do not have to share. But we do have private insurance.

[petal80]

I'll be going private -
Im going to the same place I had my daughter
the OB was wonderful and the hospital was great

[WitchHazel]

I went private, and probably will next time (just because I might as well use the insurance I've been forking out for!), but I really don't feel that I got much extra out of it last time. I liked that I saw the same OB all the time, but other than that, the only good things were that DH could stay with me (oh, and my own room)!

[Mikeswifey]

I will be going to Mitcham Private.

Had my DD in Knox Private, but this time I will be going to Mitcham, as its only 2 mins from DH work.

I have had PHI all my life, and I love it. Wouldnt be without it. I loved that DH could stay for the whole time and we had a double bed so he could stay with me.

[squiglet]

Private for me,
I am going to go to the Brisbane North West. It seems realy nice.

[MamaSage]

Public, or independant. I would never go private for maternity, even though we have cover. Why book a surgeon when you are not having surgery. Private health insurance sees childbirth as 'surgery or procedure'.

[mamesmumma]

I dont have a choice coz Im in Japan but Id just like to say a couple of things to first time mums with private (as when in Australia I worked for a private hospital and had many complaints for people who PHI had lied to to get them to sign up - made my days miserable, imagine angry customer + emotional person + nothing you can do)

Anyway PHI doesnt give you a private room!!! It depends on the hospital and their capacity and the numbers. First in First served. In slow times the hospital has lots of PR's in busy times, not so much. Again if your hospital only has PR's then your right. Mine didnt and many new mums were sharing even though they had PHI and were in the Private Hospital.

Nurses get paid more at most Public hospitals. A lot of Private Nursing staff are temp staff. Again this depends on the hospital. But good money and a stable job in an environment that you know can lead to nicer, more confident staff. Public nurses can be *****ed too though:D. I've just been reading the horror midwife thread.

As someone before said with PHI you can choose your doc. But do you need to? You cant choose your nursing staff.

And also depending where you are (small or big town)...usually the smaller places the doctors often work at the private and the public. They do their 8-10hrs+ at the public and then start the other stuff at the private. Not that that would effect pregnancy a lot except in planned c-section or induction. Tired doctors are DANGEROUS. I cant stand the fact that doctors here in japan are treated like God and their word is paramount, no questions asked. But in Australia they often think they are God. Working some many hours so they can buy the ferrari and the bends.

Sorry Doctors and Nurses. Most are wonderful and caring - thats why they choose this line of work. But as in every situation there's always the rotten ones and PHI doesnt save you.

[JuniorMinime]

I'm going private cause the hospital is literally in the next street after mine so it's like walking distance for DP. It's also close for my parents (we live in the same suburb which is really handy). My OB works next door to the hospital as well.

They have private rooms and the partner gets to stay as well, you only have to pay like $2 extra for his meal. They also look after the baby for you one night if you and your partner want to go out for dinner before going home.

It's not too shabby so I feel comfy there for sure!!

Becs

[My Miracle Baby]

I am going public. I have private health insurance, but times are tough and I cant afford to fork out a few thousand to pay for the ob. Also, my pregnancy is high risk and the majority of private hospital wont take me cause of this. So, I am going to a public hospital which can handle high risk women, and all my care is for free.

[SairBear]

ill be goin public. dont have health insurance. my mums a midwife at the local public hosp so im hoping she will deliver or at least be there :D

[BlakeNatsMum]

That is very handy having a mother who is a midwife!... We will be going Public because we dont have Private Health insurance. I spoke to my doctor who I went to see when I was pregnant with my son and he said that it really doesnt make a difference with having the private health cover to have him (the Doc) at the birth. He said regardless of whether it was him at the other end of the bed or the queen, the baby was going to be born either way! I had to laugh with his analogies, he was ever so carefree and very relaxed about the whole thing! And here I was a first time mother getting all anxious and stressed! *L* But he was good being like that because he made me relax as well!