Private health vs public system

[michwicked]

Hi everyone :cheerleader2:

My husband and I have only just recently decided we would like to start a family and don't currently have private hospital cover. We would like to start trying straight away and as there is a 12mth waiting period we wouldn't be covered if I fall pregnant quickly anyway. Cost is another consideration, as modest wage earners I'm not sure if we could afford the cover without making some serious sacrifices in other areas. Another thing I'm concerned about it the out of pocket expenses involved with going private, are there any out of pocket expenses going thru the public system? I would be happy to go public if I could be sure that public was ok. We feel out of our depth with all this baby stuff so would like any information or suggestions on this. We're in Brisbane and have not thought of which hospital we might use yet- does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks guys. :smiliedance:

[Shanaynay]

Hi, sorry I'm not in Brisbane so can't help you with the hospital options :)

Many women here on the forum would actually argue that the public system is BEST to have a baby in :yes:
If you are having a straightforward and healthy pregnancy, an Obstetrician isn't needed and wonderful midwives will guide you through it all.
Obstetricians are renowned for intervening perfectly normal pregnancies and births, resulting in issues that may not be present otherwise.

Having a baby in the public system definitely has its negatives...... though many agree that they beat the negatives in the private system by far :)

In my opinion, after three babies (1 private and 2 public) - I would choose the public system and definitely would not put off having a baby until I had private health insurance!

Hope that helps :)

[One of THOSE mums!]

I have found the public system to be amazing. I have been assigned a midwife. An ob who I see a few visits and whenever is necessary.
And the hospital I am at this are 100% behind my birth choices. As was my first.
I couldn't be happier!

[SalTheGal]

Hi, sorry I'm not in Brisbane so can't help you with the hospital options :)

Many women here on the forum would actually argue that the public system is BEST to have a baby in :yes:
If you are having a straightforward and healthy pregnancy, an Obstetrician isn't needed and wonderful midwives will guide you through it all.
Obstetricians are renowned for intervening perfectly normal pregnancies and births, resulting in issues that may not be present otherwise.

Having a baby in the public system definitely has its negatives...... though many agree that they beat the negatives in the private system by far :)

In my opinion, after three babies (1 private and 2 public) - I would choose the public system and definitely would not put off having a baby until I had private health insurance!

Hope that helps :)

Everything Phin Said!!

I've had two babies in the public system, and you couldn't PAY me to go private.

I had midwifery care, and I like this, as the research shows that having an Ob is more likely to lead to intervention, which I wanted to avoid.

I would not put off having a baby just to wait for private, there are some great public systems out there!!!

[Tatiana28]

I had my first baby in the private system. Sure you get nice food, wine with your dinner, a night nursery and maybe even a couple of nights in a hotel. But honsestly I found the care very dissapointing. I work in a hospital and know how I would treat a woman scared and in pain and I didn't receive anything near the care I deserved.
Found the aftercare hugely lacking also.

Thus pregnancy I've been into the public a couple of times and have found them professional and had care promptly and without fuss.
And it didn't cost a cent.

Might be worth considering going public and putting your money into a Doula or independant midwife to support you through your journey.

Let me add too, the c/s rates at public hospitals are far lower, if you prefer a vaginal birth.

Good luck.

[Merla]

As a big believe in the private system I would never birth there. I would rather go public.

The private maternity system tends to be over medical, if you want an elective c-section then its a fantastic choice, but if your after a natural uninterrupted birth then you have higher chances of getting it in the public system.

I'm not sure where exactly in Brisbane you are as this will effect your choices, but Mater mothers now has a midwife follow through program that I have heard positive things about. RBH has a birth center, redlands seem to be ok, cabulture has a good rep.

[Charlee]

Hi :wave:

Im having my bub at the Mater (public) and everything has been great so far.

Agree with PP re private leading to more intervention.

What hospital you would birth at depends where you live if youre going public :D What area are you if you dont mind me asking??

[bellalika]

I had my babies in private (Melb) and would not go public, but I also have a medical condition (epilepsy). The local birthing centre put me as high risk, even though I hadn't had a fit for 8 years with my first, 10 with my second. As I had private health, I used it.

I had my own ob for all appointments who knew my medical needs and my personal wants. I searched for one that only intervened when necessary and had a reputation of getting along with the midwives. While I can't compare to the public system I feel I had fantastic birth experiences and a lovely five day supported settling in period with my baby in hospital.

[chicken and eggs mum]

Really dePends on where you are and what the hospitals are like.

Where I am I would not go public. I had both my children privately and had beautiful, natural, uninterrupted births with mw (ob was there, did not much)

Our public hospital here is just mayhem.

[michwicked]

Thanks guys- that eases my mind about public somewhat...Charlee thanks for the tip on Mater- I'm in North Brisbane, I have heard good things about RBH, was there any particular reason why you chose Mater?

[excitedcaz]

I am having my first child on the gold coast and will be giving birth at Pindara? Does anyone have experience with that hospital?

I was very much tossing up between public (tweed heads hospital) and private even though we have PHI. I am currently living in Tasmania but will be relocating back to the gold coast at around 35 weeks. Therefore I will only have to have Private care for a maximum of 7 weeks and the ob I had been referred too told me I would have to pay $700 in administration fees, which I thought was ludacrous, I contacted another ob that had been recommended to me, and he is waving the charge due to the fact that all my tests will have been completed and I will have all the tests results.. Also I was not able to claim any of the $700 back. I wouldnt have had a problem paying it if it were for the medical aspect but not for administration costs!

[mkmills30]

Hi Ladies

Just wanted some opinions (if there are any) re public v private in the mornington peninsula region (vic). I've worked in quite a few hospitals (both pub and pri), and so far everything I've heard indicates private is best by far, that the public system are just too busy to give you the care you need, therefore my preference has always been to go private. However having just found out that we're going to be about $3000 out of pocket DH is really pushing to go public.

I've heard some absolute horror stories from women about Frankston Hosp, and nothing but good for the privates in the area (although I'm sure they have their horror stories too - all hospitals do!).

Any advice or opinions would be appreciated!

[mummybynature]

I had DD at Mater Mothers in Brisbane and had the most amazing experience! I was a public patient but I had very personal care and couldn't have asked for better. I was lucky enough to be apart of the midwifery program where you are allocated your own midwife throughout the pregnancy - they are the ones who are there when you give birth and also come for home visits in the first six weeks after bub's arrival. I had complications in my labour (HELP Syndrome) but had so much confidence in the hospital to look after me and bub. I didn't feel as though I was being pushed out the door either and the after-care was amazing! I even had my own private room! A few friends of mine have gone private and when they came to visit me they couldn't believe what a wonderful setup I had there - and it didn't cost me a cent!

I hope this helps, goodluck with the baby making :)