Melbourne - Freemason's..St Vincents Private OR Francis Perry...?

[andreastar]

Hi,
As a first time mother and someone who is not too familar with Melbourne, what do you all suggest is the best private hospital out of Freemason's, St Vincents and Francis Perry.....if you could explain you reasons, that would be a HUGE help for me in deciding.

Thanks.

[winniethepooh]

I think and my friends and dr think freemasons is the best. midwives are great, food is wonderful, they do the park hyatt thing too after 2 nights if you want to go and there is room. the only downer is not all rooms have double beds but thats not that bad and if you put in a request they move you as soon as one becomes available.
st vs is as good only the food is supposedly terrible. frances perry ok, a lot of junior midwives and they are moving to flemington in 2008 so this year ok but for following babies it might be too far for you. they do the sofitel though which is lovely.

[Mamaduke]

I've also heard that the food at St.V's is shocking.

[Shajbm]

I had DS#1 at Freemasons and at the time thought that it was the best. Food was great, midwives weren't, but you can get that everywhere. I had my twins just over 3 weeks ago at Frances Perry and would go back there in a flash. I had premmie twins and the midwives were fabulous. Food was okay and the facilities are good. Also they have a NICU and level 3 special care, which means if your baby needs to go into one of these they don't have to be transferred to another hospital. Who is your ob?

[HelloKitty]

im booked unto Frances P and just did the hosp tour. facilities look lovely but there is no common room for families or visitors..... i was hoping to send my large family into another room rather than my small room:no:

[Towie]

I had my daughter at Freemasons and thought it was fantastic and wouldn't go anywhere else. The food is great, the rooms are really lovely. My room was huge and looked out over the Fitzroy Gardens and my husband stayed every night. All the midwives I dealt with were great. In fact, the midwife who was with me for most of my labour came in on her day off to see what I'd had (as I delivered just after she went off duty).
I had some breastfeeding problems, so before I was discharged they put me in for the day breastfeeding clinic for the following week as well as provided names of lactation consultants. The support was really great.

Good luck with whereever you choose, I hope it all goes well for you.

[kirstenriley]

i had DS at F.P- doctors and midwives were great, food was good, DH was staying with me so they moved us into a room with a double bed (DH is 6f 5 so i think they felt sorry for him...lol) a big :thumbsup: from me.

[Chanelc]

Frances Perry is my recommendation as I went there

My friend had deliever at (FR) first one you mentioned and had complications afterwards - major infection from the c section ended back in hospital. St Vincents haven't heard much about

[KatieKitten]

My sister just gave birth (HelloKitty) and she had to stay in the delivery ward because there were no beds. her second night she moved to the smallest room, which had broken air conditioning, then the third night (tonight) she has a good sized double bed room. I guess everyones experiences are different, im ttc now, and still unsure where to book myself.. I was wandering if anyone knew of any 'boutique' smaller private hospitals where the rooms are more like hotels???

not sure, but worth a shot,

[JoJoMart]

I've heard St Vincent's Private is a bit average and some people I know who went there weren't overly impressed. I've heard better things about Freemasons.

[caro33]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and basically have the same question as the original poster. The (lovely) woman I spoke to from Guy Skinner's offices said that St Vincents was the best because it had the best care for the mother (FP has no intensive care type facilities for mothers) - she said problems happen more with the mother than the baby.

I think she said that Freemasons had better breast feeding facilities. She said the food at St V had a bad reputation, but that it's the care that matters...

I am left unsure about what to do! It's obviously hard to know what issues will arise, and it's my first pregnancy. No friends or family with the experience to advise me.

I have been booked into St V's - does anyone know if you can change hospitals later? I would ask Dr Skinner but I'm not meeting him for another 5 weeks.

And does the food really count when it comes down to it?

BTW I would have chosen Frances Perry but Skinner does not deliver there and he was my first choice (based mostly on posts made here :) )

Thanks
caro

[kiddie]

Caro33 - I don't think that is correct about FP and no intensive care facitilities. It is directly above the Royal Women's hospital which has the highest level of care for both baby and mum. In fact many high risk pregnancies are recommended to go there because of this. One of my friends went to St V's and had a very bad experience with her birth and the aftercare... and others have good experiences.

I went to FPH because I wanted the closest access to the highest level of intensive care for me and bubs and was very happy there. To me this was more important than the quality of the food or the decor (which both were fine anyway).

[Towie]

Why don't you ring Guy and ask Lorraine to get him to call you back when he gets a minute. Freemasons was fantastic, everything was great - midwives, food and overall care and follow up. My sister had her 3rd bub at St Vs and said she wouldn't go back b/c the food was inedible so she was always hungry! The food is important b/c you really need to keep up your strength and if you're not eating then its not that good for energy levels and milk supply. Why don't you put your name on the waiting list at Freemasons and decide later. The emerg facilities at Royal Women's are in the public part of the hospital so, you'd be transferred out of FPH in to the public section of the RWH - which I've heard is very good for this sort of thing.
Good luck, also, I think you'll be glad you went with Guy, he's great!

[winniethepooh]

think st vs are getting a new chef too. so food should improve.have a friend who works there.

[caro33]

Thanks everyone, much appreciated. I understand my ob's own wife delivered their children at St V's, which makes me think it might be the way to go anyway.

We might go visit the facilities and compare to Freenmasons but at the same time I am aware I wouldn't have a clue how to assess them.

If there are new food standards at St V's that's fine, but I think I'll just ask family to bring me food anyway. :)

Thanks again

[Shajbm]

Caro33, I think you'll find that Skinner does deliver at FPH (he has a permanent car spot). I had my twins there and couldn't find fault in any aspect. Both twins were admitted to Special care for 5 weeks and 1 of my twins needed NICU. Freemason and St V's all have SCN's however, only the Royal Womens, Monash and the childrens have NICU. Good luck with your decision.

[MammyMammy]

I just wanted to put my 2 cents in..

I was in the same boat about choosing from these three hospitals.

I met with my obstetrician who has had her children at St Vincents, and while she absolutely agreed that the food isnt too clever, she said it was not tasty, but was indeed nutrient rich, so I was happy with that...I figure good enough for her, great for me...

The facilities at St V are great (well apparently) and the downside apparently is the midwives tell yu 1000 different things, which can be confusing....but thats cool, i will just go with my own flow...and my doc loves it there so i thought that was the bit that got me sold.

I had intended to go to freemasons, but my friend had hers there in november and i wasnt impressed with her room..they squished her into a tiny room behind the reception desk, which had no room to swing a cat...and that is where i would need a good room that didnt make me feel cramped (as i hate being sqishy)

i am sure wherever you choose will be great - good luck xxx

[KatieKitten]

I know debate around FP, Freemasons and St Vincent

I was reccomended Freemasons, but read there is small rooms... i live in brunswick, so quite central

can anyone recommend a good one????///

[Shajbm]

Katiekitten, good luck with TTC. I highly recommend Frances Perry House. Who is your obstetrician?

[KatieKitten]

thanks there.. im not TTC anymore (need to update i know!) im 4w1day with a BFP...
so excited.. im checking out obs right now, want female, Jeanette Henderson (http://www.**********.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=28813) is the one i have been advised about... any recomendations?

[Shajbm]

Katiekitten, a big congratulations on your BFP. I haven't heard about Jeanette Henderson. I have Lionel Steinberg and highly recommend him.

good luck

[KatieKitten]

thanks, congrats on your bubs as wel!!!

[winniethepooh]

Freemasons staff are better i think than st vs.
st vs has a new chef and food is really nice now.rooms at st vs are nicer. I had a male ob so cant really recommend a female. have heard nice things about a few though. lots are expensive.

[Shajbm]

thanks, congrats on your bubs as wel!!!

Thanks, definately a handful with 3 under 4. How are you going with your decison?

[KatieKitten]

well, im gonna look at the freemasons tour on wednesday night... and see how i go.. i hope the rooms are not too small, like i have heard

i thought st v got their food from the outside, now that there is a chef, perhaps ill check them out as well!!!

i think i will go with a femal ob, but i havnt checked out prices yet, so i will see..

thanks for all your advice!

[kitty1kat]

KatieKitten - I am with Meredith Tassone, and so far so good. She was very thorough, very understanding of all my worries and very nice natured. She also came highly recommended by several of my friends (one of whom had a very premmie baby). I am going to Freemasons, have heard all good things about it so far.

[MammyMammy]

anyone eaten this NEW st Vincents food as yet? i am dying to know if its horrible still, or ok?

[goodhealth]

well, im gonna look at the freemasons tour on wednesday night... and see how i go.. i hope the rooms are not too small, like i have heard

i thought st v got their food from the outside, now that there is a chef, perhaps ill check them out as well!!!

i think i will go with a femal ob, but i havnt checked out prices yet, so i will see..

thanks for all your advice!
My Mother was in Freemasons for several months prior to her death from cancer. I realise the maternity ward is a different section but feel I should warn of the horrific treatment we received during my monther's stay as this is a reflection of the hospital's general culture:
- buzzer's often fail. In order to call a nurse during the night my Mother would phone her partner and ask him to call hospital reception to request a nurse attend her room.
- poor attitude of staff, refusing to interrupt personal discussions to attend a patient.
- staff refused to acknowledge family members and often turned away visitors for no reason
- transfer of patients to another hospital without notifying next of kin
- no complaints process. Apparently you need to make an appointment with the unit manager if you want your complaint addressed.
- transfer patients from one room to another without any prior discussion with patients who are basically treated like a piece of meat.

[Scout]

My Mother was in Freemasons for several months prior to her death from cancer. I realise the maternity ward is a different section but feel I should warn of the horrific treatment we received during my monther's stay as this is a reflection of the hospital's general culture:
- buzzer's often fail. In order to call a nurse during the night my Mother would phone her partner and ask him to call hospital reception to request a nurse attend her room.
- poor attitude of staff, refusing to interrupt personal discussions to attend a patient.
- staff refused to acknowledge family members and often turned away visitors for no reason
- transfer of patients to another hospital without notifying next of kin
- no complaints process. Apparently you need to make an appointment with the unit manager if you want your complaint addressed.
- transfer patients from one room to another without any prior discussion with patients who are basically treated like a piece of meat.

I'm so sorry that your mother experienced such terrible treatment. :hugs:

The Freemason's maternity hospital it is not in just another section - it is another hospital. They are a few hundred metres apart.

Thankfully, the maternity hospital is very modern and new. I had to have a D&C at the main hospital and almost died at the facilities, it was horrendous compared to what I'd experienced a few weeks earlier. They had stuff stored in the operating theatre! :eek:

[Shajbm]

goodhealth, I'm sorry that you're mother experienced such terrible treatment, but the maternity ward is a different hospital. I had DS there and although thought that some of the nursing staff weren't great, my overall stay was fine.

[LEXANI]

I am booked into the FPH I have had friends that have been there and love the place so thats why I have booked in.

[Rianna]

I am booked into the FPH I have had friends that have been there and love the place so thats why I have booked in.

:yes: Yep, ditto to that. Also it was my obs preffered hospy so I just went with that.

[Shajbm]

:yes: Yep, ditto to that. Also it was my obs preffered hospy so I just went with that.

Have been there and FPH is fabulous. Great nursing staff, food's okay and NICU and SCN facilities and staff are fabulous.