Westmead Private vs Westmead Public

[twisted sister]

Hi girls,

I am a new here and really need your HELP!!!
I am 11 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I had my first baby in WA, but we have now live in Sydney, Inner West and actually moving to the new suburb Stanhope Gardens (near Kellyville Ridge, Glenwood) next week. I have no idea about any hospitals, birth centres over there. Looked through your forum and thought that Westmead Public would be the best option for me (I don't have any health insurance) - got the refferal from my GP yestarday, called the Westmead today, and they told me that they only take patients from the area. My suburb - Stanhope gardens is under Blacktown council, the next suburb (only a cross the road Bella Vista is under Baulkaham Hills) - so they would take someone from the Baulkahm Hills, but can't take people who are under Blacktwon council I got so upsad and have no idea what to do next. Definately don't want to have a baby in the Blacktown hopsital, but what would be my other option? Looked at the Hills Private (looks like the closest one to me), but how much would it cost for non insured person? What would you suggest? Are there any other birth centres or public hospitals in the area close to me, which Im not aware of? Thanks for all your help!

Hi there,

Just letting you know my SIL had the same problem and just moved to Stanhope Gardens. Westmead wouldnt let them book in due to being out of area even though Im a midwife there myself. So she booked into the birth centre at blacktown and the middys there aer fantastic, she is really happy so far (baby due in January). I also had 2 babys at blacktown, many years ago though, and recently a baby at westmead and I never had any problems with Blacktown. In fact I can tell you this from an insider- westmead does way too much intervention and Id have to say Blacktown has great staff (yes there is always one bad one Im sure).
Id ring up and speak to the staff in the birth centre at Blacktown and go there, its suppose to be very nice and you dont have to stay in hospy for very long afterwards, infact I went home early and had midwives come to my house which was much better.
My SIL also goes to the aquanatal classes at Stanhope gardens if your interested.

I hope this helps

[MelissafromSyd]

the private hospital has a better nurse to pt ratio

Having worked in both, respectfully I have to disagree.

The ratios are actually worse in the private hospital. It's a business that exists to make a profit and staff is the biggest expense, hence this is an area that private hospitals cut.
It's not uncommon for a midwife to have 8 patients at the private hospital and 5 or 6 in the public hospital.

The other issue is that you're more likely to be cared for by a midwife in the public hospital than the private hospital, and it's important that women are cared for by the appropriate professional. Nurses don't study midwifery and therefore are not fully qualified to care for postnatal women.

[AnastasiaOZ]

Twisted sister, thank you for your reply! I will also try to call to the private Westmead to find out their costs, if its going to end up too expensive will try to contact Blacktown. Do you know if I can go to the Public Westmead and pay? Or does the private westmead have their antenatal clinic? I don't want to see OB, I would be happy with midwifes.
If you can give me the details for aqua classes that would be very helpful!!! Thank you very much!!!

[twisted sister]

I'd have to agree with Melissa, private hospys are far worse for nurse patient ratio than public. I also know they employ unqualified nurses to cover shifts. When I was training I worked in some of the best private hospys in Sydney, you'd be surprised.

Anastasia- If you go to westmead private you need to go under an OB, Im pretty sure you can go under an Ob and pay to go to westmead public but not sure, they changed the rules only recently due to EVERYONE wanting to have their baby there.

To be honest Blacktown is fine. As Ive said I had 2 babys there under midwife care and loved it, I also as I've said had a baby recently at westmead too and I work there. Yes its a new hospital and all renovated but they are very big on intervention and this is one thing that I hate about it because alot of the time its not nessassary.

Id go check blacktown out and see for yourself first.

The aqua classes are in the stanhope gardens swimming pool, I think on a thursday night she goes but says they are great. If you go there her name is Sarah maybe you could talk to her about blacktown to make you feel more comfy.

[MelissafromSyd]

I second (or third!) Blacktown It's a lovely hospital and the staff are wonderful there. Smaller hospital, more caring, you get to know the staff who'll be there when you give birth. Just my opinion though.

[happychild]

i just called westmead as well and got an ultra-grumpy lady (she really doesnt sound like she likes her job)...anyway...when I told her where i lived (rhodes) she said I was out of the area and I cant be admitted as a public patient =(. Does that mean that I cant be admitted in the public system as a private patient either?????? or will the rules change slightly if i go in the public system as a private patient??? I was too scared to ask her any questions.

[MelissafromSyd]

Maybe try RPA birth centre or Bankstown Hosp? Not sure but I think RPA is closer to you.

[NicholaG]

I'm 14 weeks pregnant and I've chosen to get a private obstetrician and go to the Westmead Public Hospital for the delivery. I live out of the area (Schofields) and didn't have a problem booking into the public hopsital.

It does cost a little more to get an obstetrician, but for me it's peace of mind and he's been so helpful. I'm with Dr Siri-Wardena.

[AnastasiaOZ]

Girls, thank you for your help!
I will definately go to the aqua classes in Stanhope Gardens - so might meet your SIL, twisted sister! Thank you...will also try the blacktown and maybe try to call the westmead again (as my 1st experience wasn't very good - I must of had the same lady as happychild...)