Private vs Public - Perth

**summerlump** · 04-12-2006 14:06

Most of the posts I've read are about private hospitals.

Is there anyone who has been through both system? Is one better than the other?

Pros and cons?

I'm still trying to decide where to give birth.

**pickles** · 04-12-2006 14:28

Even though i have private health insurance i went public for both my babies. Because i wanted midwife lead care and to birth at the birth centre KEMH. If you want the time out etc you can book into a 5 star hotel for a few nights - still get room service, the midwives from the birth centre come to see you , older kids can go for a swim in the pool with your partner and you can still pick who comes to visit. You would still end up spending less than the amount it costs to have an obstetrician.
Good Luck
Pickles
DD 02/03
DS 03/05

**westerner** · 04-12-2006 14:35

KEMH public...

**WeloveHarriet** · 04-12-2006 14:38

Just a word of warning - depending on how far along you are you normally have to phone fairly quickly to get into a private OB. Not sure what it is like in Perth but here in Newcastle the OB's books fill really quickly then are closed off.

**summerlump** · 04-12-2006 14:53

i've heard great things about the birthing centre at king edward.

i'm shopping around at the moment. am booked in with an Obs but still a little unsure.

**mumbub2** · 11-12-2006 00:25

I went public for my first baby - March 05 and have just gone privately for my second who was born 2 weeks ago. My first was at Woodside - which has now transferred to Kaleeya and my second was at murdoch. Both were absolutely fantastic, I could not fault anything with either experience but if I had to choose I would say my experience of public was better than private. Mainly this is cost related.....to go private ended up costing us around$1400 so far - we are still waiting on a few bills, whereas to go public cost us not a single penny right throughout the whole pregnancy, birth and follow up. The care I received at Woodside was second to none, and despite not having an obstetrician of my own I felt just as safe and familiar with the staff at the ante natal clinic and when the time came to deliver the midwife on duty was one that I had come to know in the clinic really well.

Whereas at Murdoch I had never met any of the midwives who were there for delivery as of course you only go for ante natal appointments with your ob. My labour and birth were super quick so my obstetrician didnt even get there to deliver the baby anyway.

In some ways I felt that the ante natal care I received at the clinic at Woodside was more thorough than the second time around with the ob. When I asked him about certain tests etc that he hadnt done that i could remember from last time he just laughed them off and said they were a waste of time. Who knows ?

Overall the woodside experience was more personal as it is a msaller hospital, the staff were just amazing . Murdoch was also great but in my 3 days stay I did not see any staff member more than once.....it is so much bigger that staff numbers are of course huge and each day was a whole new set of nurses etc. All were nice but I did enjoy the familiar faces at Woodside - especially as you dont have to explain your situation, circumstances etc over and over again to different staff.
All this is very specific stuff relating to these hospitals only so may be irrelevant to you, but basically I would say that having been through both systems, there is virtually no difference.....so go with what suits your needs/budget best. I would choose to go public again in a flash.
Good luck

**Pebbles** · 11-12-2006 20:46

mumbub2 - I am so glad you posted that last post in this thread. I have just found out I am pregnant with #2 and I was considering going private this time. I had my DS at Woodside and I loved it there. They were really good but everybody keeps telling me that going Private would be so much better. I think after reading what you wrote I will go for Woodside again. So it is called Kaleeya now... is it still in the same place?

**bma_one** · 11-12-2006 22:24

I'm having my first bub at Kaleeya in a few weeks time. It's still in East Fremantle, but on the other side of Canning Highway (kind of above the Left Bank).

I've been really impressed with everyone there so far, apparently most of the midwives moved over from Woodside when it closed. I'm really looking forward to birthing there.

**Tan-mumof3** · 11-12-2006 22:32

I have only been public, and recomend it

. I had both my bubs at Osborne Park Hospital & loved it. The midwives were great before, during & after the birth. The birth suites are really lovely & comfy. The food was even pretty good. The only i didn't really like about going public there was sharing a room, it was okay as i had alright people to share with, but i think your own room would be much nicer.

**spiritedfamily** · 11-12-2006 23:24

Originally Posted by summerlump

Most of the posts I've read are about private hospitals.

Is there anyone who has been through both system? Is one better than the other?

Pros and cons?

I'm still trying to decide where to give birth.

It really depends on the outcome you want.
In a public hospital...the ob is not soley responsible for your care...this might be scarey but in terms of you being more in control of your outcome its better. A private ob...has a very different approach...a little more controlling - if this is what you want then go for it, otherwise I'm with pickles, go through KEMH...and if you can have a preference to an ob...try to get Anne Karzab or Dr Saunders.

I personally prefer to birth at home...with the Community midwifery program they offer free-homebirths and they rely on KEMH as their back up hospital.