Public or Private Hospital

​

It's important to decide early whether you would prefer to deliver the baby in a public or private hospital.  If you plan to go private, it's also important to choose the right gynaecologist.

​

With the gynaecologist I asked friends and family who knew anyone they would recommend.  I also researched online and read reviews.

 

We chose a public hospital as a private patient.  We wanted to be in a public hospital due to the facilities available in case there was a complication.  We thought that being a private patient and paying the extra would reduce the waiting time at hospital whilst enjoying preferential treatment because we had paid a premium.  How wrong we were.  

​

In the first five months of the pregnancy I was in hospital four times. And spent a long time in the ER waiting room.  What did help due to the frequency of my hospital visits was my gynae contacting the ER team and that reduced the waiting time by a fraction.

​

I expected my own room after giving birth but ended up sharing with another person who was a fully public patient.  After two days we both were discharged.  In hindsight I would not have chosen semi private and will definitely consider a fully private hospital mainly due to the extra recovery time in hospital.  

​

Next...Ante-natal classes