Baby due in Sept - still possible to find a place to deliver in HK hospital?

V

Vache

New member
Hi,

I just relocated to HK from Singapore last week and my second baby is due in the first half of September. Before moving, my husband was assured that HK public hospitals would let me deliver the baby, provided that I have a HK ID card (which I just got). However, I started to make calls to set an appointment with a doctor and I am being told that all hospitals are full and that they would not accept me. I tried a few private hospitals as well and I got the same response.

I am started to get worried about my situation. From your experience, do you know if it is still possible to deliver my baby in a HK hospital, public or private?

Thank you.

Note: we will live in Taikoo Shing
 
find an OBGYN and have them find a space for you. it will be much easier for them to find a space just as long as you're not picky about where you want (of course not in shatin) to deliver - having said that both public and private services are great in HK so i wouldn't worry at all. good luck
 
It's probably too late for a private hospital -- those fill up fast. But I haven't heard of a public hospital rejecting a legal HK resident. Does anyone know if they can even legally do that?

If you're in TKS, I presume your local public hospital would be Pamela Youde, or maybe Tung Wah? Have you tried those?
 
Thank you both for your reply.

By legal resident, do you mean permanent resident? Or do you include foreigners holding an HK ID (as is my case)? My husband holds a work permit and I am on a dependent visa.
 
From my limited understanding, just because you have a HKID card doesn't mean you have the right to access/give birth in a public HK hospital. You only have such a right if and only if you are a permanent resident of HK. Your HK ID card must have stars on it. Otherwise you are a temporary resident only and have no guaranteed right to the hospitals. That said, I know some smaller less-well-known private hospitals might take you but you should start calling them up right away! Good luck and I hope you find a place soon!
 
If everyone who had a valid HKID could get a public hospital booking, then mainland mothers married to HK men shouldn't have problems booking either - but they do, unfortunately.
 
I don't know anything about public hospitals in HK (I went private) but I'd be extremely surprised if they would turn you away when you were about to give birth if you hold a HKID card. Which public hospitals did you call to see if there was space? It might be better to find out which public hospital is the right one for your area and just go to see them directly. That way you can speak to the person in charge and find out exactly what the situation is.

There is a pamplet here from the Hospital Board about antenatal visits etc:

http://www.ha.org.hk/haho/ho/conjoint/131027e.pdf

There was also some information on new procedures in place for "non local expectant mothers" which I took to mean Mainland mothers but I could be wrong (unhelpfully "non local expectant mothers was not defined) as I don't think it applies to those with HKID cards.

I agree with the above about private hospitals, people who are only 12 weeks along are being put on the wait list for Matilda and Adventist.
 
Agree with lesliefu. See a private obstetrician right away and have him/her write you a referral note to a public hospital. I had a HKID based on my work permit and was entitled to a public hospital bed. However this was when I was 12 weeks' pregnant, back in 2008. For you, the problem may not be legal entitlement but simply full bookings especially due to the new Hospital Authority rulings. If I am not mistaken, I suspect your chances of securing a public hospital bed are better than private - the latter are often full even for newly-pregnant women. However your obstetrician should be able to advise. Worst case scenario is to go to A&E when your labour starts (unfortunately) which is what some mainland Chinese women are threatening to do. At your advanced stage of pregnancy you are probably best off having your check ups with a private obstetrician. Good luck!
 
U can have a baby at a public hospital as long as u have a hkid... Any type is accepted. (don't need 3 stars!).

First go to an mchc (call to make an appointment) to register n confirm you can deliver there.
 
You don't need to be a permanent resident to deliver at a public hospital. You don't need to have stars on your HKID. I didn't. I am on a dependent visa exactly like you. The non-local expectant mothers does seem to refer to Mainland mothers, unfair as that is. Go to the Hospital Authority link and figure out which is your closest public hospital and call them to book an ante-natal appointment. By the way, if you turn up at a public hospital emergency room in labour, they would have to take you in. But better to register and go through the system.
 
Hi there!

I am exactly in the same situation as you are. Just arrived in HK and due in Sept.
First you have to make an appointment with a private obgyn. Let him/her write you a referral letter which you can bring along to the nearest public hospital (which is Pamela Youde for you I believe). Go there personally with your HKID and an address proof to register and book your first appointment. They can't deny you. Once you are registered you can give birth there against public costs.

When I tried calling they told me the same, but when you go there they will accept you, because you are entitled to public care with your HKID.

Private hospitals will be a different matter, as that depends on availability and also the obgyn you are seeing. I was told by mine that if I do not want an elective c-section I will not make a chance. Hate this system as it all seems to revolve around trying to earn as much money as possible in the most effective way.

So good luck and if you have any questions, just PM me.
 
Thanks to you all for your information. The latest information I got from Saint Paul Hospital is consistent with what Meimeid just wrote. I have set an appointment for this coming Monday with a doctor, who will hopefully refer me to Pamela Youde hospital in Chai Wan.

Thank you again!
 
Chances of getting a private hospital this late into pregnancy regardless of which OB you go to will be very slim. When I tried to book a private hospital when I was 6 weeks (i am now 14 weeks), i only had 1 choice and it was the most expensive Mathilda. You will be able to go to a public hospital but make sure you check with your OB as not all will/ can deliver at public hospitals. The experience, according to my friends, is also more traumatic. You basically wait in a big room with everyone until you are ready to pop. I am also a Singaporean and due early Jan. I'm going home for better care at a fraction of the cost! Good luck!
 
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