Going Public?

P

pnut

Registered User
While pregnancy symptoms are similar for many women, and it's wonderful to share in those experiences together, I'm writing to see if anyone due at this time is planning on going through the public system?

I am, and have had a wonderful experience with registering and check ups up until this point. Going through Queen Elizabeth in Yau Ma Tei. Due about 1st August.

Would love to hear how others are doing, going this route!!
 
I am going to antenatal on both private and public system. If everything goes right, I would like to deliver on a private hospital (Union Hospital).

If anything abnormal comes out (like early delivery, some problem with the baby, etc.), I may deliver at a public hospital (as I may not have to worry about the insurance coverage). I am currently getting my antenatal at TKO hospital. I am assigner to United Christian Hospital for delivery.
 
Congratulations pnut! I just got back from my doctor's appointment and I am also due on August 1st.

I am also planning on delivering at QEH because my hubby's company decided to cut out maternity benefits. I haven't registered or done anything on the public route and would love to hear others experiences as well.
 
Hi, I am not going to the public hospital, but I am also due the 1st of August. I have heard good things about the public and private hospitals in HK. Infact, if something goes wrong, then you are safer at the public hospital, because they have all the right equitment. Congrats everyone ;-):gl:
 
I'm due just days away from you (28th of July, but by ultrasound maybe 30th - not that it makes much difference anyway!!) - it's my 2nd, and I went to QMH for the first, this one I'm going to Pamela Youde. My health insurance wouldn't cover the cost of private here in HK and I can't justify paying out of pocket. The public hospitals, while they are not as comfy, are perfectly adequate!!
 
i'm going private but at a public hospital. the public hospitals here are very well equipped (and more so than some of THE best private hospitals for giving birth) so it's really really good for the baby! :) Good luck with everything!
 
I am kind of thinking about going public for good. I have a pretty good insurance plan, and will have a good coverage... but after reading some of the comments here, about how in the Union Hospital they don't encourage to latch on the baby right after birth and bounding with your baby, is kind of turning me down.

I am attending to antenatal classes at United Christian Hospital, and on last class they just talked about the process of giving birth. It was nice that they explained that after the baby is born, they would put it on your bared breast, so that you will bond with your baby, and also allow him/her to breastfeed, if the baby feels like doing that.
 
Adventure...

I am having so much fun going through Queen Elizabeth...
I know it's not perfect... but it's an adventure, and it's one we'll remember.

So, they've been really attentive, albeit busy, when I go. The midwives are incredible. They are really patient, and caring, and love their jobs. They're huge on promoting breast feeding, natural births, and as best of service as they can in such a busy environment.

I actually am spending a lot of time there, as they're testing a heart murmur I have. I'm under "high risk" because of this and am dealing with the same doctor each visit. *it's not really that high of a risk...

I'm not saying there's anything wrong at all with private hospitals... but public's not going too bad!! :)
 
we are expecting our 1st in September and glad to meet everyone here.

have registered at QMH via public side and had my first appointment @ Tsan Yuk earlier this month... we are thinking of moving to the private side of QMH to get a balance for both the medical expertise & privacy, can anyone share with us the private care experience at QMH & approximate cost?

we have limited coverage from insurance, so while everyone is recommending us to go Matilda we would rather use the $$ towards the baby at later stage.
 
from what I heard about the cost of private care at QMH, it's comparable to that at the other private hospitals. It's not the room that is expensive, but it's the fact that IF you are in a private room, you need to pay for ALL the medical expenses as well rather than just paying for the room. The bill can be around $60-100K or so (from what I've heard, not from my experience)... Personally I'd rather go to a private hospital in that case, unless I had reason to suspect that the baby might need NICU.

I wish that QM had the "special accommodation wards" that Pamela Youde has - where it's a smaller shared room for only about $7000 all up - but there's not that option at QM...
 
thanks nicolejoy, maybe we will do more research on the costing before making decision. thought it was only the room charges that make the difference @ QMH. in this case maybe regular ward it will be... just that we went to check out the public ward & found that there is not much privacy with up to 8 moms + babies in the same small room only divided by curtains.

currently there is no major reason to suspect possibility of NICU for the baby, pray that everything will go well and will just trust in HIM for he has given us this special gift.
 
I actually wanted to go to PY and was SO looking forward to it. My first was born at QM and you're right, there's not much privacy and it's NOISY as ANYTHING, 24 hrs a day. Babies crying, stuff going on. I didn't hardly sleep at all and didn't feel like I could start to recover until I got home.

This time, there are medical complications with the baby and she has a fairly high chance of needing NICU. That is the ONLY reason why I'm going back to QM... I'm actually not looking forward to it, but I know it's in the best interests of the baby... so I'll cope with it :)

I know people who use someone else's address to get into QM instead of their regional hospital (I did that with my first pregnancy actually, since I knew nothing about PY at the time). I would TOTALLY do that to get into PY instead though, if I had a normal pregnancy and didn't live in that district anyway... I've heard such great things about it...

I don't know if any of the other regional hospitals have those kind of arrangements, where you can have a smaller room and only pay JUST for the room costs and not the associated medical expenses... PY is the only one I know of that does that... But even if you can't get into the smaller rooms, SURELY it'd have to be quieter than QM at least!!

(please forgive all my caps - I'm not yelling, I'm just too lazy to use italics ;) )
 
nicolejoy said:
from what I heard about the cost of private care at QMH, it's comparable to that at the other private hospitals. It's not the room that is expensive, but it's the fact that IF you are in a private room, you need to pay for ALL the medical expenses as well rather than just paying for the room. The bill can be around $60-100K or so (from what I've heard, not from my experience)... Personally I'd rather go to a private hospital in that case, unless I had reason to suspect that the baby might need NICU.

I wish that QM had the "special accommodation wards" that Pamela Youde has - where it's a smaller shared room for only about $7000 all up - but there's not that option at QM...
Click to expand...

not only that.... they BACK DATE your charges!!! so, if at 8 months, you decide to change to private section at QMH...they will go back and CHARGE YOU FOR ALL of your previous appts!

there is not much difference in cost between matilda and private care at a public hospital
 
I had my baby in Queen Mary and had a very good experience. I found I was in competent hands the whole time. I thought the nurses and the midwives were very helpful. They also encourage breastfeeding and help you get started. It was busy in the room one night, but not so full the next, but I actually found it comforting to have other people around. You still get your own room for labor and I found that more important.


blessed said:
we are expecting our 1st in September and glad to meet everyone here.

have registered at QMH via public side and had my first appointment @ Tsan Yuk earlier this month... we are thinking of moving to the private side of QMH to get a balance for both the medical expertise & privacy, can anyone share with us the private care experience at QMH & approximate cost?

we have limited coverage from insurance, so while everyone is recommending us to go Matilda we would rather use the $$ towards the baby at later stage.
Click to expand...
 
as stated in umpteen previous posts, i was in QMH 13 times over my two complicated pregnancies. yes, it can be noisy... that's why i ALWAYS recommend earplugs and an eye patch... would not have had a night's sleep otherwise... as it was, i was able to sleep quite well with those two things. oh, yeah, i also took my own pillow!
 
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