Hospital Booking

M

mmec

Registered User
I am very confused about the booking system with private hospitals in Hong Kong. During my first visit to my gynecologist, the nurses assured me that a place had been reserved for me at my preferred hospital.

After a few months (3 to be exact), I thought it would be a good idea to confirm the booking, but only to be told by the nurses that my application was rejected by the hospital because they were full for the month that I am expected to delivery my baby!!!

When I asked WHEN my application was rejected, they said they received a call from the hospital but did not record the date of event.

Argh!!!

Not only did they not call me to tell me this change of status, but their only advise was for me to consider other hospitals. Has anyone had similar experiences? Are confirmations slips or notices issued for reservations that are confirmed by hospitals? I am worried now because even though they tell me that I have a reservation at another hospital, how may I be assured that the same situation does not happen again?

Thank you in advance for any advise from experienced mothers...
 
I'm on a waitlist for 2 hospitals for June!!! My doc says that she expects it all to be fine 'on the day', but it still leaves me feeling unnerved! I also spoke to one of the midwives from Annerley Midwives about my concern and she brushed it off saying "don't worry, it'll be fine".....so with that in mind I'm trying not to worry!!

I wasn't even told to make a booking until I was 6-months in, and then all the hospitals were already full!

Worst case scenario is delivery at the Queen Mary, which is a brilliant public hospital by all accounts (although I'd still like to be private if possible).
 
My OB submitted my papers back in March (I am due at the end of May) and he said back then, it was to let the hospital know to expect this mother around the time of her due date. Since I am having a c-section, we got a time slot in the Operating Theatre, but they cannot confirm a private room. I actually submitted a different date for the c-section but was told it was full on that day, so I had to pick another day.
 
Yeah...I am a bit confused how the booking system works. I'm due end of May - a scheduled C-section. I am pretty sure my doctor had booked me in months ago - and I even had told him the specific date I wanted. Anyway, when I was at my ob appointment last week, he asked the nurse whether I was booked, and she said no, and quickly rang the hospital. Unfortunately I couldn't get my preferred date as there were already 3 C-sections booked for that day, so I got the day after. I was a bit disappointed as the date was a bit sentimental to me. But from reading posts here, appreciative I could get a booking with my preferred hospital. I was thinking maybe you have to book the hospital months in advance, but can't specify the exact date until closer??
 
I think it's harder for scheduled c-sections as each hospital only allows a certain number per day and many people who schedule c-sections are all consulting the same calender for auspicious days!

I am due 2nd week of May and had no problem securing a booking (with deposit of course) back in February as I am trying for a natural delivery. I think the understanding is that there will be a bed for me when I finally pop, although depending on the room situation at the time, it may or may not be the type of room that I have requested. At the Canossa and other Hong Kong Island private hospitals, I gather that it is more dificult to secure a booking for a room with multiple beds than a private room and even more so if you are trying to book a c-section on a 'good' date.
 
Jojo,
Regarding secure the room type. Does it means that you could book private room in advance at Canossa ?

Thanks
 
Scheduled C-sections on public holidays

I have a question I hope experienced moms can tell me - is it true that on Sundays many hospitals don't do schedueld c-sections? I wanted to have mine on a Sunday ( in Sept) but was turned away because it was a Sunday -but if it was an emergency c-section then it would be OK. I don't quite understand the logic here - is this everybody's experience as well ?
 
My friend had a scheduled c-section on Sunday at Canossa hospital about 2.5 years ago but she had to pay extra fee.
 
Hi, first-time mother and foreigner in HK here :-)

My OB is Dr Christine Choi and she confirmed my pregnancy at 6.5 week, EDD 8 Aug 09.

She said that her nurses will start to call the hospitals and get a booking for me. So far, she told me that Sanotorium and Canossa are fully booked(unbelievable!) and she's waiting for an answer from Adventist and will start calling others. Dr Choi does not deliver at Matilda.

Is it a standard practice that the OB will help you with the hospital booking or should I also try to call the hospitals myself?

Any input will be greatly appreciated.
 
Your ObGyn should make the booking for you. My booking was made for me when I was 8 weeks pregnant - yes, 7 months in advance! Couldn't believe it myself since I'm a first time mom. Anyhow, there was no confirmation note or anything, but being paranoid about the hospital situation here, I called the nurse myself to check the next day whether or not a room was booked for me. I delivered at the Matilda, and one good thing about Matilda (though it is more expensive) is that as long as they reserve a room for you, they will have a room for you with the month of your expected delivery date. I was 4 days early and they had a room for me...though next to a room that was being re-painted. I know at the Adventist my friend had a baby early and she didn't get the room type she had requested for - basically she told me you get what is available. Apparently, unless you book the VIP room at the Adventist, you will be put up where there is room (my sister says - she's having her 3rd next month).

QM is a good place to deliver - the private section is comparable to Matilda in terms of price, friends of mine who've delivered there say the staff are very good.

If there is any chance that you might have complications with your pregnancy, QM is the place to be. This is just from my personal experience since my daughter had complications at birth. Matilda is a great place for the mom, but unfortunately not for the kid if something happens since they do not have the equipment (can't expect them to have it since the equipment is expensive and not so many cases need to use the equipment) to handle complicated cases. QM has everything for the kid and being a teaching hospital the staff see many many cases of complications. Don't want to scare or worry you, but just wanted to let you know in case, because I didn't know anything and went to Matilda because it's just so comfortable and beautiful for me.

Good luck with your pregnancy!
 
hi lesliefu: Thank you so much for your reply.

I've heard about the private hospitals situation in HK but I'm still shocked that even when the nurses tried to make a booking at 6.5 weeks, 2 hospitals are already fully booked.

I have heard good things about Queen Mary. Is it possible to book a room at the private section of Queen Mary? I will probably ask the nurses to try there as well. Not being able to confirm a booking is driving me nuts.

Actually I'm not really fussed about the hospital as long it's private, on HK island and the nurses speak reasonably good English (as I don't speak cantonese).
 
I delivered november 07 at Canossa. I was first booked at Adventist but they never confirmed... when I asked the nurses where I was supposed to give birth, they tried to book in 3 other hospitals, and Canossa confirmed very quickly. To make sure I was booked, I went to Canossa and checked my name. I was supposed to give birth on the 1st of december, and my name was on the 21st !! hopefully I made the change... and finally I delivered on the 25th November, and I had no problem with my admission. As soon as your name is on their lists, there is no more problem.
 
Hello Woodstock07,

You do not need the nurse to register you at QM. Seeing that its a public hospital - you will just need to get register yourself with the public system.

I have done loads of research on this..I'm also fairly new to HK and was shocked about the way, way in advance booking needed. Here's a NYT article to shed some light on this issue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/w...7035600&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

PM me if you have any questions.

Eve
 
Hi Woodstock

Yes you can reserve a room at QM as a priavte patient. I did it in Sep this year but in the end I still deliver at the Matilda.

You can PM me is you like to have more info.
 
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