Private doctor's reaction to giving birth at public hospital?

K

kimdavis

Registered User
Dear Ladies,

I have another question:
Since our insurance doesn't cover pregnancy related costs,
I have been considering giving birth at Queen Mary's.

But I do prefer getting consultations from a private doctor to save time and energy.

1. Would you know if Dr. Joe Chan or Dr. Patrick Chan is ok that they won't be delivering themselves?

2. For those of you who went through the same route, until how many months/weeks of pregnancy did you visit the private doctors?

3. How difficult is it to get a pregnancy 'referral letter' from your private doctor? Can they issue it immediately (=on the day you visit)?

Thank you in advance!
 
I did this, but with Dr. Doo so I cannot comment on Dr Chan. When I went for my first appointment I was very clear that I was delivering in a public hospital and Dr Doo was fine with this. He wrote me my referral letter at the first appointment.
I saw Dr. Doo up until 38 weeks. I registered at the hospital at 32 weeks so I doubled up on some appointments and this was fine.

Good luck with your pregnancy.
 
I can't answer the majority of your questions, although I did deliver at the Queen Mary with my second pregnancy.

However, I have had Dr Chan as my surgeon/Dr on fibroids/ovarian cysts and have high praise for his bedside manner, his expertise and the time he has for patients. I really appreciated how he took the time to explain everything that was going on. I would imagine he would be just as excellent as a oby/gyn.
 
I`m just newly pregnant but have seen 2 different docs and told both that I would be delivering in the public hospital. They seemed pretty ambivalent about it, maybe they`re busy anyway:)
I think it`s standard procedure for them to write the referral letter, because the public clinics require it in order for you to enter the system.
 
Dr Chan was brilliant - I told him upfront I wanted to deliver public, and not only did he treat me as any of his other patients, he also tried to work around my public appointments. When I had extra tests with him etc, he'd make sure he would be able to get me the results before my next public appointment. He always asked after those appointments too and he didn't double up with tests I would have to have done in the public system for free. I would recommend him to anyone who wanted great private antenatal care but the public hospital for delivery.

___edited in________

For me, I had complications which meant that I had to be transferred to a specialist from Dr Chan when I was 17 weeks - after that I had a LOT of appointments both public and private, so I stopped going to Dr Chan - but in a normal pregnancy, I would have seen him all the way through. I originally went to him when I was about 7 weeks or so...

And yes, he issued a positive pregnancy letter of recommendation at our first visit, since we were already able to see the heartbeat on the ultrasound.
 
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I am in the same situation--have to deliver public, but definitely want to get in the extra appointments/scans. I went to Dr. Catherine Cheung at 6 weeks because her prices seemed reasonable compared to some of the others. She asked me if I planned on delivering public or private. When I told her private, she didn't blink an eye. She has actually been really helpful, too, explaining when I would get certain tests through Tsan Yuk and the process there.

While she was a bit reserved the first time I went (not in any sort of mean or impatient way, just in a kind of business-like, competent way), she has gotten warmer with each subsequent visit. I have also made an effort to ensure that I have all my questions written down and that I actually ask them all and ask for elaboration when I need it.

If the doctor you choose seems sketchy about your decision, definitely find a new one who will work with you without making your feel bad!
 
Hi nicolejoy,
thank you for your reply. Which Dr. Chan do you mean? Dr. Patrick Chan or Dr. Joe Chan?

Thanks!

nicolejoy said:
Dr Chan was brilliant - I told him upfront I wanted to deliver public, and not only did he treat me as any of his other patients, he also tried to work around my public appointments. When I had extra tests with him etc, he'd make sure he would be able to get me the results before my next public appointment. He always asked after those appointments too and he didn't double up with tests I would have to have done in the public system for free. I would recommend him to anyone who wanted great private antenatal care but the public hospital for delivery.

___edited in________

For me, I had complications which meant that I had to be transferred to a specialist from Dr Chan when I was 17 weeks - after that I had a LOT of appointments both public and private, so I stopped going to Dr Chan - but in a normal pregnancy, I would have seen him all the way through. I originally went to him when I was about 7 weeks or so...

And yes, he issued a positive pregnancy letter of recommendation at our first visit, since we were already able to see the heartbeat on the ultrasound.
Click to expand...
 
Patrick Chan - although I have seen Joe Chan's wife (I think) - Cora Ngai. She was the specialist (in prenatal diagnostics) that Dr Patrick Chan referred me to, excellent doctor for high risk cases (although I've heard complaints about her for regular pregnancies - but she DEFINITELY is excellent in complicated situations, she knows her stuff!). Dr Ngai was also good at working with the public hospital doctors - she would call them and discuss my case with the doctors there. But for a normal pregnancy, I'd probably recommend Dr P Chan over Dr Ngai.
 
Just for some added information re extra private visits: I had my first public appt today and as far as ultrasounds go, they changed things, and no longer do ANY, unless you want the first trimester screening for downs, which includes an ultrasound. Other than that, you`ll have to go private to get any scans. Too bad since the 18-20 week one is soooo expensive.
 
I am seeing Dr Patrick Chan and delivering at QM. Dr Chan is great and is happy that im delivering public. He asks me that blood tests are due and whether I want him to do them or Tsan Yuk. Most appointments are around HK$1,000 including a scan.
 
Hi Shenzhennifer,

That is strange--I had my first appointment (not registration) on July 2. One of the things I had to do was go up to the third floor to register for my 20 week ultrasound in September.

Did they tell you that there were no scans included? If it was your registration appointment, unless you asked, I doubt they would have mentioned it, but if it was the first appointment (where the are supposed to go over your blood test results) then maybe you can inquire more about it.

How annoying!
 
nbw - Wow!! No way! I specifically asked about scans, bc I was told on this board that they only did the 20 week scan now. But the nurse said it was new policy that they weren`t doing any, except the first trimester screening one which was optional. I had my blood tests and then they just sceduled my first tri scan for next week and a regular appt for the beginning of Sept. Hmmm, I`m going to call them. Thanks for that.
 
Hi Shenzheniifer... I also am registered in the public system (at Tseung Kwan O) and I had a 20-week scan on July 6. It seemed to me like this was routine, although I had been transferred from the maternal clinic to the hospital as I was deemed a more complicated case. No longer though... they've tranferred me back to the clinic, and henceforth they said scans would only be done if they felt there was a complication.

Wondering if nbw was deemed a complicated case too... and therefore got a scan? Though it really did seem that the scan at 20 weeks was routine. Unless they have changed the procedure and we just scraped through.

In terms of expense, I find the doctors in Central are way more expensive and there are cheaper (and good) options on the Kowloon side. Moreover, Annerley does scans with a midwife for just 350... so that could be an option if you don't feel you need to see a doc.

In terms of waiting time, I spend around the same time waiting at the private doc as I do at the public hospital.
 
haha...no one told me if I was deemed complicated (maybe difficult : )

I do have cysts, but no one seemed to be bothered by them, and I am going to maternal clinic in Ap Lei Chau for my next visit, so I don't think that my case is out of the ordinary. Maybe they made the change in procedure in that short of a time, but I would still push a bit and ask.
 
I saw Dr. Patrick Chan and he was wonderful. No judgement when we decided to deliver the public route and he even suggested I get some of the test through the public system since it would be free. I would definitely choose him again and we saw him up to 39 weeks! He also did my 6 week post baby checkup.
 
Mystery solved: At my appt yesterday at Princess Margarat, I asked about the ultrasounds. The doctor said they have a quota and when they reach it they don`t schedule anymore. She checked her schedule according to my dates and she said there was one spot left, so I got it. Strange eh. I bet it`s for friends and families of hospital workers, something like that.
 
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