Sanatorium or Matilda?

S

sallyklc

Registered User
Hi,

I'm considering Sanatorium or Matilda, and really not sure which hospital to go for. My family and myself can all speak Cantonese, so language would jot he a problem for us.

As we visited both hospitals, we found that Sanatorium is much more convenient, and we feel that it seems quite nice already too. But we're really unsure about in terms of service, are there anything we should be aware of or take into consideration?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

S
 
A lot of Happy Valley Mums are opting to deliver at the Sanatorium for the convenience. It is a good hospital and it has recently been renovated. Have heard this from 2nd time mums who want to be near home and older siblings.

Matilda is Fab and is an amazing hospital. If you're a First Time Mum and you have insurance then would recommend the Matilda.
 
Thanks for your kind reply.

Are there anything that could be point out specifically that is better at Matilda, versus Sanatorium?

S
 
i delivered at both and one thing that I would say is better at Matilda are the mid-wives. they are more personal and helpful compared to sanatorium. one thing I would caution is that if there are any unexpected complications to your pregnancy - sanatorium would be better equipped medically speaking...their "machines" are more new...though in extreme cases the baby would end up in QMH and being at Sanatorium would probably be closer.
 
Thank you for sharing ur experience :)

We don't have insurance, that's y we are struggling to decide whether to pay the extra money for Matilda. Though I'm sure Sanatorium would be very good anyway!

Lesliefu.. Do u mind sharing any comments on the ward u stay in? We're considering either the semi-private or the private at Sanatorium...
 
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One thing about Matilda is that it is pro Breastfeeding whereas sanitorium and other private hospitals might have a more rigid feeding schedule which isn't the best for supporting Breastfeeding (feed on demand or every 2-3 hours)

I think if u have private room then the baby can stay with you or be with you when you want which can solve the issue re frequent breastfeeding
 
from what I recall, the only difference between the two is whether you want your own bathroom (private) or don't mind sharing (semi-private)...both cases you have your own privacy and can have baby room in...though I choose not too and told the nurses to bring the baby in when she cried...which they did - every 2 hours...they didn't try to convince me to sleep through - they just went with what I requested. as it was baby #2 I didn't mind having the baby not sleep with me in the room...

i was in a deluxe room as my other choice would have been a shared ward and I didn't feel comfortable about sharing a bathroom with 3 other women (luckily for me my insurance covered my bill)

if you don't have insurance I would go for sanatorium - the accommodations are very modern and new, the location is convenient - you (your husband) can grab a good bite to eat within walking distance...it's not as "resort" feel as Matilda for sure...but Sanatorium is nice! :)
 
Hello all. I am due in July 2014 and now looking at which hospital to book. Our dr said we shouldnt need to make a decision on booking until my 4th month. I have read through a few posts on the forum as to the pro's and con's of Matilda, Adventist, Sanatorium and Canossa, but couldnt see any recent posts/feedback. I am planning to have a natural delivery, and live on the Kowloon side (but my preference is to come across to the HK side and my OBGYN is based in central). Assuming cost is not an issue, which hospital would you recommend for a first time mum? Appreciate any comments. Thanks!
 
Hi Pandy
I went through the same when I was pregnant and decided to go with Sanatorium in the end. I had a natural delivery at sanatorium at the end of Oct this year. I viewed the rooms at HKSH, Matilda and Adventist before deciding on Sanatorium and I think you may wish to consider visiting the maternity wards before you decide.

My hub and I were very happy with the decision. The midwives and nurses at sanatorium were awesome! So much so that I wrote a complimentary letter to the hospital management expressing my gratitude. It was my first delivery and i was clueless. This midwife I had was amazing, she guided me through the entire labour process. The nurses at the ward were also very helpful knowing that I wanted to breastfeed my baby, and even helped to check that my baby was latching on correctly the first couple of feeds. Good luck and lemme know if you need more info!
 
Hi Capricious. Many thanks for replying to my post. Im also having my first baby and feeling clueless although I have been trawling though as much information as I can!

We plan on visiting the hospitals as you recommend. What made you choose Sanatorium over the other options?

Also you mention that you had a midwife guide you through the birthing process. Is the midwife included in the fee at Sanatorium, and do you get to meet the midwife beforehand? Finally, did you have any antenatal classes? Strangely my OBGYN told me that I didnt really need to attend such classes, as long as I watched his VCD tutorial!

Thanks in advance for your reply!
 
Hi Pandy, no worries. More than happy to share my experience.

I compared notes from friends who delivered at the various hospitals before making my decision. I also felt most comfy with the environment and room deco at sanatorium. You can also consider checking with your obstetrician which hospital he prefers or is more convenient for him (in case of emergency).
There were 2 midwives assigned to me when I was admitted, one of whom was just amazing. I did not get to meet her beforehand. It's included in the package fee.
Ironically, i attended Matilda's antenatal class at their central medical centre. I find the session on lactation most useful. The rest......sort of left my brain when the pain hits me and I was just listening to my midwife's instructions. I found the course useful coz it's my first and it sort of did prepare me for what to expect. Sanatorium's course was held only in Cantonese which was why I went for Matilda's. I'm not sure what your ob's vcd contains but you can compare the course outline on Matilda's website (or other providers) before deciding? We spent some time during the antenatal class watching video clips too.
 
Hi Pandy,

You might want to confirm with your first choice hospital regarding availability for your due date. For the Sanatorium, their policy is you are required to put down your deposit starting at 12 weeks and have just a couple weeks to do so. My OB (Grace Cheung) also submitted my application at my first appointment (at 7 weeks) and was saying how fortunate I was to get a spot, though I have no idea how hard it is to get a spot at some of the private hospitals these days.

Good luck!
 
Hi Sundayz

I will be at 12 weeks in the second week of January which is when I have my next OB visit. The good Dr didnt seem to think there was much need to rush and book a bed until my next visit. I was edging to book at Matilda, but think I will now go with Sanatorium. The Adventist some reason is more expensive than both, but I didnt understand why?
 
Our son (first child) was born naturally at the Hong Kong Sanatorium last Sunday.
He came a bit earlier than expected, so there was not time to make much preparations, but from the first phone call at 05.00 a.m. in the morning, all medical staff was extremely helpful and professional.
Medical care was outstanding and we were fortunate to have an uncomplicated and rather smooth delivery with excellent care, support and encouragement.
After delivery, we stayed in a semi private room (shared bathroom), which was totally fine.
Baby could stay with us in the room and wish for breastfeeding was encouraged, however I would have wished for a little bit more advise on how to breastfeed (positions etc.), but all works fine now.
Good luck!
 
hi all, I compared the package price of Sanatorium, Adventist, Matilda and Canossa. To my surprise, Sanatorium's price is the cheapest among the four. Being the skeptical me I wonder if they quote the package price low but then add on a lot of other miscel expenses? Are the packages across hospitals "apples for apples"?

and how's the condition of the semi private at Sanatorium? it seems you do get your own room (i.e. no need to share room with someone else) though u need to share bathroom - is that a big hassle?

thanks all
 
Not sure about other hospitals than the Sanatorium. Package only covers the general expenses for your stay in the hospital (room, bed, food, baby photo, vaccinations, Vitamin K etc.).
Everything else comes extra (delivery fee for the doctor, attendance fee for the doctor and pediatrician etc.
If you need a better idea, maybe ask the doctor to provide a cost estimate for your insurance company (whether you actually need it or not) and then add a safety buffer as the total expenses might come out higher.
We did not find it a big hassle sharing the bathroom - and your room is fully private, has TV and wifi etc.

all the best
 
I have also been thinking to choose between Sanatorium and Matilda, and to a lesser degree Canossa (though I have to look at their new wards). The main pro of Sanatorium is that if it is a more up to date hospital. But I don't really like the feel of the hospital as it is constantly filled with people and even the waits for the lifts are stressful. The main pro of Matilda is that it really is a 5 star service place that is peaceful and calm. My ob also lives on site which makes it easier. But my family would have to travel up to the Peak which can be inconvenient. I figured if I am comfortable there for the 3-5 days, that is the most important thing. Anyone heard anything about Canossa's new wards?
 
Hi Stickychocolate, where did you decide to deliver at the end? I visited the maternity ward of canossa while I was trying to make a decision. They did a good job with the renovation. For a quick comparison, the price is the same for a private room in canossa vs a general room in Maltida after factoring in the additional cost for OB if you go for a private room.

I am leaning toward Canossa mainly for convenience reason. If there is last minute complication, it is a lot easier to go from canossa to QM than from Maltida. The ride up to the peak kinda scared me!


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Hi sundayyz0,

I hope you are well.

I am also with Dr Grace Cheung and is very torn between Matilda and Sanatorium. How was your previous experience though?
 
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