Cost Of Giving Birth

I shared a house with a midwife for a while last year. She couldn't understand why people insist on private births. You get the same treatment as a public patient and you might get your own room if there's one available. The midwives don't care who is public/private. A pregnant woman is a pregnant woman, and a baby is a baby. If you are private, your very expensive consultant watches the midwives deliver the baby. If you are public, and there are problems with the baby, then the doctor has to be phoned, instaed of shouted to!

There is zero difference in care ladies, although the insurance companies , and consultants, will tell you otherwise.

We had our first and second child in the Coombe and first time went semi and second went public as there was no room for semi private when our little lad was due. The admin people in the hospital talked us out of going private when we said that we would prefer that route as they said you get treated the same and although you pay 4k extra you are not guaranteed the private service on the day.

Anyway long story short we were treated great (it felt better) when we went public. There were a few small complications that were similar to our first but felt that they looked after us much better.

As for the Rotunda, I have heard from my sister who has had two children there that private is the only way to go.

Perhaps it is different for each hospital and maybe even perhaps the look of the draw when it comes to which team you are under and which ward you get assigned to.

But would just like to say that we found the Coombe to be great and fair play to the staff etc. there. ;-)

There are mixed feelings on this - and I think what makes you happy at the end of the day (or you can afford) - is up to you.

Im currently expecting and when I went to GP for my first visit (lady). She asked me where I wanted to go, and would it be Private/Public/Semi.

Like anyone expecting their first I hadn't a clue...

She told me she had just had her first herself and said she went semi private... she said she wouldn't bother again... she ended up on the public ward anyway, which was fine.. she also said that at the end of the day - every baby is delivered the same and no difference in the level of care..

I expressed my concern at how long you have to wait for a scan.. she said well go for an early one, private... it will cost you no more than 120 and you can claim 20% back.. and she said if your lucky (which I was) your public consultant may just do one on your first visit - which he did (before the 20 week scan holles street)... so I've had 3 scans now - and all going well...

On my visits to Holles Street as a public patient, I have found the level of care fantastic so far, first visit I was in and out in under 1 hour (filling in forms, weight, bloods, urine samples, meeting consultant, meet mid wive!)... Second visit for scan also under an hour... so I can say all good so far!

>>On my visits to Holles Street as a public patient, I have found the level of care fantastic so far, first visit I was in and out in under 1 hour (filling in forms, weight, bloods, urine samples, meeting consultant, meet mid wive!)... Second visit for scan also under an hour... so I can say all good so far! <<

Sulo you've just reminded me of something I would like to clear up myself.
I had to queue as an outpatient a few times in the Rotunda for specialist consultants (instead of in the semi private waiting room where I was for normal check ups). If that is what you have to go through for every visit as a public patient, well no way hose I will stick with semi private.