Antenatal Check-ups

[Chy]

Is it recommended to get antenatal check-ups at the hospital you intend to deliver or does it matter? I'm currently seeing a private doctor with own practice but I think she delivers at a hospital on the kowloon side while I'm hoping to stay on the HK side. Should I just find another doctor on HK side and stick with him/her or go directly to the hospital where I plan to deliver for antental check-ups? I'm thinking of QMH since it's on the HK side, otherwise can anyone suggest another public hospital on HK side where they've had good experiences? Thanks!

[kellyst]

Hi Chy,

Hmm.. from my understanding. i think for private doctors, they mostly deliver at private hospitals. and only under rare circumstances will they be allowed to deliver at public hospitals.

who delivers your baby at the public hospital pretty much depends on who's on duty at the time.

however, i do know of quite a number of people who go to private doctors for antenatal care and then just deliver at public hospital (but delivering with doctors at the hospital, i.e. no choice for doc for delivery). so that works too.

--kellyst

[Chy]

thanks for your reply kellyst, i thought that was the way it worked. the reason i ask about antenatal check-ups at public hospitals is because i may eventually end up delivering back in oz so i want to avoid spending too much for such visits at private practices. do you know if it's possible to get antenatal check-ups at private hospitals and then evenually delivery elsewhere? just that i live very close to hk sanitorium hospital and that would really be convenient, however as much as i'd like to deliver there as well, the costs seems a little overwhelming.

[carang]

if you deliver at QMH you need to register at Tsan Yuk hospital for ante-natal checks... all of the checks are free...however, you pay for a few tests/scans...areound $60 each...

[Hkmuma]

I am about to have my third, the first two I had antenatal visits with a private doctor, this time I have all my antenatal appointments at a public hospital. The medical care has been almost identical.

You do need to prepared to wait around for your appointments at public hospital more so than private doctors (up to 2 hours) however even with a private doctor you will find appointments rescheduled due to them delivering etc.

I have to say I have been very impressed with the public system - organised and efficient and free! although you do not see the same doctor and for your first baby this may be more important to you.

Good Luck

[kellyst]

Chy, check-ups at public hospitals are close to free ( i think they require HKID?), but provided that you could spend time on waiting time, they could be quite a while.

i haven't heard of checkups at private hospitals though, since i think checkups are mainly handled by private practices in the private medical sector. for delivery, as long as you're not buying into any packages, you won't be bound to deliver at any particular hospital, i think you still have plenty of choices and could do some mix and matches.

--kellyst