Private Obstetricians

In Private Obstetrics you can choose your doctor  and  individual doctors care for individual patients. Patients can choose their doctor and also the hospital they want to go to. One doctor (usually a Specialist Obstetrician but can be a GP) is primarily responsible for your care throughout your pregnancy, the delivery and the 6 weeks after delivery. Birth is usually in a private hospital and discharge between 4 to 5 days after birth.

The Public Health System on the other hand is a large organisation that provides medical care to the population as a whole. Care is provided according to medical need by clinical teams consisting of a range of doctors and midwives. Birth takes place in a public hospital with discharge usually between 1 to 3 days after birth.

Private Obstetrics Care at POGS

POGS provides private pregnancy and delivery care:

• Our Specialist Obstetricians have at least six years of specialist obstetrics training after they qualified as doctors and more than 13 years of  Obstetric experience each. 
• We value every woman as a person, respect her relationship with her partner  and consider it a  privilege to care for her during her pregnancy and birth.
• We are open to your birth preferences and specific birth requests.
• Personal requests for inductions or caesarean sections can usually be accommodated.
• While we believe that in most cases a vaginal delivery is possible and preferable, we respect a woman's right to choose to have a Caesarean section.
• In women who prefer to have a vaginal delivery we see it as our ethical obligation to what is needed to facilitate it. We will allow the time needed and provide interventions only when medically indicated and always after discussion and explanation.
• We take our duty of ensuring that we have a healthy mother and healthy baby at the end of the pregnancy very seriously. To that end we will take decisive and timely actions if and when that is necessary.
• During labour/birth all women receive one-on-one care from a hospital midwife. Your doctor will liase with your midwife and remain fully informed of your progress. Results and the baby's heart rate can be remotely monitored on our computers and phones.
• The usual stay in hospital is four days after a vaginal birth and five days after a Caesarean section and  longer if there are complications. If all is well you may choose to go home earlier.
• Partners can stay with women in a private hospital after the birth.
• We employ midwives to provide collaborative care. 
• Our staff is an integral part of our team and are accommodating and caring. 
• We do ultrasound scans at every visit to assess the baby’s growth, fluid volume and presentation  and usually provide printed images of your baby.
• Some pregnancies are very complex and may need the input of several specialists and/or allied health professionals. We have a trusted network of people that we work with.
• POGS works with Physiotherapists, Diabetic educators, Psychologists, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists, Obstetric Physicians, Paediatricians, Paediatric Surgeons, Lactation Consultants, Psychiatrists, Endocrinologists, Cardiologists, Haematologists, Neurologists, Infectious Disease Specialists and General Surgeons - just to name a few. Most of these specialists and allied health services are available on site at SJOG Subiaco Hospital.
• We work closely your GP because it is important that you maintain your  link with your GP throughout your pregnancy. All women are discharged back to the care of their chosen GP after the six weeks visit.

Public Obstetric Care

The Public Health System provides the best possible care to the population as a whole within their budget. Fortunately the public system in Australia is well resourced compared to most other countries but it is not set up to provide individualised care.

• With a few exceptions women cannot choose their doctor or  hospital, they will be assigned a hospital in their area.
• Antenatal care is provided through antenatal clinics. There are often long waits due to under staffing. Women usually see a different doctor or midwife at every appointment. During labour there may be several shift changes where a new team of doctors and midwives take over a patient's care.
• Front-line medical staff in the public system are often trainees. There are regular clinical rounds lead by consultants (Specialists) to oversee management and make decisions. Consultants are available on call out of hours to assist the junior doctors if required.
• Requests for inductions of labour or Caesarean sections for personal reasons may not be possible in the public system  because it can only cope with a limited number of inductions or elective caesarean sections on a given day. Priority is given to those who need it for medical reasons. At POGS we support vaginal birth and limit interventions where possible, however we do support your right to choose a caesarean section or induction at or after the 39th week of pregnancy.
• In the public system women are discharged as soon as possible often on the day of the birth or the day after.