Posted by
crj
18 yrs ago
Hi All
I am sure most of you saw the article in the SCMP at the weekend regarding how many hospitals are only accepting patients who pre-register.
I went to Matilda this weekend and March and April were fully booked! Luckily, my doctor had pre-registered me a few months ago.
They do not accept your registration, it MUST be your doctor who registers you.
So tell your doctor ASAP of your request and get on the list in the hospital of your choice ASAP!!
Good luck!
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miffy
18 yrs ago
Very good advice - Matilda is also fully booked for May and June....!!
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Kmom
18 yrs ago
maternity hospitals are now being booked like the pre-schools in HK!!!
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crj
18 yrs ago
ha ha - maybe someone can set up a dual business -
"book your maternity and your preschool, all while you are trying to conceive!"
"Full through service to university applications"
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I agree with Gogis. I was at the Matilda last week and there was a lady sitting in the waiting area with me who was 36 weeks pregnant. She was still debating the cost and whether to book in and the marketing person who was showing her around (again) did not put any pressure on her.
I wonder whether it is part of the press 'concerns' anout Mainland mothers, tring to cause a bit of panic?
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crj
18 yrs ago
I thought it was all hype too until I was at Matilda on Sunday.
The woman at the desk downstairs explained that my internet registration and pre-registration was only about saving paperwork when I arrive to check in - that this is NOT the same as booking in advance and that ONLY my doctor could do that for me.
She sent me upstairs to see if my doctor had already done this.
Saw the same midwife that delivered #1 in Janaury 2006.
She could not find my name on the list and started to panic.
I said I was seeing my OBGYN Saturday, I could have him pre-register me then.
She said, that would be too late as March and April are both almost or fully closed.
So she insisted on calling my doctor on Sunday, and checking with him that he pre-registered me already as she could not find my name.
He reassured her that he did register me, actually right after he first learned I was pregnant, and there I was almost the top of the list.
I was standing there, being told by a midwife whom we know and trust, that I would not make it in if I wasn't on the list... make of it what you will, but if you want to be safe, have your doctor pre-register you.
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agree! my doctor asked me if i have decided on which hospital to delive and i told him i am going back to my home country to deliver. he told me that if i change my mind, i have to tell him really really soon because he has to pre-register me. so better do it now, girls.
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crj
18 yrs ago
Best to check with your OBGYN, but I think it might be now?
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Kmom
18 yrs ago
good luck Cara! I wish you and the baby a healthy delivery!
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It may just be that the bed they find you is a fold away cot-bed between two other beds in an 8 women room that is all. My friend did the tour at Queen Mary and asked the nurse all the hard questions like this one.
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It is true that the hopsital is really busy, we still have occasional quite days as babies haven't got the message to arrive on the due date yet but mostly our quota of deliveries is full til for the next 3 months.
I know what you are saying about the press but this time if the message to book early is getting out then I am pleased as we do not like to have to turn people away. And we are not using this as reason to increase our prices.
The booking does have to go through you doctor as we will need your antenatal care details from them before admission. The online registration is to help reduce paper work on the day of admission but it also means we have your contact details early should any changes come into place we can let you know.
As of tomorrow the immigration will be stopping mainland chinese who are obviously well on in their pregnancy from entering HK if they do not have a proof of hospital booking (either government or private) and they will need to pay a HK$40,000 non refundable deposit in advance. These measures are to help protect HK mothers and ensure there are adequate services to meet the demand. SO perhaps things will ease off in a few months.
If unsure of your booking status you can always give me a call - 2849 0328.
Lynne
Matilda International Hospital
Hong Kong
http://www.matilda.org
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Lynne - what happens if I am booked into Matilda but you are full when I go into labour and I am not booked in at another hospital?
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I have been checking with my Dr (Due early April) and he said that at the moment it seems there is a bit of a panic situation and people have been booking more then one hospital. Thats what I have done now as well because they cannot guarantee anything now. He did mention that the Sanatorium would not take any booking anymore till June.
He said that by the time we have to go in, he hopes he can get us the preferred hospital and the preferred room but for now hard to say.
He hopes that this booking situation will soon improve once more information is available on the situation after Feb1.
I decided to just wait & see what happens. Can't really waist my time worrying about it. Seems there is always a risk you cannot be placed in preferred room of your hospital of choice. Now just have to include that hospital of choice might be a issue too, but nothing I can do about it now..
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If you are booked in and go into labour we will take you it is more that you may not get the room type you requested. The case could also be that you may be asked to reschule a non urgent c/s or induction of labour if we are suddenly get a lot of labouring ladies simultanously, though not common.
The Private hospital association is trying to centralise bookings to prevent double booking and give a more accurate picture of the number of beds available territory wide - but takes some logistics.
We really are trying to accomodate you all and your understanding and a little flexibility are really appreciated.
As I may not get back to the thread in a short while you can always call me if you need any assistance.
Lynne
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Cara - firstly, all the best for your exciting times ahead in a week. I am not due for such a long time that I wonder if I am unnecessarily worrying about stuff too soon!
Secondly, I completely agree that a hospital is better than anywhere else - have watched too many discovery channel specials on births in cabs or cars on the way to the hospital! My point was just to make sure that people understand that a cot-bed (or worse still as you have said, a bed in the hallway) is something that may happen and that they know this ahead of time and are therefore not put off. I know a few of my friends who were put off by this (and with the fact that you may be waiting for a delivery room even if you are in labour) and have reassessed. It all comes down to personal preference and whether you have insurance or finances and/or willingness to spend the huge amount of money required for private hospitals. One of my friends who was put off was lucky enough to have other options. Best that people do the tour, ask the questions themselves and make an informed decision.
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Well good luck again and let us know how you get on. Us "newbies" love the opinions - keep them coming!
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Hi Lynne,
I've read the above with interest as I am in a bit of a tough situation (see my Mainland Mothers thread for more info). Can you verify if Matilda will offer the same packages for non-HK ID card holders, or if some flexibility can be granted if one parent is an ID card holder? I would much rather pay same money for upgraded services at regular price than standard service with a huge and unreasonable markup. Understand booking is very very tight (we are looking at late May / early June) so any advice is greatly appreciated!
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miffy
18 yrs ago
Ted - it is often best to call Lynne as she is not able to check this site all that regularly. Her number is in her posting above. However I should tell you my friend (with HK ID card) is due early June and was, as of yesterday, unable to get a booking at Matilda as it is fully booked. That may change as others have noted, if people have 'double booked' more than one hospital, but again, best to hear it directly from the Matilda. Good luck.
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Lol we are all in the cram for registering. Also in Shanghai we have to book at the hospital. So many people having the Golden Pig baby! Everywhere its overflowing with pregnant women!!! Last year i hardly saw any pregnant women in Shanghai now everyone and their friend is pregnant. Its a race for the beds!!! LOL
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Thanks miffy... I tried giving Lynne a ring but didn't leave a message, and didn't get a chance to re-do. Our Doc also said that chances are very slim (though I think the word was more like "impossible") but the good news is that he CAN do Matilda if something does open up.
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crj
18 yrs ago
PERSONAL UPDATE
My Dr booked me with Matilda, I am almost the first on the list for the month.
We are now having an induction (for medical reasons).
Just called Matilda...
No private rooms, even though I was booked and am scheduled.
They are arraning to put me in a double room - but with single occupancy (so I will have the room to myself), then move me into the private room (with balcony) as soon as one becomes available.
They explained to me that even if we had a scheduled c-section booked 9 months ago, there is no guarantee of a room!
So booked or not booked, there is no guarantee you get what you booked. And Matilda will just try their best to make some arrangements.
It also depends on the day, as we were at Matilda last week and they did have empty rooms...
So from what I can tell:
1. you have to book in advance
2. this does not guarantee you anything
3. it is still first come first served for room allocation
Also, Matilda told me it is NOT mainland mothers, it is many many expats from all sorts of countries and local families.
The one bonus is hubby gets to sleep on a real bed the first night, and not that awful chair thing...
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Went to my Dr yesterday and he told me that I was about the only one out of 10 people he's recently tried to register at the Matilda to actually get accepted, and that was because I booked really early.
However, on reading the above, I suppose that does not necessarily get me in when I need to, but I'll worry about that when the time comes..
My advice is to book early, even if you haven't made it to the 12 wk mark yet. I was only 8 wks when my Dr did it.
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My wife is due in Late August and we need a C-section. Right now I am in the US and looking for a good Doctor. Can someone recomend a good OB/GYN in Hong Kong?
Thanks,
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Tinky
18 yrs ago
I can highly recommend Dr Philip Ho.Just had a C-section with him three weeks ago and it was great.My least painful section and really fast recovery.
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Thank you very much! Any chance you have his office number or email?
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Tinky
18 yrs ago
Jasonsprong,I have sent you a PM
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788
18 yrs ago
Private Message (PM)
First, Login
Then check the Control Panel up top
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miffy
18 yrs ago
crj - congratulations! Just read in another thread that your second came on Friday. Glad it is all going so well. Just wanted to know how you found Matilda? Did you end up in the room you booked after all, or did you have the double room? Did you have to share?? I'm not far off, so very interested to see how you went.
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crj
18 yrs ago
They put us in a 2nd floor room, private with balcony the first night... then moved us upstairs the next day to the EXACT SAME ROOM we had for #1 so we were THRILLED.
If we had the choice we would have chosen a double on the maternity ward (but to have it alone) rather than to be on the 2nd floor. Not that there was anything wrong, the room was nice, but not set up specifically for maternity and further from the nursery.
They did a GREAT JOB at trying to accomodate everyone.
But I can really say, it totally depends on the day.
The day we arrived, it was PACKED.
The next day there were empty rooms.
The day we left it was PACKED.
So it is really just luck.
Also, they told me they just hired FOUR NEW MIDWIFES FROM THE UK, 3 just starting and one starting soon. So that will really help too.
One night I had a 'supply' midwife from an agency, and her English wasn't that great and she didn't understand my request... so I went out and actually requested another Midwife I knew from before who was on duty and they accomodated my needs.
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