I'm 43 and newly pregnant for the 2nd time (have a 2 yo) and new in HKG and don't have insurance. Thinking about going through the public system but would like to know the rigor of prenatal care...are they offering nuchal translucency? quad screening? amnio, if needed?
Does anyone have experience being a "high risk" patient in the public system? There is no cost to what we would spend if needed, for appropriate prenatal care.
Thanks
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Congratulations!
I can't comment on what the public system actually offers in terms of specific tests, but I do know that you can have all of the above tests privately and still deliver through the public system. The private clinic simply sends (or gives you) all test results to add to your antenatal notes with the public clinic.
If you need to get any scans etc. done before you register with the public system, I would reccommend the HK Prenatal Diagnostic Centre (in Icehouse St, Central). Ph. 28773280. Each scan I had (i.e. OSCAR test) cost about HK$1200. I have not had any of the more invasive tests, but I know they do them and have a very good reputation.
Good luck with everything.
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Thanks Robin and Cara. Where do I start with public system then? I live in Happy Valley. Isn't it by the location where you live that you are supposed to see a certain clinic?
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Thanks Cara. I appreciate your advice. I received the "introduction letter" from the doctor at HK Santiorium yesterday confirming the pregnancy. He of course, wanted me to stay at the Sanitorium, which I may consider if we can get a handle on costs since it's just so darn close to our flat. Nevertheless, I will go to the Tsan Yuk Hospital, maybe today, to register. A girlfriend of mine also suggested I could do private care for first trimester then switch to the public system for later care and delivery if all is good with the baby. She's been here over 20 years and claims that a lot of expat women do just that.
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That's right - you can't just show up, you need to make an appointment at Tsan Yuk for registration.
After this initial appointment, you will then have another appointment scheduled at Tsan Yuk where you actually see the doctor and they assess your health, risk etc.
If you are judged to be low risk, they will send you to an outside clinic for followup care. I will be going to a clinic on Queens Rd East (just near Happy Valley racecourse end) as I live in Wanchai. Otherwise if deemed high risk, all followup care is done as Tsan Yuk (no longer at QMH) up until delivery.
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I called on Saturday and Tsan Yuk said they would only book me an initial consult. when I was 10 weeks along. That's too late in my opinion and I told them so. I explained that I was 43 so they asked me to fax my intro. letter to them on Monday and they'd consider getting me in earlier. I will push on this as I've heard if I go public I need to push here and there to get things done.
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Hi Cara,
I think they may have changed the policy recently. I am, however, just quoting what is in the antenatal booklet Tsan Yuk gave me (my maternal record book). Maybe they refer you on to QMH in specific cases?
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Well TSH just called and said I was "nothing special" -- not HR because of my age (43) and they would only book my initial appt for 10 weeks on. I specifically asked when a nuchal could be done and she said "if needed, by week 14". In the US, where I had my 1 child (conceived at 40) we did the nuchal at 12 weeks, the quad screen immediately after, well before week 16 so we could make an educated decision on whether or not to do an amnio. Would my past experience be more in line with what the private sector docs are offering in terms of care?
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I've been going to Queen Mary for appointments. (I think it may be because I may be considered high risk because I did IVF with Queen Mary). However, my scans are though Tsan Yuk. My first scan with Tsan Yuk was scheduled too late in the pregnancy for the nuchal test and the first trimester blood test for down's - I think they they were just too backed up (I think my blood test one done as early as week 11). I mentioned this to Queen Mary, and the resident agreed, and recommended I do the tests privately. I did those tests through a private doctor, as I didn't want to miss my "window". You may want to do the same, so you will have your results during the first trimester.
And by the way, I think the public doctors at Queen Mary are excellent I had mentioned that I was having contractions to my private doctor who said not to worry, as they were just Braxton Hicks. When I mentioned this to the public doctor, he scheduled an ultra sound to make sure I was not at risk of preterm labor (by measuring my cervical length). When I went to Queen Mary last week due to early contractions (every 5 minutes during my 24th week), they observed me for a day, and did multiple scans, uterine activity measurements, culture tests for infections, blood tests for elevated white blood counts, etc. I felt that I was in excellent hands. The nurses also were really nice. The cost for the day at the hospital was just HK$150, including all the tests.
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ltxhk
17 yrs ago
I had children at both Matilda and Queen Mary .... and having been at both, the quality of medical care at QM is world-class. Matilda was also good and so was the doctor etc, but truly very, very expensive even with insurance.... especially if risks develop or complications happen during delivery.... and this was on a package. HK private medical is very good about hidden and unexpected costs.
My second child was very high risk.... and QM could not have run more tests to monitor him and me at all times. Several of the tests were actually only available in the public sector, since the equipment did not exist in the private. Even with all this care, he still arrived several months early.... and luckily he was at public where they have 24/7 care with on-site doctors and specialists... not only for the preemies but all.
Perhaps there is a bit more attention at public when you are high risk, but I actually found this to be the same in private. I have recently had several friends who just arrived in HK and were pregnant, but also without insurance. 2 were over 40, and did not turn out to be high risk. After consideration, they all went public and were very pleased with the quality of care. But one of them also consulted a private OB to ensure some early testing. If you consult an OB in the private and also go public, you may want to find a doctor who is connected well with the public.
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