Excuse me, ACT Health. I would like to choose where I birth, thanks.

Having moved back to Canberra from Melbourne very recently, the practice of having set geographical feeder areas for health services is quite common. Where resources are limited, the health services have to prioritise cases somehow…

Not sure how Calvary would cope though as the northern suburbs have greatly expanded through Gungahlin and the maternity unit at Calvary doesn’t seem to be all that big.

I think this behaviour is called the ‘Baby Jesus’ syndrome.

I’m still not sure why anyone would think they have a ‘right’ to pick and choose if they didn’t have private health insurance.

Just turn up in labour at the hospital of your choice and refuse any transfer to another hospital?

JC said :

dlenihan said :

Anyone from the northern suburbs, especially the far north should be very careful talking about a fair spend of taxes paid, considering the stupidity of the proposed Metro Light Rail.

Whilst I disagree with the OP, I also disagree with you too. Gungahlin=new suburbs=growth are of Canberra=imbalance in infrastructure building. Just like when Tuggernaong=new suburb=growth area of Canberra=imbalance in infrastructure spending.

None of that actually justifies the construction of the tram.

It’s fine that infrastructure spending will be higher for the first few years of development of a greenfields area, it’s not fine to use that to justify the construction of a white elephant monorail in that new area when far cheaper and superior options exist.

I agree with the OP in principle – that women have the right to choose – but I don’t think it bears out in a practical sense. If women living in south Tuggers are forced to travel to Bruce to give birth because Woden is full, then what has happened to their choice?

Perhaps they’d choose Calvary anyway, but most women are going to want a close-ish to home option. The 15 minute trip with #1 is forever etched, and I was relieved, on that front at least, that I needed to be induced for the next two.

dlenihan said :

Anyone from the northern suburbs, especially the far north should be very careful talking about a fair spend of taxes paid, considering the stupidity of the proposed Metro Light Rail.

Whilst I disagree with the OP, I also disagree with you too. Gungahlin=new suburbs=growth are of Canberra=imbalance in infrastructure building. Just like when Tuggernaong=new suburb=growth area of Canberra=imbalance in infrastructure spending.

Oh my how things have changed. Not all that long ago if you wanted to get into Calvary you needed to book in 12 months in advance! Exaggeration of course but you get my drift. I live west Belco area and my wife had no choice BUT to go to Canberra hospital, due to a) Calvary being booked out and b) my wife having a condition that was considered medium risk, and Calvary only does low risk patients. At the time we were not too impressed, but must admit the facilities at Canberra were outstanding and this was at the interim facility, the finished product opened about 2 weeks later.

Wife is pregnant again and has already been booked into Canberra, again the risk factor comes into play.

Having said that though I can see where the government is coming from. Whilst there may well be a difference in age of the facilities I have no doubt what so ever that women giving birth at either centre and their children are given the same level of care and treatment regardless.

As for the OP and choice, yes women have choice. The choices are private, birth at home, or birth in the public healthcare system. If the latter is chosen then it is entirely fair that the government chooses the facility they should be using. Just like the government chooses which doctor is on duty (no choice there I’m afraid) and of course the government also chooses does antenatal care too.

screaming banshee said :

You have the choice to go private

All the people I know who have had private cover have chosen to go public for the births of their children because Canberra public health is very good and private health care is a rip.
If your baby has issues you get shunted to public care, if the birth has issues you are shunted to public, if it’s a complex birth you get shunted to public.
If you go public all the way you get excellent care with the same medical experts with no $5000 gap and paying private premiums for 12 months before the birth.

JimCharles said :

Surely, if you live in the North, you want to go to the closest place to give birth and show that the demand is there, then lobby for more maternity funding for the Northside?
Why would you want to drive 30kms and then not find a parking space?

Ah yes, I remember ‘that’ drive to the hospital very well – and we only had to go about 12kms. Long enough in my book, especially since most places don’t want you in until you are basically about to give birth – even the private ones.

I don’t think the lack of services stops at birthing facilities though. I’ve been sat in emergency (only twice since I’ve lived in Canberra, and only once for myself) and heard from other patients that Calvary can’t deal with their specifc issue so they have to come south.