Hospital adds lower cost maternity service

PRIVATE child birthing service provider St John of God Bendigo has launched a new maternity care model.

Called ‘Joy’, the midwife-led model will be offered as an alternative to its private obstetrician-run service.

SJOGB’s chief executive officer Michael Hogan said the hospital received feedback on its service being unaffordable for many, and said he expects the Joy model to lead to another 50 to 100 deliveries annually.

“We know that many young couples struggle with the cost of private health insurance, and we want to help them at one of the most joyful moments in their lives,” he said.

“Sometimes the out-of-pockets are a little expensive because private obstetricians have higher out-of-pockets.

“The obstetrician is there in the background and if there are any significant issues one of the obstetricians will get involved, but it won’t necessarily be one of your choice.”

Assuming parents have private health insurance, Mr Hogan said Joy is a way to deliver their baby at a private hospital for about two to three thousand dollars less than choosing a private obstetrician.

“There are hundreds of women every year who have private health insurance who don’t use it and go to the public system where they really don’t know who’ll be delivering their baby,” said Mr Hogan.

“Everyone is different in terms of what they feel about that process, but what we do know is there are certainly women being put off by the out-of-pocket costs, and there are women who would like more involvement from the midwife.”

Maternity Nurse Unit Manager Nicole Harris said the hospital’s midwives would like to see more parents choose St John of God Bendigo.

“We’re very excited about this and we’re excited about its potential to retain a viable private maternity service in Bendigo,” she said.

In the public system, Bendigo Health is now supporting water births and has had 10 mothers deliver their babies this way since October last year.

Fifty midwives at the hospital have undergone related training.