Hi all,
I'm writing here to get some feedback or suggestions in regards to my recent experience at a Private hospital(+ Paediatrician).
We have opted to go to Norwest Private Hospital to have our first baby. It was an elective c-sec scheduled on 06th June & everything went as planned. We were blessed with a baby boy :) My wife along with the bub were discharged on 11th June.
On the day of delivery, I was given the parent pack(medicare, centrelink forms etc.) which had all the information correct. On the day of discharge, a midwife has shown my baby's blue book along with the discharge summary and placed it inside the NSW new born goodies bag.. after which we walked out of the hospital.
We received an invoice of about $500 for the initial & follow up consultations by the Paediatrician the very next day after coming home, which is yet to be paid.
Yesterday 20/06 We decided to go to our Family doctor to get the bub weight & Jaundice levels checked. We handed over the blue book to our GP, that was the first time the Blue book was opened. He noticed the following discrepancies.
1) Sticker on top of the blue book & header labels within has the Gender as "Female" where as I had a baby boy.
2) Paediatrician who saw the bub has filled the "Newborn Examination" section in the Blue book.
This Gentleman ticket the Sex as "Female", Hand written Genitalia as "Female", Testes fully descended R/L as "NA(Not applicable)".
Also, in the comments section he has hand written as "Normal Female Infant".
My GP has pointed out these things and we were completely upset with what has happened after spending nearly $4k out of pocket going to a private hospital. Private insurance claims show that the hospital were paid out close to $7k for our 5 day admission.
I called up the hospital and they quickly followed up with Maternity & I received a call from one of the mid wife to get the book in to rectify all the incorrect information.
I spoke with the Paediatrician as well who accepted that it was his mistake, apologized and was willing to update the information in Blue book ASAP.
In parallel, I gave a call to HCCC and inquired about my rights. I was advised to talk to the Hospital & Doctor. The lady over the phone mentioned that this is very uncommon and she was shocked to know that the doctor actually opened the nappy and written notes as a Female infant. She said that if the doctor accepts it as a mistake, I could actually lodge a complaint with them.. which they would review and take appropriate action against the doctor.
However, any compensation related would need to be lodged with NSW Fair trading after it has been lodged with HCCC.
I went to the hospital today to get the information rectified, and they copied over the information in to a new blue book and i was given both old & new books for records.
What would the community here suggest or recommend ?
- Should I take it easy and leave it here.
- Talk to the hospital & Doctor for compensation - The doctor leases space in the hospital and is not directly employed.
- Raise it with HCCC, Fair trading etc. about Hospital and the Doctor.
Thanks in advance.
I would leave it and just be grateful you had a trauma free birth and the mistake did not cost your wife's or your baby's life!