A program for patients without Private Health Insurance or those electing a Public Hospital birth
This program is for women choosing a public hospital birth, and would like private obstetric care during the first 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Finding out you’re pregnant is exciting, overwhelming, and full of decisions. One of the first questions many people ask is how they’ll receive pregnancy care, especially if they don’t have private hospital insurance.
The good news is you have several options. Including access to private obstetric care early in your pregnancy, to review you and your baby regularly.
Your pregnancy care options include.:
• Public hospital care (generally seeing an obstetrician from 26-28 weeks onwards).
• Shared care with your GP.
• Fully private care (with either Private Health Insurance or self-funding).
• Our Private Early Pregnancy Care for Public Birth, followed by public hospital care for the second half of pregnancy and delivery.
Early Private Pregnancy Care with Dr Peter England
This program is designed for patients who do not have Private Health Insurance, but would like personalised, specialist care during the early to mid-stages of pregnancy. Then will transition to the public system for your birth. Importantly, it allows for earlier assessment, support and treatment during the weeks when symptoms, questions and uncertainty are often greatest.
What Early Private Pregnancy Care includes:
You’ll be cared for by highly qualified obstetrician Dr Peter England during the most formative weeks of pregnancy. This provides you with time, continuity and reassurance built in.
Your care includes:
• A comprehensive first appointment with Dr Peter England, including dating ultrasound, confirmation of viability, blood test screening, Genetic Carrier Screening and NIPT test discussion, and a full and thorough medical history. A dating scan will be included at this appointment, and you are not required to organise this elsewhere.
• A 13-week appointment to discuss the results of your first trimester T1 ultrasound
• A 17-week appointment for review, including a detailed ultrasound to check your baby’s growth and development, and time to discuss any questions or concerns
• A 21-week appointment following your major mid-pregnancy ultrasound.
Midwife calls: if you have questions along the way, you can call our midwife for advice and reassurance, at no extra cost to you.
Your antenatal visits focus on education, reassurance, early screening, and building confidence as your pregnancy progresses. Seeing an obstetrician early also means that if something is identified, care can begin sooner. This may include starting preventative treatments such as low-dose aspirin when indicated, providing support and treatment for hyperemesis or significant nausea and vomiting, or assessing and managing early pregnancy bleeding.
Rather than navigating these early weeks alone, you’ll have direct access to an experienced obstetrician and clinical team who know you. If something doesn’t feel right, you have someone to call and a clear plan for next steps.
What happens next?
After your 21-week appointment, you’ll transition smoothly into care at your local public hospital, such as
• Royal Women’s Hospital
• Mercy Hospital for Women
• Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital
You’ll continue your pregnancy care and give birth at the public hospital, with no requirement for Private Health Insurance. From this stage, you’ll have al of your care within the public health system.
Why many women choose this option
• Access to private obstetric care without private hospital costs
• Early identification and management of pregnancy concerns
• Reassurance during the weeks when questions and uncertainty are often highest
• More time, explanation and continuity early in your pregnancy
• A calm, supported transition into the public system, with confidence for the second half of your pregnancy.
This pathway is ideal for patients who want expert guidance early on, but plan to birth in the public system.
When do I pay for the early pregnancy program?
You simply pay the consultation fee at each appointment, which allows you to receive the Medicare rebate for each of your four visits.
What if I change my mind and decide not to deliver at a public hospital?
This is perfectly fine. Your care choices may change as your pregnancy progresses. If at any point you decide you would like to remain in our care and deliver at a private hospital, the practice team will discuss the next steps with you.
Can I have additional appointments after 21 weeks?
In general, you will now have transitioned to the public system and it’s best that you become familiar with the caregiving team at the hospital nearest to you. You are always welcome to transition fully to our full private obstetric care plan, however you will need to be prepared to deliver at a private hospital.
How do I book?
Call our team today and let them know you’d like to join our Early Private Pregnancy Care Program. They’ll book your first appointment and we look forward to seeing you.
Read more about Dr Peter England