I've registered for Public NOW WHAT?

I went through the same thing as you did when I was pregnant with my 1st. I was in the UK and there they don't offer you a scan till 12 weeks. And to make things worse, when I went to the GP after testing myself positive with a shop bought test kit, she just said she'll refer me to the hospital and that was it! She didn't even bother to test me again! So I waited till 8 weeks and had my 1st appointment at at the hospital and again, it was just another questions and answers appointment! It was till I was 12 weeks pregnant that I actually had some confirmation from the professional that I'm actually pregnant! But trust me, it was worth the wait!!!!!!! and I was told you don't see much at 6 weeks pregnant anyways.
 
I was charged 2200 for an appointment with scan with Dr Stephenson in central, I was charged 2400 for scan and Oscar blood test with Dr Patrick Chan also in central and I was quoted 3000 for a scan with a doctor in Sheung Wan, all of these are listed on this site so it's easy to pay over 2k. Of course you can easy shop around and call all the doctors and they'll tell you the prices over the phone.

HKD3000 or thereabouts for an OSCAR test seems to be the going rate. But for a regular scan and check-up at an ob/gyn there are still docs who would charge 1000hkd. I used Eric Lee in Prince's Building Central in 2010-2011. And a doctors at the Union Polyclinic in Tseung Kwan O charged me 700hkd for scan and check-up. Both docs were great. Their fees may have gone up but I doubt they have doubled. I'm saying this so that people doing the private-public combination are not deterred by 2000$ at every visit. There are cheaper options, and the docs I've seen were all great.
 
Yes; our doctor charges HKD 800 for scan+visit as well. And this includes monthly dosage of Metarna. HKD 2000+ is mostly by doctors with more expat clientele. "Normal" rates are much lower. This is not to say any doctor is better than the other - just that there are plenty of options.
 
Hi Faithools,

You literally posted this on the day I went to the public hospital to register and had a complete breakdown over the whole situation. No one was friendly, no one was informative, and no one spoke English. Nothing like crying as you leave the cramped registration area to have people staring...
Anyway, your questions were the same as mine, same moment, and the answers have been so reassuring.
I took the advice others said, and booked an appt. at my clinic in Tai Wai. To see the obstetrician is $600, and then $300 for an ultrasound. The earliest appointment I could get was for next week. But public hospitals / private clinics seem to be the way to go.
Thanks for asking / sharing info everyone!!
 
Hi Faithools,

You literally posted this on the day I went to the public hospital to register and had a complete breakdown over the whole situation. No one was friendly, no one was informative, and no one spoke English. Nothing like crying as you leave the cramped registration area to have people staring...
Anyway, your questions were the same as mine, same moment, and the answers have been so reassuring.
I took the advice others said, and booked an appt. at my clinic in Tai Wai. To see the obstetrician is $600, and then $300 for an ultrasound. The earliest appointment I could get was for next week. But public hospitals / private clinics seem to be the way to go.
Thanks for asking / sharing info everyone!!

Which hospital did you go to?
 
Hi there,
I went to Prince of Wales in Sha Tin as it's the one in my area. I've heard many positive things on this site since, but it was shell shocking for me at the time! Literally broke down in sobs....I couldn't believe the only thing asked of me was by a receptionist who kept asking me my ID number and if I was "sure" about my due date!
 
Hi Faithools,

You literally posted this on the day I went to the public hospital to register and had a complete breakdown over the whole situation. No one was friendly, no one was informative, and no one spoke English. Nothing like crying as you leave the cramped registration area to have people staring...
Anyway, your questions were the same as mine, same moment, and the answers have been so reassuring.
I took the advice others said, and booked an appt. at my clinic in Tai Wai. To see the obstetrician is $600, and then $300 for an ultrasound. The earliest appointment I could get was for next week. But public hospitals / private clinics seem to be the way to go.
Thanks for asking / sharing info everyone!!

I know how you feel here. I went to Tsan yuk and it's wasn't particularly pleasant either, especially after I'd had 2 very lovely and reassuring private appointments in slick new offices. The wait was long and service quite brusque and the information wasn't so forthcoming. I was told to wait until they called my name for the blood tests, but it turned out as I patiently waited for 25 mins it was a free for all and who ever pushed through the door first got seen. Really made me wonder about going private in those 3 hours I was so cranky! But luckily you hardly have to go there I think as the prenatal checks up minimal. thankfully I did the oscar test and scan privately so could bypass that extra wait. I think with the private back up, the public is doable. Now I know what to expect next time ;)
 
Always very frustrating definitely, but, they are good at what they do - especially if you have complications. I think the knack is to go in expecting it to be a terrible couple of hours, and then you won't be disappointed! My husband always got mad when they'd snap 'ID card!' without even looking at you, but I guess I've been in hk so long I'm numb to it now.
 
To Bellamojo & Faithools,

As I am typing this, I am waiting to register (at 17 weeks) at Prince of Wales Shatin & this is my second baby in this hospital. It's certainly intimidating when no one speaks your language & you don't know the next steps as you sit & wait forever. Just sitting here right now brings back my anxiety. I find, and this is just a personal observation, that my paperwork seem to take longer. It feels frustrating when they seem to be calling everyone & the other women are breezing in & out while you sit & wait. Perhaps foreign documents take a few more steps & when I go to the counter, they do find an English speaking person for me. If you have appointments in a public hospital, set aside plenty of time, expect service to be abrupt but come in with lots of patience & a smile.

Btw, I do shared care (private check-ups). Bellamojo, which clinic in Tai Wai do you go? I go all the way to Wan Chai & central for mine & I live in Tai Wai.
 

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