Getting to hospital
- Thread starter burrcl
- Start date
i think taxi is probably the easiest way, and shouldn't be a problem if you offer a healthy tip when you are booking them and let them know you're in labour. management in your building should be able to help.
also we were told at our antenatal class that if you want an ambulance to take you to a private hospital, you need to get a letter from your obstetrician to say that you take all responsibility and that you want to go to the Canossa. otherwise it is the ambulance's responsibility to take you to the nearest public hospital (which might be Queen Mary - and may not be such a bad thing if it was a real emergency like a big haemorrhage or something).
also we were told at our antenatal class that if you want an ambulance to take you to a private hospital, you need to get a letter from your obstetrician to say that you take all responsibility and that you want to go to the Canossa. otherwise it is the ambulance's responsibility to take you to the nearest public hospital (which might be Queen Mary - and may not be such a bad thing if it was a real emergency like a big haemorrhage or something).
the "protocol" for ambulances in the south side is Rutonjee and then after they decide what your condition is, they will send you off to the "right" hospital...they wanted to send my daughter there when she had convulsions - even though the DO NOT have a pediatric ward! only when my pedi asked if the driver wanted to be responsible for my daughter did they send her to Pamela Youde in Chai Wan.
Anyhow - taxi is easiest - they will come with a good tip!
no need to worry about anything - it doens't normally happen so fast with the first one! all the best!newhkmommy
Registered User
i would be very careful about an ambulance even if you have a letter. i passed out at a shoppe in central and the ambulance refused to take me to queen mary or matilda. afterwards, i got letters from both hospitals that i carried with me all the time but the doctors warned me that the ambulance drivers may very well ignore the letters. just a note of caution ... the law is that they should take you to the nearest public hospital.
in my case, i got off the stretcher, signed a release and got in a taxi -- i wasn't worried about the scratches/bleeding on my face but was worried about baby, and knew i needed to get to a hospital with an ob service.
in my case, i got off the stretcher, signed a release and got in a taxi -- i wasn't worried about the scratches/bleeding on my face but was worried about baby, and knew i needed to get to a hospital with an ob service.
Thank you ladies, a few ideas there for me, and the mention of a large tip to the person on the end of the phone will probably secure what we need! We're usually loathe to do that as we think it's a complete con, and are normally willing to walk around until we find a taxi (we don't live right on the main road and have to walk 5 mins down a steep hill to get to it, and all passing traffic), but I think this might warrant a special case!
starbucks2
Registered User
I have had a taxi company try and charge me an extra $20 as a booking fee when I call up and book for a short fare. Drives me insane (and its illegal) as they are not allowed to charge more than the $5 telephone booking fee. HOWEVER, if I was in labour then I would pay the $20 and complain later!