Sunshine Hospital / ultrasounds

I have just moved to Australia and am pregnant with my first. My (very lovely) dr reckons I should be able to get my 20 week ultrasound bulk billed but every place I call charges. He has also referred me to Sunshine Hospital where I’ll have baby but I’ve not heard from them (it was sent over 4 weeks ago). Has anyone recently had their baby there? Did you do your ultrasounds there too? Apparently getting your ultrasounds bulk billed the only option is through the hospitals but when I called them they said they only do high risk ultrasounds which I am not. In the UK everything is booked for you at your hospital and you just show up. I feel like here you have to lead your own care but it’s my first time so I feel I need guidance. Any experience / advice much appreciated.

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last week

@Hannah good job! All the best 👏🏼

last week

Update: got an ultrasound booked in for 21 weeks at deer park which is fully bulk billed! I will also be calling the hospital to chase them on getting the ball rolling there. Thank you for all your advice. Super helpful. My first foray on peanut has been a success!

last week

Hey Hannah, don’t have any advice for bulk bill but I got refer to sunshine hospital too and they did not give me a call until I was 35weeks. Moved from Sydney to Melbourne when I was 30weeks pregnant. So I went back to my GP and said I need another referral letter and I want to go to royal woman hospital at parkville. They gave us a call 2 days later and scheduled an appointment for us. We live in melton is a bit of a drive but I think it’s worthy for us. They took good care of us.

last week

I can’t help with the bulk billed because I paid as part of a package with the NIPT test. But the care in Australia definitely needs to be self lead. If you would like continuity of care with a midwife you either need to hassle the hospital to get into their MGP program or get a private midwife. Otherwise you will see a different midwife every appointment and probably a different one at your birth.

last week

Hey Hannah! I’m sure if you contacted the hospital to ask they’d be able to tell you! Because it’s through the hospital you shouldn’t have to pay but definitely ask if you can get it bulk billed then absolutely save that money