Closure of Galliers Private Maternity Wing, Armadale WA - Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Forums ~ BellyBelly

human bean · #1 (**permalink**) September 30th, 2009, 11:32 PM

Is this affecting anyone else? I realise I'm not due til March, but I had my heart set on delivering at Galliers with my Ob Dr Jameson. I saw on the news tonight that it is being closed after October, and when I rang and spoke to a lovely midwife she said even if they agree to keep it open for a short while longer it will pay to look into other options as nothing is guareenteed.

I had a cry on the phone to her (blame the hormones!) and she was so lovely and said she understood my fears. I realise I can go public with Dr J at Armadale but I had picked Galliers due to it's high rep, smaller wing and very 'bath friendly midwives'.

Hmmm I don't know what to do now, I'm not due to see Dr J for another 2 weeks, and I'm fearful that it will be too late to get into another Ob at this stage. I've searched Attadale on the boards and it seems most say it's a good hospital to deliver.....might sound out about Dr Clarke or Dr Gunnell tomorrow..... arghhh my head is spinning! Just me being silly I guess but it's really thrown me for a loop

Thanks for letting me vent
HB

sunflowa_girlie · #2 (**permalink**) October 1st, 2009, 12:02 AM

Wow, first I'd heard of it! You're not silly, its a big deal - I would've thought they would've at least kept going until all their current patients had given birth, KWIM? What are your thoughts on doing it publicly?

human bean · #3 (**permalink**) October 1st, 2009, 02:26 PM

I guess if they keep going until all their patients give birth it would be hard to draw a cut off line - I do have to think myself lucky that I'm not one of the Mums giving birth before the end of the year as they would really be stuck.

I don't have any objections to going publicly, it's just hard to find a public hospital that is more open to the labouring in water etc DH is annoyed that we've paid for private health specifically for maternity and now prob going public but that's by the by for me. It's all about trying to find a low intervention and as water friendly as possible labour/birth environment.

None of the Attadale obs are available, SJOG is too high intervention for my liking, but I've had a good talk with Kaleeya today and will go to check it out next week. It's difficult because I've heard mixed reviews, however they seem very water friendly and the midwife said they are working on a water birthing protocol at the moment. It is a public hospital too so we'll just have to see how we go. Until we make a different desicion we will stick with Dr J and aim to go public at Maude Bellas, although I have read they don't even have one bath

Thanks for not thinking I'm silly, I really do think I need to stop cracking up about it though lol

atkkate · #4 (**permalink**) October 18th, 2009, 03:47 PM

Hi wasn't sure if u knew but Galliers are no longer doing water births. They r now saying they r remaining open as of Yesterday 16th october 09. However because it is a public hospital (it used to be private) the government has stopped all water births in the Galliers wing. I had a water birth there a few years ago. Best birth I have ever had. am nowgoing to have baby at Kaleya and the then transfer to Galliers. However friend have told me Kaleya is a beautiful hospital and it looks private even tho it is public. Plus they do water births there yay. I wouldn't have my baby at Armadale if u payed me. the midwives are really nasty and dont even let visitors in if they r there 5 minutes b4 visiting time. Call Galliers to make sure they r still staying open and then u can confirm what I said about no more water births. Hope ur pregnancy goes well

human bean · #5 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2009, 07:38 PM

Thanks for the feedback atkkate and for the well wishes.

After lots of discussions and thinking we are going to stick with Galliers, and my Ob and the midwives seem fairly positive it will be open atleast in March when I am due..... let's hope hey?! I had my book in/clinic/tour today and was very impressed, and am quite happy with the discussions re: water births so we'll just have to see how we go!

I had, in the meantime, visited Kaleeya and they have said I'm welcome back if I need to so I'm feeling better about a back up too.

Good luck with your bub and birth

atkkate · #6 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2009, 09:50 PM

Hey glad to hear u went and checked out Galliers. I have had my last 2 births at that hospital and could not fault them. Went for my booking in yesterday after being told they r remaining open YAY.
On another not, please dont go to Kaleeya they r not very well orgasnised nor do the staff know the proceedures as me and my partner found out last week when we went there. They do no do water births as their website says. The staff deom Galliers told me they did do water biths at Kaleeya but they have not got accredidation for this and they will not let u have a water birth. THey tell u something different on the phone, but we spoke to the unit manager and she informed us that no they r not allowed to give u a water birth. Same goes for Galliers. It depends on the midwife u get on the day of ur birth. Some will do it others wont they have been told they r not allowed to but as the doc told me yesterday if ur in the bath when ur about to have it then tough u get a water birth lol. He also told me to keep it on the quiet.. Sorry it has been so long a reply but just thought I would let u know what I have heard and experienced.
Good luck xx