Having a baby at Ryde Hospital’s midwifery practice is best: survey
MOTHERS have raved about Ryde Hospital for years, and now staff have the survey results to prove it – Ryde is the best place to deliver a baby in NSW.
Northern District Times
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MOTHERS have raved about Ryde Hospital for years, and now staff have the survey results to prove it – Ryde is the best place to deliver a baby in NSW.
The hospital’s midwifery group practice received the best results, along with Wyong, from mothers who had a baby in a NSW public hospital in 2015.
The Denistone Rd service rated particularly highly in cleanliness, and the skill of its midwives in explaining concepts and advice, as well as their willingness to help post-birth.
The two longest serving midwives of the seven at Ryde, clinical midwifery specialists Jane Grant and Anne Keely, were especially pleased with the Bureau of Health Information report.
Ms Keely was at Ryde in 2004 when the hospital moved to a midwifery-led model, which had its doubters.
“One surgeon said he wouldn’t let his cat give birth here,” Ms Keely said.
The model has confounded sceptics however. Wyong can also attribute its rave reviews to the same system.
Ms Grant said: “It’s something we’ve known for a long time working here, and now it’s been found to be the truth – Ryde is the best place to have a baby.”
Among the practice’s legion of fans is Lauren English of Eastwood.
She delivered daughter Zara on March 1. Two-year-old son Sebastian was also delivered at Ryde.
Ms English wanted as natural a birth as possible, and was more than satisfied.
“Birthing is pushed as being quite medical, but I wasn’t nervous at all,” she said. “They were always there for me.
“The way they make you feel as a mother, for me, it’s the most special thing I’ve ever experienced.”
Her husband Richard believed they made the right choice opting for the public health system.
He learned through friends that the often-touted private health system didn’t always meet expectations.
“The vast majority of people automatically point to the private system as the way to go,” he said.
“But I believe wholeheartedly the experience we had would surpass anything we’d have in the private system.”
Laura Smith-Khan of West Ryde delivered her first child, Adam, last month.
She wanted a natural, low-key birth, and never felt forced into any discomfort.
“The whole lead-up to the birth was really important,” she said.
“I felt like I could do whatever, and everyone was there to support me.”
Rebecca Shoesmith of Macquarie Park delivered her son Rupert in January.
She had earlier been most worried by how she would care for her child at home, but her fears were allayed.
“We’ve had some good suggestions to settle him,” she said of the support from midwives.
“Having the same person come to see you, somebody you trust, and giving you information is really good.”
The survey results were from around one in 20 (4739) women.
Women were surveyed about three months after the birth of their baby.
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