Simply ask your general practitioner to refer you to a Gold Coast Private Hospital accredited obstetrician.

After you have booked an appointment with your obstetrician, we ask that the online admission form be filled out as soon as possible. Once the online eAdmission is completed one of our staff members will be in contact with you to arrange a 20 week midwife appointment at the hospital.We also recommend you contact your health fund to determine your insurance entitlements.

For more information please contact our Maternity Booking clerk via phone 5530 0726 or email to gcpmaternity@healthscope.com.au

Private Health Insurance

If you have private health insurance cover, we suggest you contact your health fund to confirm that your admission is covered and if there are any co-payments that may apply to this admission.

Please remember to notify the hospital if your fund details change.

Check with your fund at least three months prior to your due date whether you need to add your baby to the fund prior to the expected date of birth.

To help ensure that your expectations are met, our caring and highly skilled team of health professionals will help you achieve those goals by providing the best possible care for you, your baby and your family.

We can provide support in so many ways:

• Personalised booking
• Tours of the maternity unit
• Preparation for parenthood classes
• Parent education
• Experienced, caring midwives and clinical staff
• Modern surroundings
• Luxurious private rooms where your partner can share with you and your new baby
• Paediatricians are available upon consultation with your obstetrician
• A fully-equipped special care nursery at hand for emergencies.

All couples birthing at Gold Coast Private Hospital are offered our deluxe package which includes the following for mums and birth partners, at no extra cost:

• 3 course, 5 star celebration meal cooked by our executive chef
• Chocolate dipped strawberries delivered by our Nurse Unit Manager to personally congratulate you after your baby is born
• Morning High Tea (assortment of hot and cold, sweet and savory bites with raspberry tea and tropical juices)
• Afternoon High Tea (assortment of cheeses, meats, nuts and crisp breads served with sparkling grape juice in champagne glasses
• Snack box – house-made bliss balls, caramelised popcorn, lactation cookies, trail mix and muesli bar
• Double bed or pull out sofa-bed for dads, mums or birth partners to stay overnight Weekly cooking classes
• ‘Born at Gold Coast Private’ Scrabble board photo-announcement wall
• Our exclusive Gold Coast Private ‘Goldie’ bear and ‘baby on board sign’
• Access to our ‘Born at Facebook’ mother’s group closed Facebook page
• Two complimentary at-home midwifery visits
• Photography voucher and access to our exclusive ‘Fresh-48’ in-room photography session

You will also have access to additional paid services such as antenatal parenting classes, sleep and settle program, antenatal Pilates and more!

Visiting Hours

We encourage you to visit your family and friends at Gold Coast Private Hospital. In doing so, please be mindful of other patients in the hospital and ensure your visiting hours are kept within the times allocated below:

Partners or support persons are welcome at all times.

All other visitors may visit between 3pm to 8pm and are asked to be considerate to new mothers and babies.

Coffee Shop

Hudsons Coffee is located at the front entrance of the Hospital and offers fresh flowers, newspapers, magazines, chocolates and sweets.

Opening hours:

• Monday to Friday between 6.30am and 5.30pm
• Saturday and Sunday between 7.30am and 4.30pm

All visitors must report to the nurses’ station prior to visiting. There is a limit of two visitors at a time in the ICU and please check with the nurse regarding children visiting.

Public Transport

Regular bus and tram services operate along the main road with nearest bus and tram stops being University Station, about a 2 minute walk from the main entrance of our hospital. Timetables and route details are available at our hospital reception. Reception staff will be happy to call you a taxi if required.

For more information and to plan your journey please visit the Translink Journey Planner.

• Bus – 704, 709, 710, 719, 738 (University Station)
• Above will connect you with train services at Helensvale Station
• Tram – Tram leaves Gold Coast University Station every 15 minutes
• Train – The closest train station is Helensvale Station, about a 30 minute bus journey. Use one of the following connecting buses to complete your journey, bus 704, 709, 710, 719.

Parking

Parking is available on-site in our multistory car park.

The multistory car park operates a fully automated ticket system.

Smoke Free Campus

From 1 January 2015, smoking is banned at all Queensland public and private hospitals and health facilities, and for five metres beyond their boundaries. The legislation which was introduced on 1 January 2015 is the Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 to Part 8 of the Amendment of Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998.

These no smoking laws apply at all times, and to all staff and patient residential areas on healthcare facility land, and include the use of all smoking products, including regular cigarettes and devices commonly known as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).

The laws cover:

• Land on which any Queensland Health Hospital and Health Service provides health services, including hospitals, community health centres, health clinics, rehabilitation centres and residential aged care facilities
• Land on which a private health facility (private hospitals and day hospitals) provides services.

Enforcement

The laws are enforced by Queensland Health environmental health officers and public facility authorized officers.

Patients, staff or visitors smoking in smoke-free areas may be given a warning to stop smoking, or be asked to move beyond the 5 metre smoke-free buffer if they wish to continue smoking.

On-the-spot fines apply for breaches of the tobacco laws.

Please visit the Smoke Free Campus website for more information.

The birth suites are fitted with state-of-the-art technology, including K2 fetal monitoring systems, and provide a variety of resources that can be used during childbirth including a bath for water immersion, birth balls, mats and stools.

The suites also have a kitchenette where support people can make beverages and snacks.

New parents will be treated to an exquisite 3 course celebration dinner cooked by our executive chef. New parents and guests are also entitled use of the maternity kitchen including complimentary food and beverages.

At Gold Coast Private, we take the safety and security of your baby seriously. As part of the security provided to your baby, we require a passport sized photo of the mother and significant other. This will be attached to the baby’s cot card. These are returned to you when your baby goes home. We ask that you supply these photos when you have your appointment with the midwife in week 20.

Your baby will have two identifications bands on after birth. The information on these identification bands is checked with you and your support person and contains:

• Mother’s name e.g. Smith Baby Off (B/O) Mary
• Date of baby’s birth
• Time of birth
• Gender
• Mother and baby’s hospital identifier number

Please notify staff if the either of these bands falls off so that a new one can be reapplied. These bands will be checked with the mother’s bands if for some reason the mother and baby have been separated and the baby is returned.

Going home

It is the law in Australia that all children are restrained according to height and age when travelling by car. The restraint should meet the Australian and New Zealand Standards. Ensure that your baby’s car seat is installed prior to your due date.

Child Restraint Laws

Before discharge we will provide you with the relevant community services available to you.It is the law in Australia that all children are restrained according to height and age when travelling by car.The restraint should meet the Australian and New Zealand Standards.Ensure that your baby’s car seat is installed prior to your due date.

Staff identification

All hospital staff will wear photo identification, including your doctor whilst on hospital grounds.

Healthscope Identification Policy states that parents should:

• Never leave your baby/child in your room alone. Ask a nurse/family member to supervise your baby/child. This includes when you leave the room to shower.
• Do not hand your child over to anyone that you do not know.
• Request to see staff identification if you do not know the staff member.
• Question why an unfamiliar staff member may be in your room.
• Keep your baby’s bassinette/cot away from the door leading out of your room

Cot safety

Always have your cot lying flat. When walking around the ward, please ensure that your baby is placed in the cot.

Safe infant sleeping

• Place your baby on their back to sleep with feet to the end of cot
• Place your baby in the cot when you and your baby are sleeping
• Leave your baby’s head uncovered
• Do not place toys, including soft toys in the cot
• Avoid the use of bumper, doona and pillows
• Keep baby in a smoke free environment.

It is Gold Coast Private Hospital’s policy to encourage breast feeding on demand and 'rooming in', in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.

Our highly experienced midwives will assist you with all aspects of feeding and post natal care.

However, we respect the right of each mother to determine how she wishes to feed her baby.

We ask mothers to arrange their departure prior to 10:00 am on the day of discharge as this assists with accommodation for incoming patients.

It’s normal for new mothers to feel a little anxious about taking baby home.a post natal visit will be provided in the second and fourth week by a midwife in your home at no cost)

Remember, we’re here to help 24 hours a day. If you have any concerns when you arrive home,you can always talk to one of our experienced midwives in the ward.

Contact the midwives by phone on 5530 0726

Child restraints

Before discharge we will provide you with the relevant community services available to you.

It is the law in Australia that all children are restrained according to height and age when travelling by car.

The restraint should meet the Australian and New Zealand Standards.

Ensure that your baby’s car seat is installed prior to your due date.

Please call the maternity ward before you come into hospital so we can prepare for your arrival.

It can be difficult to tell when labour has started but you are welcome to call the maternity ward at any time and talk to one of our experienced midwives.

Should you be experiencing strong signs of labour including regular contractions less than ten minutes apart, waters breaking or blood loss, please contact the maternity ward to determine how far labour has progressed. You will be assessed and advised whether to stay home or come to hospital.

During your pregnancy, it is important to contact your obstetrician or the maternity ward without delay if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Ruptured membranes
• Continuous leaking of fluid
• Premature labour prior to 37 weeks
• Unusual or severe abdominal pain
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Regular contractions

It is also important to contact your obstetrician if you have any concerns about your baby’s movements.

As always, in the event of a medical emergency please call 000.

Please contact us if you have any worries or concerns regarding your pregnancy on 07 5530 0726

For any other health issues unrelated to your pregnancy please contact your general practitioner.

When you arrive

The main entry point to the hospital for maternity is always via the main entrance. Your partner may park in one of the designated drop off car spaces, accessed via the main entrance to the hospital on Hill Street. Once parked, please proceed directly to the maternity ward on level one. As these spaces are for short term parking only, your car will need to be moved to the multistorey car park once you are settled in the birthing suites.

The main entrance will be locked during after-hours, please use the intercom to gain access. Enter and walk pass reception, proceed along the corridor to the lifts. Take the lift to the Maternity Ward on level one, turn left out of the lifts and a midwife or clerical person will meet you and escort to the Birthing Suites. If you are in strong labour please advise the midwives prior to your arrival and you will be met at the main entrance.

If you are booked for an elective caesarean section, please present to Maternity for admission.

If you are booked for an induction, please present to Maternity for admission

Where to next?

Once your baby is born, you will move into a private room on the ward. Your baby will stay with you unless they are being cared for in our special care nursery. Your partner/support person is also welcome to stay with you in your room. Our experienced team will assist you with caring for your baby.

During your stay, parents will be treated to a celebratory, three-course dinner designed by executive chef John O’Shea who has spent 20 years in kitchens of five-star resorts. You will also have full access to all of our services and amenities including a kitchenette and lounge room for parents and their visitors to spend time in. Check out a full list of facilities here.

Following a vaginal birth, mothers can expect to stay for three to four nights however this will be determined according to your individual needs. Following a caesarean section, mothers can expect to stay for four to five nights.

The maternity ward has 25 private rooms with ensuites.
Some rooms have a single bed with a chair that converts to a sofa bed for the support person to sleep while others are equipped with double beds.

The ward has a lounge area, kitchenette and ‘well baby area’ where babies are bathed and weighed, and where daily education sessions are presented.

Gold Coast Private Maternity takes a holistic approach to childbirth and offers a variety of options for learning. In addition to antenatal classes, there are opportunities to learn from preconception, to birth and beyond with classes in mindfulness, breastfeeding, first aid for parents and yoga.

You are welcome to stay with your partner overnight to provide assistance and support.
Our rooms are designed to cater for an overnight stay and provide either a double bed or sofa bed. We are unable to guarantee an exact room-type but will endeavor to ensure that you are comfortable.

If you wish to stay overnight please note the following:

• Please notify the midwife or nurse caring for you. In the event of an emergency we need to know exactly who is in the maternity ward.
• Please remember to dress appropriately. Suitable night attire can be worn in the evenings but day clothing must be worn at all other times.
• Remember to wear footwear whilst walking around the ward or throughout the hospital.
• Please remember that you are in a hospital and a midwife, nurse or staff member may enter your room at any time during the day or night.
• Other children are not allowed to stay overnight under any circumstances.
• Meals and drinks are provided
• Mobile phones may be used in your room but should not be used in the corridors.

Staying overnight is a great opportunity to assist your partner and develop your relationship as a family.

Our special care nursery has nine cots. The nursery is located between the maternity ward and the birth suites. Highly specialised staff work in this area and access isby swipe entry only.

The special care nursery has state-of-the-art technology and facilities to support the baby and their family. Mothers are given the opportunity to visit their baby 24 hours a day and are assisted with skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding and expressing.

Please click here for a downloadable checklist of what to bring.

Call 07 5530 0000 to arrange your personal tour today and take a look at our virtual tours:

• Standard Room – Maternity Care Centre
• Maternity Care Centre Lounge
• Birthing Suite
• Front Entrance

Tour of Gold Coast Private Maternity