I have received numerous questions with regards to Putrajaya Hospital since I gave birth to Benjamin over 3 years ago, I decided it's high time I write a post about it so I can just direct the people who asked me those questions to this post. Brilliant eh? (Too bad, 3 years late hahahah..)
My post here is to tell you what I experienced personally so that you sort of have a 'virtual' tour of being a patient there hehehe... I'll break down my explanation in categories for your easier reference:
WHY PUTRAJAYA HOSPITAL?
1) Full Paying Patient (FPP) Scheme
Now firstly, you can read all the nitty gritty details about their Full Paying Patient (FPP) scheme from the hospital's website. They are one of the few hospitals around that has the FPP scheme (the other one is Selayang Hospital). Meaning, you still have to pay for your consultations (of course!) but the rates are wayyyy lower than what you normally pay at private hospitals.
With my 1st child (Benjamin) and wanting the best advice and care, I paid about RM100-RM200 for each consultation at a private gynae (with his own clinic but he was attached with a private hospital) Then we switched to Putrajaya Hospital when I was about 8 months pregnant and I paid about RM60 for each consultation. The charges will be slightly more when I have to take blood tests and extra stuff.
With my 2nd child (Alyson), we did not go to the private gynae clinic but instead went to the private hospital (Sime Darby) and paid about RM130-RM180 for each consultation and we switched to Putrajaya Hospital when I was about 4 months pregnant. The charges of RM60 for each consultation remains the same even after 2 years.
In summary, you pay cheaper compared to private hospital but you don't have to queue up for ages compared to public hospital. Yes, there are times when I can jump queue during my check-ups.
2) They are natural childbirth friendly and totally for breastfeeding methods
One of the signage in the hospital for NO formula, NO bottles, NO pacifier!
You can see posters about breastfeeding benefits, how to guides, brochures and all. There's even signs banning formulas, pacifiers and bottles plastered all over the hospital. Love love love it!
3) Facilities & Environment
Pictures shown below were taken by my hubby 3 years ago when I was admitted to the hospital, waiting for my contractions to reach 10cm. FYI, I requested for the VIP Executive suite, meaning I want the whole room to myself. I seriously don't want to hear moanings and crying and whining of mums-to-be in labor feeling their contractions coming and going and I really wanted the room to myself for the peace and calm and all, so yeah, I got myself this room and it came with own TV, a fridge, a bathroom (with water heater), 2 sofas for guests.
If not mistaken, there are about 20+ Executive rooms on this floor so there's more privacy and quieter compared to the other packages offered for FPP patients (such as 4 bedded room and so on)
4) Treatment & Services by Staff and Doctors
During the consultation time, you will go for the standard weigh, blood pressure and urine test. Then your specialist gynae will attend to you. I find that both my gynaes (for Ben and Alyson) are very friendly, explain things in detail, patience and never rush our check-ups and they are very professional as well.
As for post delivery services, pictures shown below are taken by myself a day after I gave birth to Alyson in September 2011. You will be given the menu plan the day before so that you can choose what to eat the next day. I whacked the first meal brought to me (really really hungry!) and the pharmacist came up to my room to deliver my medicines supply and 2 nurses came in to give Alyson her required jab as well.
Basically, I feel their service is good, they responded as soon as I buzzed them hehehe... in fact, what I love about their nurses is they came in to check whether your breastfeeding techniques are correct or not. With Ben, I remembered one nurse standing next to me, watching quietly, guiding as well and only left the room when I managed to latch him on correctly.
Also, during Ben's birth 3 years ago, my hubby actually tagged along with one of the nurses when they took Ben for his morning bath. I found hubby standing next to the nurse, teaching him how to bath Ben step by step, how to swaddle him as well. Nice!
I would also like to add the incident where I was scolded by the nurses on duty while I was frantically searching for my lost hubby and newborn baby (before I found them in the bathing room). Just want to highlight the nurses meant well as I was walking REALLY fast (it's actually my normal walking speed) and they are really worried I might tear down there (I had an episiotomy with my 1st delivery) So good for them to be so strict hahahah...
THINGS TO TAKE NOTE
1) The specialist doctors are only available on weekdays 8am to 5pm (no problem for me since I'm a SAHM now but with my 1st child, I had to take MC or leave to go for the check-ups)
2) There are some specialists there who are open to C-sect but generally, this hospital is a very pro natural birth and very pro breastfeeding hospital.
3) There are 4 specialists gynaes when I had Alyson last year. Two female gynaes, two male gynaes. If you signed up under FPP, you can choose one of them as your gynae (you will be under his/her care until you delivered) But please take note that if the gynae is not available when you deliver, the hospital will get the next specialist available. With my 2nd child, I delivered during the Hari Raya time and all the specialists are away (my gynae was due to return to work the day after I delivered Alyson) so I was attended by a normal gynae (not the 4 specialists). But nevertheless, the gynae who delivered my baby is very good!
4) You might have to move around the consultation rooms as they are sharing the scanning machines and some doctors are sharing the consultation rooms as well.
There you go... I hope I covered all the things that needed to be covered about Putrajaya Hospital.
Feel free to ask more questions if you have any!
** Updates 20th March 2013: Please feel free to check out my latest post on check-up routines for FPP patients at Putrajaya Hospital now.
