New home for deliveries
‘For people to put their trust in you with their most precious cargo is humbling’
LEADING obstetrician Dr Maneesh Singh has made the difficult decision to move homes – and the majority of his pregnant patients are coming with him.
After seven years and 1500 births at Tugun’s John Flynn Private Hospital, the specialist is transferring his Women’s Health Centre to Southport’s all-new Gold Coast Private Hospital.
“It’s hard to leave patients, especially those south of the border, but I think 80 per cent have requested to come to Gold Coast Private, which is both flattering and very humbling,” he said.
“For people to put their trust in you with their most precious cargo is the most humbling thing … when you go through pregnancy, you get a really good relationship not only with the woman but also her partner.
“It was a tough decision but Gold Coast Private is just too good an opportunity not to move.”
Dr Singh and his trusted midwife, Margaret-Mary Dolan, spent recent days contacting patients to tell them of the pending move and their reasons for making it.
“When Gold Coast Private was being built, obstetrics was one of its main focuses,” he said.
“I want the best for patients and because I do a lot of highrisk pregnancies, it’s got a little bit extra. The Special Care (Unit) is very good. The paediatricians are very experienced. These little things make a huge difference.
“For example, I can access the (baby’s) monitors from my phone any time of the day. Even if something’s missed, I’ll see it and know when to go into that labour ward. I also do a lot of research and will be able to build and forge links not only with the (Griffith) university but Gold Coast University Hospital.”
And what of the hospital he’s leaving?
“I think there’ll be a little ripple (effect) but things tend to stabilise over time,” Dr Singh said of John Flynn Private Hospital.
“It’s a competitive market. Even the public system is competitive because Gold Coast University Hospital gets (government) money for delivering babies. It is what it is … but what we have to do is strive to put patients before profit.”
Dr Singh, who is entering his 20th year as an obstetrician, has already performed deliveries at Gold Coast Private Hospital but it will be his sole focus from April 1.
“As a gynaecologist, I also perform robotic surgery and the robot they’ve got there is the best you can get at the moment,” he said.
“It’s already a great hospital and could become the flagship for obstetrics in Queensland, if not Australia.”
These little things make a huge difference DR MANEESH SINGH