"Concerned over lack of private rooms and space in the Birth Suite"

I'm due to have a baby, and am planning to be admitted as a private patient in a public hospital. I have read the signs outside Broome Hospital regarding the proposed? Ongoing? re-development of the hospital. As well, I have recently had a walk through both the maternity ward and birthing suite and would like to express some concerns I feel.

I noticed that there appeared to be only one single room for the whole ward, and given my personal situation I am concerned that I will not have access to this room and the degree of privacy I would like to have. I know that I will not be having a vaginal birth and therefore expect a longer recovery. So I am particularly concerned that I will be required to share a room which is not ideal for rest and recovery. Also given that I will be a private patient, I am concerned that as there only seems to be one room, I will be sharing a room as a public patient. I do not believe that one private room is sufficient given the large population that Broome Hospital serves.

The other concern I have is the size of the Birthing Suite and location of a designated smoking area outside the birthing suite window. It seemed to me that if an emergency were to develop, the birthing suite would be far too small to accommodate the necessary support team. I know that sometimes, in an emergency, up to 10 people are required to aid the mother and child and I cannot see how that number of people could fit in the birthing suite. There does appear to be space for expansion, however this is the smoking area. The location of the smoking area, directly outside the birthing suite seems inappropriate. I know the curtains will be closed, but it just doesn’t feel right.

I just hope that with the redevelopment of the hospital, these issues might be addressed, and I would like some reassurance that the single private room would be available for when I come to deliver my baby.