According to reports, a number of hospitals in Melbourne are offering new mums incentives such as shopping and restaurant vouchers to leave hospital early after giving birth to their children.
The new concept has been offered to mums in a bid to free up hospital beds, with the gifts being offered to those who agree to vacate within three days or less of a natural delivery, or within four days of an emergency Caesarean-section.
Confirming that this is indeed a legitimate scheme, executive director of Cabrini Hospital, Dr Simon Woods told local media: “We offer a package that includes a phone call or home visit from a midwife plus 100 nappies if you go home within three days of a regular delivery.”
Apparently, the package – which also gives new mums to option of choosing between vouchers, restaurant dinners or cleaning – is a big hit with patients.
“It’s popular for those who are having their second or subsequent babies, because they have other children at home and they’re keen to go home,” Dr Woods added.
Despite its apparent popularity however, a number of mums have taken to social media to express their concern that such incentives may result in certain conditions or complications going undiagnosed or unnoticed.
“Are you joking? So what happens if a mother does leave early and she starts bleeding to the point she needs a transfusion?...This incentive is disgusting,” wrote one Facebook user.
Meanwhile, another observed: “The incentive should be to leave when both mum and bub are well enough, not because they want to get a gift voucher!”
What are your thoughts?
