Gyny/Obstet/Paediatrician Recommendations

Hello all!

I'm Rachel from London who came to Chile for a love that's still going strong. Apart from the odd impasse as they say.

It's excellently brilliant to have this blog specially for foreigners going out with/dating/engaged to/married to Chilean men, it's just what I needed when I arrived in Chile 2 and a half years ago to be with my then-boyfriend and now-husband.

Unfortunately I'm only going to 'need' it for 2 more weeks as we're off to a new life in Shanghai, but I'm going to be reading it whilst I'm there. Oh no I'm not, there's The Great Firewall of China that blocks Blogger. I will find a way.

So, before I go, and being a Baby Mama, I'd like to pass on a couple of numbers that will be of use to all of you whether babied up or not.

The first one is the best gynecologist/obstetrician in Santiago/Chile. He is called Rodrigo Hess, he speaks fluent English and is, although quite 'business like' rather than lovey dovey, a consumate professional. He was my surgeon when I had 2 cysts removed from my ovary 2 years ago and left no scars. Then 8 months ago, he was my gyne/obstetrician throughout my pregnancy and the surgeon who performed my C-section when the gorgeous Bella came into our world. He is amazing - don't bother going elsewhere. I did and Rodrigo wins hands down.
His address is 1407 Manqueue Norte (opposite the back of Clinica Alemana) and his surgery reception phone number is 02 201 9661.

The second one only applies to those of you with babies.
As soon as a baby is born here, it goes from being Rodrigo Hess's preoccupation to being that of the paediatrician. I have tried 4. The first 3 were rubbish, handing out medicines left right and centre to our newborn baby just to make my husband (also called Rodrigo like what seems like 50% of Chilean men) and I feel better.
Then Marcial Osorio was recommended to me. He's slightly less 'business like' than Rodrigo Hess, but again, not lovely dovey at all. I far prefer this manner - you can really trust them as they don't pander to your panicky needs as a new mother unless there's a reason to. He speaks a tiny bit of English and loves the Beatles, so if you're English I hope you've been to Liverpool. I haven't and he's never recovered from the disappointment.
He is based in the Pueblo Ingles (again opposite the back of Clinica Alemana on Manqueue Norte) and his surgery reception phone number is 02 218 2395.

Oh and if you want to get your baby's/child's eyes checked out, I've also found the BEST opthalmologist/optician who's a baby/child eye specialist. He's called Eduardo Villaseca and he speaks perfect English (it can be quite reassuring in certain medical situations to know that the communication is easy and clear). He is based at Clinica Las Condes, Building 3, Floor 4. His surgery reception phone number is ... oh bugger I've deleted it. I will try and find it and get back to you. But you have the address for the meantime.

On the subject of all things medical (can't believe I'm an expert in it and not even a hypochondriac). I've been to Clinica Las Condes and Tabancura and Clinica Alemana is BY FAR the best. It is like a 5 star hotel. Having had an operation and a baby there I can't recommend it highly enough and they're far kinder than at CLC. They actually made having a baby easy. And how many people can say that? Go there. Punto.

Right, well, I'll be off. When I think of other things to pass on, I will post them here.

Actually, I've just thought of one. As you've probably realised, clothes shoppping ain't up to much in Santiago. Go to Ripley in La Dehesa. And Zara in Parque Arauco. Oh and Bebe is the best baby-things shop (Manqueue Norte again) and Mimo and Zara baby (both in Parque Arauco) the best baby clothes shops. But I have found that buying everything in England each time I go to be the best option.

I would love to be able to recommend book shops. But they're not numerous, not great and so expensive you won't want to buy the books that they do have anyway.

Hope some of that's of use. Hasta luego folks.

*Edited by Kyle

I thought I'd add to Ray's incredibly helpful post. I've been to two other hospitals in Santiago as well, the Clinica Universidad la Catolica, and Clinica Santa Maria. I would definitely not recommend going to La Catolica, Santa Maria was far superior and only a bit more expensive.

Speaking of costs, if you're moving to Chile and don't have health insurance, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Health care is NOT expensive here. By Chilean standards, if you're making a Chilean salary, yes, going to a good clinica is pricey. But if you have money saved up from the U.S. you'll be fine. I went to the emergency room, had a doctor come to my house, and then went twice to the best throat specialist in all of South America (plus meds, and labs) and all total my cost was under $500.00.

Anyways, just thought since the topic was similar that I'd add the little information I have :)