Ramsay Health Care's bid to buy Wollongong Day Surgery opposed

In a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Mrs Seisas said she was opposed to the organisation getting "more market share and power".

Her opposition stems from an experience when her then 24-year-old son had an operation at Figtree Private Hospital in March 2013, where she claims she was forced to pay almost double the initial $3500 quote.

"I am against Ramsay acquiring a larger portion of the private hospital system in the Illawarra," she stated in her submission.

"... After all, it's choice the public wants. What true choice is there for citizens when one corporation owns several hospitals.

"... For the ACCC this matter is about acquisitions and mergers. For me, this is about a more broader concern about health care in our society."

Mrs Seisas told the Mercury that because her family didn't have private health insurance, she called the private hospital for a quote the month before her son's surgery to have his parotid gland removed.

However, three days before his operation, they had to dip into their savings when they were informed the procedure would cost thousands more. "They weren't upfront about their costs - don't they have a set fee for certain procedures; shouldn't they be able to give a reasonable quote?" Mrs Seisas said.

"I'm just concerned that if this merger/acquisition goes ahead then Shellharbour Private Hospital will be the only day surgery in the region not operated by Ramsay. I just don't think that's right, as Ramsay will be able to set their fees as high as they like."

Figtree Private Hospital chief executive officer David Crowe said private hospitals mainly admitted privately insured patients, who were covered for their procedure and accommodation by their health insurance.

Only in a very small number of cases, patients who were not insured and did not want to wait on the public waiting list, may choose to be treated in a private hospital and pay out of pocket.

"While Figtree cannot comment on this specific case due to privacy issues, in some cases where a patient is self insured like this, the estimate amount quoted over the phone and in writing to patients inquiring, may not be able to be finalised until the doctor has provided the hospital with exact details of the procedure on completion of the surgery," Mr Crowe said.

"We do our best to try to ensure that we give the best indication of price to these patients who do not have health insurance."

Mr Crowe declined to comment on the ACCC investigation.