The idea that all carefully laid plans for that special delivery could be changed at the last minute sends a chill through any expectant mother.

Canberra obstetrician Andrew Foote has alerted the public to his own and his colleagues' concerns about the proposed changes to the Medicare Safety Net and how they would affect an overburdened ACT hospital system. In particular, a public system which already employs maternity by-pass when a labour ward is full.

If the Government capped the rebate for obstetric services, the out-of-pocket expenses for private patients could be pushed up, forcing more people back into the public health system, he argued. Would-be mothers would thus face even more crowded maternity wards, and an even greater possibility of being diverted to a hospital other than the one at which they intended to have their baby.

Well, keep exorbitant fees down, argues the Government. The safety net is supposed to protect patients from high fees, but 78c in every dollar went to specialists' fees.

It's a spin which Dr Foote, a dedicated obstetrician, well known and highly respected within the medical community, says is unfairly playing the doctor greed card.

Obstetrics fees had not risen out of context. The rebate had instead kept fees steady because it soaked up specialists' escalating medical indemnity fees. (In 2003 medical indemnity bills skyrocketed from $20,000 to $120,000).

Dr Foote also strongly warned the caps would be a disincentive for obstetricians to keep practising. Such a situation would go against the very promises the Rudd Government made to improve our health system.

So we have an impasse. Dr Foote's arguments are worth reviewing by the Government. While it is true that some specialists may earn more than their share from the public purse, it is not across the board. Medicare props up all doctor wages, why focus on obstetrics?

Will penny-pinching on the rebate help or exacerbate the problems within our health system?

Certainly high fees are an issue across the medical field. But, like education, our health, and our health system are areas of top priority.

When it comes to our health, the public would willingly loosen the purse strings.