The public health system

Dogsbreakfast · February 22, 2012, 09:16:17 PM

On sunday i woke up at 6 writhing in agony, at about 8 i was thinking how bad does pain have to be before i call an ambulance. At 9:30 couldnt stand it anymore but not wanting to clog up an ambulance got my wife to drive me to the hospital. Walked into the emergency - packed with the usual deroes, clamped onto the desk and said get me a bed and then proceede to pass out. Little known to me, believing i had food poisoning - my appendix had burst.

The staff at the princess alexandra hospital in brisbane were fantastic. Morphined me up, operated on that day and back in the ward by 830pm. Even though they couldnt boot me out the door quick enough (i think i used up all their morphine

) they did a great job, professional and efficient.
I find it amazing that all the media do is bash the health system, but we live in a pretty great country and iam thankful for it.

Mace · February 22, 2012, 09:24:00 PM

Good to hear of your positive experience and you are recovering well enough to get back on myswag.

Thank the lord we dont line in the States where the first thing they would have done is checked out your capacity to pay.

All we need now IMO is an inclusive medical system that includes dental in their scope. Why the mouth is not included in medicare with the rest of the body is beyond me. 100 years ago people died regularly from oral derived medical issues. We havnt progressed much on that front.

That said, if you are acutely sick or injured, we live in one of the best countries in the world for medical services and the staff in the system are truly dedicated.

McGirr · February 22, 2012, 09:35:34 PM

Thank god I thought it was going to be a debate on the health system !!

But great result and good to hear your on the mend.

Mark

maurerless · February 22, 2012, 09:37:00 PM

Sorry to hear of your heath issue - but I'm also glad to hear it worked out okay for you.

I'm also very glad for the public heath system. I've made my way to the A&E area of a local hospital a few times in the last couple of years with chest/neck/arm pains. I'm ~~embarrassed~~ relieved to say that it was basically reflux instead of a heart issue, but until I found out the true cause they were really good to me and looked after me well.

I'm paying private health cover, but haven't been able to claim anything back from the "insurance" over the past 12 months (in spite of specialist care). Makes me wonder what I'm actually paying for.

This may be a point of disagreement to some, but sometimes I think that if I could pay the same as I do for the private health system directly into the public health system, and get an even better service we may be better off. YMMV but I havn't had any real benefits from all my payments into the private health insurance for at least 20 years.

At the end of the day I gotta love where we live too

Just some guy · February 22, 2012, 09:38:41 PM

I agree - I've only been admitted to public hospital once - they took very good care of me. I was grateful for the care and treatment I received. I've visited numerous friends and relatives in hospital and they were all impressed and grateful too. The nurses and doctors and other staff who work there (generally) deserve more than they receive.

As for some dental treatment that I have paid plenty of $ for - well, it was not done with the care and professionalism that I expected.

Mace · February 22, 2012, 09:46:08 PM

Quote from: maurerless on February 22, 2012, 09:37:00 PM
but I havn't had any real benefits from all my payments into the private health insurance for at least 20 years.

Not sure where you live mauerless, but many years ago our GP said that anyone who lives in a regional or rural areas will get limited benifit from private insurance. If you live there, if youre sick, injured, pregnant, etc (why we asked) you get treated with the best possible expertise and usually get to see your own doctor anyway.

Skippy1 · February 23, 2012, 12:28:16 AM

Glad you have recovered and received excellent treatment.

I know this is not a forum for a "health services debate". However, last year I required treatment for cancer. I would have received very good care in the public system but I didn't feel it was right to take up scarce resources when I had private health cover.

To cut a long story short it all went to hell in a handbasket and $90,000 + later my health fund paid up without a murmur, and I think my out of pockets were less than $500.

Apart from being away from home for a long time, a distinct disadvantage of living in a rural area, the difference was that the private system was able to give me expensive drugs not readily available in the public system because of cost. My little local public hospital couldn't give me a common chemo anti nausea drug because they couldn't get approval due to the cost.

So, for those who pay their very expensive private health cover trust me when I say it's when you need to use it that it becomes very worthwhile.

Happy to say, almost well enough now to get back out there in the CT. Wooooohoooo!

Fridge Magnet · February 23, 2012, 01:56:42 AM

Nice to hear some positive stories about our health care system. Excluding some Scandinavian countries it's probably the best in the world. We're currently debating whether or not to drop our private health cover as where we live it doesn't seem to make much difference. We're not really that remote, about 3 hours from Melbourne. For our first child we had a choice of doctor, midwife etc,. but it's changed now so that we get whoever is assigned to us in the public hospital. We're 3 months pregnant with our second and to be honest I find it hard to justify the (significant) cost. We had a some health issues with our first and ended up paying a s***load despite being 'fully' covered. I'd be interested to hear what others think...

My first post

fishfinder · February 23, 2012, 05:36:37 AM

I believe the health system is fine and also agree as previously pointed out that dental should also be under medicare - after forking out $8500 on my daughters teeth after health care rebate I have decided if my other daughters are in need of an orthadontist they will just have to live with a crooked smile - hopefully that will also save me on weddings

JCOJ · February 23, 2012, 06:08:19 AM

We have only had to use the public health system once - when my then 5 year old broke his arm. They nurses were awesome is dealing with him (he can be difficult), but the doctor missed the fracture on the x-ray but put him in plaster 'just for precaution'. Six weeks later they took the plaster off and re-xrayed him and it just didn't look right - even to me (the break was on his elbow and right on the growth plate) and my son said it was still extremely tender to touch. The same doctor told us it was fine and told us to go home.

Long story short, he had to have his arm re-broken and re-set and it wasn't growing in the right direction and two operations later plus a total of 10 months total in plaster that year, he now has his arm growing straight but has to go in every 6 months of his growing life to get it checked!! We did the second and third operations under the private system.

I think we just had a rogue doctor - the specialist said 'how did he miss that!'. Still as mentioned the nurses were great on all accounts!

ozbogwam · February 23, 2012, 06:24:45 AM

Glad you are ok, I still have issues from my appendix bursting 25 years ago. Had very bad poisoning from it, very close to not being here. But the hospital were great.

Also had reason to use one a couple of years ago after getting a badly infected leg from coral. Service was great, treatment was so so, gave me the wrong anti biotics first round. But in general was good.

Also both our kids were born at Sandringham Hospital and I can't recommend it enough, brilliant little public hospital

McAbouts · February 23, 2012, 08:20:45 AM

I work in the public health system and I can tell you it ain't no picnic on occasion. As you can imagine we get all sorts in, majority who are very appreciative of our efforts and some who think they are at the Hilton. The environment can be difficult with pressures from above, lack of funding and staff shortages not to mention crappy hours that are not family friendly. That's why i can't wait for a run of days off or holidays to get away from it all. This was a very uplifting thread and one I have enjoyed reading with wonderful positive outcomes for most.

Cheers
Louise

cetacean · February 23, 2012, 08:34:48 AM

I also work in the Health system and have worked in both public and private hospitals over the years. Truth be known if I was really sick I'd rather get looked after in a Public Hospital than a Private one. Might not be as flash as a private one,but you no there will always be doctors/nurses available if you need someone in a hurry. I don't have private health cover, and think it's a big rip-off in many instances.
That said,both systems are pretty good( not perfect) and it's just another reason why we're lucky to live where we do.

Darryl

Fridge Magnet · February 23, 2012, 08:52:30 AM

QuoteI have decided if my other daughters are in need of an orthadontist they will just have to live with a crooked smile - hopefully that will also save me on weddings

Hahaha, well said

, love the positive outlook

gonfishen · February 23, 2012, 10:06:20 AM

The public health system is good in an emergency situation, go to hospital get it stabilized and if there are to be ongoing operations needed i would then switch to private health. On the other hand if the heath issue is of a non emergency and in my case i needed knuckles replaced going through the public health there was a 2 year wait but privately it was a 2 week wait and my out of pocket was $1000. i think you have to judge each situation and see which is best for you private or public.

Bird · February 23, 2012, 10:21:19 AM

If you want to try a public hospital that is 100% Fail, try Frankston Hospital... That bloke that said it was **** is purely right. 100%

My dad went in the Emergency Dept with sugar level issues (diabetic), but he also had sores on his legs and feet (dangerous for diabetics)... 18hrs in emergency, they got him a bed. 1 nurse spoke fluent clear english (the head nurse).

After 2 weeks (IN THE MATERNITY WARD!) a group of barely english speaking Drs came up and abruptly said "what do you want us to do"...? In shock, he said @*( fix me up, FF$@*$)*( your the Dr's you tell me.

I asked how his legs and feet were going and why hadnt he been transferred to a private hospital. The reply, whats up with his feet?

Hadn't they washed him yet in 2 weeks - these werent invisible wounds?? They hadnt even seen the sores on his legs

As for the private hospital bit, 'does he had private health care?" to which I replied I've told you this daily since he got to this ****hole 'oh yes, its marked on his record'...

In the 4mths since then, he has had to have toes amputated more than once and is now home recovering again...
---------------
Not all publics are that Shit, St George in Shitney when I was in the hit and run the nursing staff did wonders in my treatment for the 4mths I was in there.

I cannot speak highly enough of the staff at Peninsula Private for their care.. even when mum died last year, they were outstanding... Why there is such a gap in the care level is baffling.

maurerless · February 23, 2012, 07:34:12 PM

Quote from: Mace on February 22, 2012, 09:46:08 PM
Not sure where you live mauerless, but many years ago our GP said that anyone who lives in a regional or rural areas will get limited benifit from private insurance. If you live there, if youre sick, injured, pregnant, etc (why we asked) you get treated with the best possible expertise and usually get to see your own doctor anyway.

Hiya Mace - I'm 40k's outside of Canberra, so most of the specialist care was in Canberra (otherwise I'm close enough to drive to Sydney). I'd expect reasonable care for a city centre in that environment and we get it under our public health system. I have absolutely no complaints about the treatment side of things in the ACT or NSW. My gripe was more about the health insurance side.

To put my comments about Private cover in perspective - becuse there were concerns about my heart I opted for the private system to have scans and tests done sooner rather than later. Some of the tests included a short visit to a Private hospital. My health insurance is supposedly "Top Cover" with all options (except pregnancy and orthodontics). After having an Endoscopy (symptoms can be the same as a heart atatck) I ended up paying an additional $1100 to cover anaesthetic, hospital day (afternoon) admission and surgeon fees after they claimed the Medicare rebates directly. After all that I only got $80 back from my insurer. In effect, I nearly paid more for the scans than I paid for the cover I had for that year.

I went to a cardiologist and also paid several hundred dollars all the fees for his tests. When I went to Medicare I asked if I get a receipt to take to the private insurer. The lady behind the desk looked at me as if I was stupid and said "What makes you think you'll get anything back?". She was right, I got nothing back from them in spite of upping my cover.

Sometimes I wonder if I should just put the money I would use for Private cover ina special account and let it build up. That way I just pay for the treatment I need rather then effectively paying twice. But then Murphy's Law dictates that if I opted for that, then I'd need the money for treatment before the savings built up.

sigh..

rant over.

Tony

Kit_e_kat9 · February 23, 2012, 10:38:03 PM

Quote from: Dogsbreakfast on February 22, 2012, 09:16:17 PM
The staff at the princess alexandra hospital in brisbane were fantastic. I find it amazing that all the media do is bash the health system, but we live in a pretty great country and iam thankful for it.

Glad to hear you have been cured.

When I went in to the PA for my back surgery, the nurses were really tied up with patients far sicker than me and I felt a little forgotten ... however ... I am able to function day to day now and that really means more than anything. The doctors and nurses where very professional and dedicated.

They really do need to do something about the food however.

Kit_e

cruisindub · February 24, 2012, 04:59:10 AM

I am home alone tonight, my wife is in (public) hospital, after I called 000 this afternoon for a suspected stroke. Tense few hour earlier.
Thankfully all is ok. She is 34. All the signs and symptoms were there.
A&E, privateroom later, I am home to get some dinner into me as she is under observation.
Paramedics, nurses, (as well as police) just simply don't get paid enough.
We are lucky ourlocal hospital is quite good, soon to be better with the new addition under construction, the only gripe, any specialist treatment is minimum 4 hrs away.
I have a reasonable amount if medical training, like I said, the paramedics and nurses (especially those in trauma) don't get paid enough.

maurerless · February 24, 2012, 09:36:34 PM

Quote from: cruisindub on February 24, 2012, 04:59:10 AM
I am home alone tonight, my wife is in (public) hospital, after I called 000 this afternoon for a suspected stroke. Tense few hour earlier.
Thankfully all is ok. {snip}

Glad all is well so far and hope it works out for the future.

Quote from: cruisindub on February 24, 2012, 04:59:10 AM
{snip}
...the paramedics and nurses (especially those in trauma) don't get paid enough.

x2...

... but x20,000 if they are looking after me

(seriously though, they are very special people in our society and I am infinitely grateful for them.)

cruisindub · February 24, 2012, 11:05:43 PM

She was flown to Perth with RFDS tonight, going for MRI scan, suspect some heamorage on brain or something.
I drive there after I get some sleep first.
My wife is scared sh1tless.
Her cousin died of brain tumor late 2010 aged 16, her grandfather doesn have long to go, also with brain tumor/cancer.
Writing this with tears in my eyes.

Footy Shorts Shane · February 24, 2012, 11:35:30 PM

The Public Health system has saved my life. It has saved the life of my Son. It has stitched up my Daughters head, when all I could do is hold her and feel helpless. It has fixed my wife, when I couldn't.

The Public Health System in QLD is a joke, but the people who work in this joke, are my Heros.

I thank you.

Shane.

JB · February 25, 2012, 05:20:39 AM

I hope all turns out well cruisindub.

Cheers

JB

briann532 · February 25, 2012, 06:56:32 AM

I just love the irony that a thread titled "The public health system"

was started by a "dogs breakfast"

Dogsbreakfast · February 25, 2012, 07:30:40 AM

Quote from: cruisindub on February 24, 2012, 11:05:43 PM
She was flown to Perth with RFDS tonight, going for MRI scan, suspect some heamorage on brain or something.
I drive there after I get some sleep first.
My wife is scared sh1tless.
Her cousin died of brain tumor late 2010 aged 16, her grandfather doesn have long to go, also with brain tumor/cancer.
Writing this with tears in my eyes.

Hey mate,

My heart goes out to you and and your wife. Rest assured that she will get the best treatment there is.
My trouble pales into insignificance when compared to a loved one.
As someone mentioned, the heroes and role models arent actors or sports stars - its the people in the health services and their sacrifices that should be looked up to.

News:

The public health system