I would just like to reassure anyone who is migrating that the hospital system here is not much different to that in the UK. When we came here one of our main concerns was the hospital care, as our son who is nearly 21 months now has a bowel condition which can cause him a lot of problems if he comes into contact with and catches a tummy bug (gastro). At 2 days old he was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital and diagnosed with Hirshsprungs Disease (a bowel condition preventing him from poohing) he was operated on at 3 months old and all went well. 2 weeks later at 3 and half months old he caught a tummy bug and was rushed to GOSH where he ended up in Intensive Care and on a ventalator and given only minutes to live!! The tummy bug had caused a condition called Hirshsprungs Entricolitus. (We had always been warned by them that if he caught a tummy bug there was a chance he would need hospital care) As you can imagine it was the worst time of our lives and no one should have to go though that!! To his consultants, ours and everyones surprise he pulled through and after another month in hospital he came home. (His Consultant who was a very experienced Dr later advised us he had never seen a case of Hirshsprungs Entricolitus as serious). Due to this coming to Australia really wasnt on the agenda anymore, however after discussing it with his Consultant at GOSH last January he said that he was happy for us to come here providing we came to Melbourne as The Royal Cildrens Hospital specialise in his condiiton. We have now been here 7 months and it was the hardest thing that we have ever done mainly because of this, thinking that we had left our “comfort blanket”, however since we have been here he has been under the care of The Royal Childrens Hospital for his regular checkups and they have been very happy with him. Back in September he caught a tummy bug and was admitted for the night just as a precaution due to what had happened in July 2006. However he dealt with it well and came home. However this weekend he took a serious turn for the worse (he caught a tummy bug a while ago) and it had not cleared up and he was rushed to The Royal Childrens Hospital where they suspected that he had Hirshsprungs Entricolutus again. On his arrival the Doctors were waiting for him and immediatley took his heart rate, checked his bowel etc. They put him on a drip and intravinous antibiotics and admitted him onto the ward. They were absolutley fantastic!! Thankfully after a couple of days he was well enough to come home and we just keeping a close eye on him!! What I am trying to say with this thread is that I know that it can be quite scary coming to a different country and for all of us there are things that are more scary than others, however I really want to assure you that the medical system and hospitals here really are fantastic. The care that our son has received since being here, and especially that over the last few days has been brilliant!! Sorry to ramble on. Deb xx
We would also like to thank Tracey and her family for there support during these horrible last few days. Its hard enough but when you dont have your family around you at times like this it makes it harder. So we thank you!!
Last edited by alcocainmel; 07-01-2008 at 11:08 AM.
Pleased that you have had a good experience with Australia’s medical system and hope that your boy continues to thrive and bloom.
Australians still complain about the system there but that’s because they really don't know how good they have it, but nothing is perfect. We are still a bit puzzled by the British system.
One of the joys of the medical system in Australia is that you can choose your GP and change him/her as regularly as you like, provided you have your Medicare card.
Debs, you dont need to thank us....thats what friends are for!!!!
We are just so happy that Casey is on the mend, funnily enough, Nicole said she felt abit off tonight, then was asking about Casey and I said to her "dont you dare go around to Debbies" she looked at me as if i was mad and said "mum do you think i'm stupid".
Anyway once again, so glad hes on the mend, it was awful seeing you,Alex and Cody so distressed the other day, our hearts went out to the boys they really didnt know what to do with themselves... They're a credit to you and Del.
Anyway its reasurring to know that if (and hopefully it will never happen) one of our children does need medical attention that its of a high standard.
Take care
love
Tracey
xxxx
Location: From Bury,Manchester To Jimboomba, Brisbane
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Glad your boys on the up and feeling better and glad your experience with the medical system is good ,,i totally agree ,it impressed me how speedy referals are when you need one ,,take care
Cal x
I think with medical care its pretty much depends where you go. I was terrified to go to the docs when we arrived as there is a lot of scarmongering regarding the medicare system. However on 17th Dec my hubby snapped his achillies tendon, we are only on recerical health care due to our visa and have no private care so obviously we were quite concerned.
I took him to Emergancy at 4pm on tues afternoon, my 5.30 he was home in plaster,couldnt beleive how good the service had been (ROBINA hospital Gold Coast). We were refered to the Gold Coast hospital to see specialist. We had an appointment for 8.30am Xmas Eve. I dropped the kids at 7.30am to a friend, got there at 8am. He was evertually seen at 10.30am they crayed him and sent him to get a replacement plaster. He waited 2 hours only to then ask the bloke if he had forgotton him as other patience were going to before him, the guy had no paper work for him (even thought he walked past him loads times didnt query why he was sitting there). Eventually he got his paperwork and he had a new plaster on. He was sent down to ultrasound at 12.30 and was told the nest appointment available was 2.00pm. The doctor who has seen him came down and signed off the authorisation papers and told him to go back o0n the thus for the results of the ultrasound, in the mean time I went to get the kids. It was now 1pm and Xmas Eve. I went back and picked him up at 2.30pm only to find out that they cannot ultrasound through a plaster and it was all a waste of time. We had to go back on the 27th Dec and do the whole thing again. Veryfrustrating.
O and today I took my girls for their immunisations, appointment was made last week, only to wait 45 minutes and be told that the needed to order it in.Waste of a jouney and the doctors time, even though I stated at the time which ones they needed when I made the appointment. She sai to me sorry it happens all the time!
Location: From Bury,Manchester To Jimboomba, Brisbane
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Good experiences then Em ??lol ,,you have to laugh or youd cry,lol!!! my friend had the same problem with the hep b and they hadnt ordered it so waste of time going like you.I imagine thers good and bad Dr's out there like the uk,thankfully ive not had BAD yet!!!!
Cal x
