I am a nurse. I have been offered a few jobs in Perth. Some in private hositals but what are they like? Have never worked in a private hospital in the Uk never mind in OZ. I know the wages are lower in OZ, so think it may be worth while working in the private sector.
Does anyone have any advice???
I would recommend a private hospital over public every time.I worked in a private hospital in Sydney 10 years ago and it was like the Ritz.The patients all had planned surgeries,domestic staff supplied refreshments,you looked after 4-5 patients,had a bleep so only attended your patients,in each room was a fridge,bathroom,electric bed and a medicine cupboard so no trailing to the treatment room.For me it was real hands on,get to know your patient nursing.I would do it again in a heartbeat.
It depends in what area you work in. i worked in Hollywood private hospital in Perth for a year in intensive care, it was a lovely hospital and I really enjoyed it but the unit was a lot quieter than I am used to and was more a HDU rather than an intensive care unit. I did help out in a few wards and it was nice but still very busy and I felt, like the public sector, it was difficult to look after the patients as you really would like to. I am returning to Perth and have a job at the royal perth hospital in ICU, it is more what i am used to. The salary is actually going to work out more for me in the public sector because the unsocial hour rate is about to go up and the salary sacrificing package is better there. I don't know all the ins and outs of salary sacrificing but it involves tax and you can salary sacrice rent, car loans etc.
hope this helps
Arlene
I think you may find that salary sacrificing is the same private or public because the agreement acknowledges particular working groups and health services is on (charities are another) - basically you can pay for something before they take the tax out of your pay - mortgage, car, rent etc so you effectively save 30c (usual rate) in the $. Great scheme!!!
Having been a patient in private hospitals - I think there are the same stresses for both with the mighty $$$ being the bottom line but on balance the environments are more pleasant. I guess it all depends on whether you have a special skill which you would be able to use in private (ours dont have paediatric services for instance).
Private 100%.... the NHS over here is crap compared to the UK...I have used it 3 times....****...****...****... they are way behind the health service in the UK.
I have worked in Private and public hosptials about 50/50 and I would go public everytiime. Put it this way if any of my family had to go into hospital I would opt for public. Staffing is a lot less in private and if there are any problems the drs just do not want to come out especially at night. I have had first hand experience of this about 3 times and have been disgusted the way the consultants think they are god and are borderline abusive to the nurses. I work in Melbourne.
If fact I am nearly going to write a letter to the papers but just not sure if I can be bothered. Vote with your feet just do not go to private hospitals.
I work in public mental health which is different to private - partly because of the nature of the illness that present - no severe and enduring in private, the dr.s will diagnose people with bi-polar instead of personality disorder because you can't claim for the latter on private, also if the patient becomes really unwell and has to be legally detained - they have to be transfered to another hospital (because private hospitals aren't authorised).
Ali
__________________ I am toopositive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful and too determined to be defeated!
In my experience salary sacrificing is more beneficial in the public system. I have just accepted a job in the public system and compared to the private hospital I worked in there are more benefits within the public hospital. It might be different in different private hospitals in different states but one of my ex colleagues is also just swapped to the public system due to the salary sacrificing benefits.
If you need urgent emergency treatment i would go with the public system every time, in the intensive care environment the medical staff cover is so much better in a big public hospital. when I started my job in intensive care the doctor who was on duty was very junior and had never worked in this environment before, to cut a long story short the patient I was looking after became very ill and stopped breathing and the doctor panicked and ran away!! I was left hand ventilating the patient until a doctor came from the public hospital to help out!!
Arlene
Speaking from a patient's point of view, the public health system in Aus is pretty awful compared to private. A lot of Brits complain about the NHS over here, but after growing up with the Australian equivalent, you see how good the NHS really is.
I think the favourite pastime of NHS bashing stems from the British govenment continually degrading the NHS because it doesn't make money....well...derrrr....isn't the primary aim of a national health system to care for sick people? It is obvious that the British health system is being lined up for privatisation like everything the govenment couldn't properly manage - then we'll really experience the rich getting richer while the poor get the picture.
Oops.....just reflected back on OP's question - sorry to hijack the thread a little.
I have worked in Private and public hosptials about 50/50 and I would go public everytiime. Put it this way if any of my family had to go into hospital I would opt for public. . Vote with your feet just do not go to private hospitals.
I'm with you on this one . I work in the public health system , but have a close knowledge of the private system as well . A lot of private hospitals have staffing levels at a bare minimum , usually just one permanent RN and the rest of the nursing staff are casuals by and large , who are usually strangers and have never met before their shift starts!! .
The bottom line for the private hospital is the $$ . Private hospitals are ok for elective procedures , but for emergency there's only one place , the nearest public hospital for me.. I know too much about what happens in the private scheme of things to even entertain the idea ...
