Dr wanted: Sick & no one wants to know!

Don't know if this is a WARNING - a HEAD's UP or just our EXPERIENCE that may be of use to others, but my OH, who is never sick has come down with this dreadful flu doing the Global rounds (seems to me) and is suffering mightily with razor blades in his throat & heavy congestion in his chest - very nasty, so decided he needs a Dr - not wanting pneumonia... :no:

My Tassie-born friend who herself has just recovered from bronchial-pneumonia tried calling her Dr., then the big new medical center in Kingston & surrounding practices with no joy. No one is taking on any NEW patients, BUT he could not even be seen as an EMERGENCY today! ??? I called around too, no joy for today -(but have an appointment for tomorrow, just hope his condition is OK...)

As we've only been here a few months (usually go years without a DR's visit) we thought we'd be safe until we moved into our new home next month, the other side of Hobart, before registering. How could we register with a Doctor here for a few months, when we didn't know where we would settle... And it didn't occur to me, that there wouldn't be a walk-in type clinic somewhere...

I just can't believe there's no Emergency system in place... I think it's safe to say, if you're a Doctor/GP considering Tassie you'd be Welcome with Open Arms & streaming noses -Sorry! - Also, I think we need more osetopaths too... :yes:

Any one else had any scary, interesting medical emergancies?

XxX

Thats not good, hope your oh gets better real soon

stuju

Big Dr Shortage here in WA too. Here we do have out of hours GP's located at hospitals, may be worth presenting there if you have a similar system in Tassie - failing that I would def present at and ED and say you've tried with no avail to get into a Dr and his condition is getting worse.

Ali

Thanks Guys - He seems stable, not getting worse, fingers x'd, but there is so much of this flu. pneumonia going around that sometimes waiting a day or two could be too long... As I said normally, with the usual cold/flu: stay in bed, feel miserable, keep away from everyone else & take the o/c meds, eventually you resurface after a suitable term of suffering! This is a bit more serious & I don't like the sound or look of his cough, but hopefully if he sees the Dr tomorrow should be safe...But if he was older & not as fit as he usually is (has a torn ham string too, Ooooch!) then I think I would be very worried... Someone was telling me she waited 3 hours in ER in Hobart, when her daughter had an allergic reaction... :sad:

How much do you think we should expect to part with, and what do they charge for a prescription should he need something??

:unsure: XxX

Thanks Guys - He seems stable, not getting worse, fingers x'd, but there is so much of this flu. pneumonia going around that sometimes waiting a day or two could be too long... As I said normally, with the usual cold/flu: stay in bed, feel miserable, keep away from everyone else & take the o/c meds, eventually you resurface after a suitable term of suffering! This is a bit more serious & I don't like the sound or look of his cough, but hopefully if he sees the Dr tomorrow should be safe...But if he was older & not as fit as he usually is (has a torn ham string too, Ooooch!) then I think I would be very worried... Someone was telling me she waited 3 hours in ER in Hobart, when her daughter had an allergic reaction...

 

How much do you think we should expect to part with, and what do they charge for a prescription should he need something??

:unsure: XxX

 

 

 

oh herbster... so sorry to hear oh is not well.... have you rubbed hot honey on his chest???... sticky paws i know but could brighten up his day!!! lol

actually i have to say we have been very lucky and not had a bad experience at all... the boys from the camel ride were seen straight away in emergency and have been bulk billed for xrays and have been seen by gp on several occassions to make sure they were ok. i paid for their thermal plastic casts... but even those i can claim some back using our private health care.

as for me i can only praise the system here... having been unwell for 5 years ... and walking into gps when feeling poorly last month with same symptoms i have been complaining about for what seems forever... a diagnosis has been made... and i have had scans and loads of tests done straight away... turns out i have a small tumour on my adrenal gland... please tell me why a gp in the uk cannot listen to me and realise my symptoms are not in my mind... but true!!!!

i have been put on ace inhibitors and a pack of these which last 4 weeks was about $19... at gregs discount chemist....

my scan last week which meant i was injected with a radiactive iscotope cost $893... which medicare paid most for...me being out of pocket $70... believe me having worked in the NHS for more years than i care to mention... i know for a fact i would not be past the first scan i had 5 weeks back which first found it!!!... probably on a waiting list for 5 months or more...

if having blood tests some can be bulk billed.. and others again you pay the gap payment... but in all honesty you get the results back asap and there is no messing around.

i have to say this system works... and the uk could take a leaf out of the way they do things here......

you do realise you can try any gp ... not just the one in your neighbourhood... you are not stuck with catchment....

hope he feels better soon

min x:wubclub:

Thanks Min:

I'll take him to the DR tomorrow, just to be safe, I do worry about sever sore throats & horrible, disgusting coughs... :arghh:

I do agree about the state of diagnostics in the UK being rather hit & often more miss (although Earlswood will disagree here!!!). 3 of my siblings were ill for years, my 2nd sister from early childhood used to complain of stomach aches, general malaise, etc., etc., countless doctors, her own mother concluded it was all psychosomatic, all in her head, attention seeking, didn't want to go to school - you name it that was her that was the PROBLEM - nothing actually wrong with her...

She never does improve, always running uphill, always getting poorly, ending up in the hospital several times - she gets Hep, she loses a baby at 7-mts, lord knows what else, Dr eventually says she has IBS - so recommended she eat loads of wheat bran, bla bla bla & her condition deteriorates, her asthma attacks become worse & more often, her skin alergies dreadful, she can hardly eat anything - until eventually one day, don't know how now, but someone recognized her symptoms & she was diagnosed ceoliac, as was my youngest brother & 3rd sister & 1st brother,- who again had to suffer well into their adulthood before being correctly diagnosed, and my little bro, only when a freak accident delivered him to the hospital & they couldn't understand where all his blood was, he probably would be dead 15-years now otherwise... I know Dr.'s work hard & are overstretched in UK, but I can't believe it really takes any more time to make a correct diagnosies than it does a wrong one, much of it has to come down to training, experience & trusting that the patient knows when something is truly wrong...

I'm really sorry you've suffered so long too, and it's typical that you had to come all this way to find out that you do have somthing wrong with you that is cauusing genuine sympthoms. I suppose perhpas the NHS of old did encourage a well-it's-FREE/we-pay for it with taxes, so we might as use it mentality, so I'm sure DR's used to get fed up w/everyone coming in with a sniffle & aching toe & wanting antibiototics; these days, I really don't think the average person has time to waste hanging around in DR's surgerys, risking picking up something really nasty when they can just pop in their Pharmacy & buy something to ease their ills over the counter...

Hope all goes well with your treatment, and that you are feeling like NEW again soon... Also. interesting to know how much thesse things cost...

Hugs XxX G :jiggy:

We pay about $57 for GP appointment (get most of it back) and I paid about $16 for antibiotics for my son - ask them for the cheapest brand of the one you get prescribed.

Ali

Thanks Ali; Do they give you a claim form or do we have to send off for one??? And what about for osteopathy? Do Medicare reimburse for treatment?

Also anyone have opinions on the BEST Ounce for Ounce medical Coverage??? (Hope it's not like SUPER!!!!) Just for a couple - no kids or Dependants!

:spinny: xXx

Hi Ginny, how's hubby feeling? a bit better I hope. Just keep your fingers crossed you don't get it as well.

Hugz,

Helenx

Hi Ginny' date=' how's hubby feeling? a bit better I hope. Just keep your fingers crossed you don't get it as well.

 

Hugz,

 

Helenx[/quote']

Hi Helen:

How are you are you all? I'm still suffering - it's a very nasty bug - but SOOOOO relieved it didn't mutated into what my poor dearly beloved has had... Valiant Soldier that he is, he's back at work this week, although he should still be home. (Although he's not a good patient!!!! :chatterbox:)

I think his ham string is bothering him MUCH more now, he just can't rest - when he sits down he basically can't stand up without shrieking in agony - you've seen these grown men cry on football pitches when they do this to themselves well it's just about like that every time he has to sit down - to eat - to drive - to work (although he's configured his desk so he can work on the computer standing up! Very Xhausting - and going to the Looo OH NOOOOoooooo. :wacko:Even at $50 a treatment, with buying our home he's counting every penny - but I say, You MUST get it sorted.... (Probably wouldn't worry if he was on National Average - Mid $70K!)

Thanks for your kind thoughts, much appreciated.

Not been in here 3 months & I have a removalist here at lunchtime AGGGGGHHHHHHHH! But last time though - hope to move in 21st November! Yipeeeee! It's so Xciting to be as old as the hills & be buying one's first home - maybe one appreciates it more than if you bought your first in your 20's!!!?

 

What's new with you?? Hugs + Have a G'Day! xXx

Helen: When are you coming to Tassie, or have you been? Sorry I've been out of the Loop - Blame it on some other posts!?

Hi Ginny coming over March/April time can't wait, maybe catch you there. Take care of yourselves.

Helenx

p.s. sent you email xx

Sorry, Correct me if I am wrong but can anyone walk into a doctors surgery in the UK unregistered and get an appointment that day. We have had no trouble in getting a Doctor over here and in fact whilst we were staying in Howrah we had a Dr there too. There is a Travel Doctor in Hobart which in case of emergancy an appointment can be made. I understand at least it was the case a month ago that there were Drs in Taroona, Blackmans Bay, Mount Nelson, Sandy Bay and if all else fails Salamanca taking parients on. We may have been lucky but due to Colin having Rheumatoid Arthritis finding a Doctor was top of our list when we got here. And I would suggest that it is top of most lists even though you may not settle in the area that you first stay in at least you have a Doctor and with children it is important. We have a have nothing but praise for the system over here. we can get to see our Doctor who is at the New Kingston Surgery. Colin goes to seea specialist who puts the Rheumatoid specialist in the UK to shame. We have no trouble in getting to see an Osteopath, chiropractor or anyone else. Our son had to see the Dr a couple of weeks ago , he had a dreadful flu bug, could not talk due to his throat. Got into see a Dr that morning and he wasnt registered. So as you can see everyone is different.

Sally

Sorry, Correct me if I am wrong but can anyone walk into a doctors surgery in the UK unregistered and get an appointment that day. We have had no trouble in getting a Doctor over here and in fact whilst we were staying in Howrah we had a Dr there too. There is a Travel Doctor in Hobart which in case of emergancy an appointment can be made. I understand at least it was the case a month ago that there were Drs in Taroona, Blackmans Bay, Mount Nelson, Sandy Bay and if all else fails Salamanca taking parients on. We may have been lucky but due to Colin having Rheumatoid Arthritis finding a Doctor was top of our list when we got here. And I would suggest that it is top of most lists even though you may not settle in the area that you first stay in at least you have a Doctor and with children it is important. We have a have nothing but praise for the system over here. we can get to see our Doctor who is at the New Kingston Surgery. Colin goes to seea specialist who puts the Rheumatoid specialist in the UK to shame. We have no trouble in getting to see an Osteopath, chiropractor or anyone else. Our son had to see the Dr a couple of weeks ago , he had a dreadful flu bug, could not talk due to his throat. Got into see a Dr that morning and he wasnt registered. So as you can see everyone is different.

Sally

Actually sally when we lived in telford i found the gps very accommodating. my elderly parents used to come and stay and without fail dad would forget some sort of prescription drug or device he used and without fail he was seen that day in the surgery and given a script to last him until he got home... so i can't knock them for that...

on the other hand when dad tries to see his gp where he lives he is looking at at least 3 weeks!!!... typical!!.. and if an emergency a good long wait of at least a few hours!

i definately agree with you though about the system working here.... the uk should definatley take a good look at how a mix of what is effectively half nhs half private works here.... having private clinics with a selection of CT,MRI, Xrays etc certainly cuts down waiting times and therefore ultimately a better outlook for the person involed.

min x:wubclub:

Hi Guys:

Thanks for your concern; we are recovered now! It certainly was a particularly nasty long-lasting flu bug that I wouldn't wish on anyone, which ended up in OH taking (ONLY) 4-days off work, but as he'd never had FOUR days off work ever, let alone consecutively was horrid for us both! As New Residents, wherever that might be, personal experiences will differ, just as circumstances do; trying to get a DR's Apt in the midst of a Big Flu outbreak anywhere, has to be different from when there are no queues of patients at the surgery's.... (I would HOPE...!) And, Sally, I was saying we couldn't get an appointment - if we we not registered, we could not be seen - at ALL! But I'm relating our experiences as they may be helpful to others arriving in an unfamiliar country. Perhaps our experiences are a salutatory lesson?, so could save others from similar distress - for when your loved one is unexpectedly ill, pneumonia a distinct possibility, not being able to find a doctor nearby is very distressing.

Having lived in both LARGE cities, where every facility is within walking distance or within an easy bus ride & finding out what's good & what's not is pretty easy, to rural areas where it's a car drive of 20/30 minutes to get anywhere with services, are very different experiences. Also factor in that we only have 1 car... People can take it for granted that one can hop in the car or jump on the bus as needed, but when there's no easy access to convenient transportation LIFE takes on a whole different character. Sharing a car makes even simple tasks, like the grocery shopping, especially for greens & meat (which I try not to buy them from supermarkets) a logistical quandary, especially as my fav butcher's don't open on Sat mornings & the veggie stall is in a different town from the supermarket! No easy 1-stop shop for me! So imagine trying to get to an appointment, (for anything) the hairdresser, Osteo, whatever, difficult; if there was a Taxi, I couldn't afford it - so, I definitely can't get sick or have short hair! :confusedxmas:

To better understand our situation, we were at least 20 minutes by car from Kingston, a decent town of 15,000 with it seemed, ample services on the way to Hobart about 35 mins away - traffic depending. But when one is really ill. add on the stress of getting out of bed, showering, dressing, getting into the car, (driving?) then hunting for a parking spot on arrival, to sitting in a waiting room of similarly distressed peeps, what sounded like an easy visit to a local surgery, can actually end up being a horrible ordeal, which when you have a raging fever & coughing up blood is not recommended - unless absolutely unavoidable.

There is so much to think about when moving home or localities, let alone countries. Also, it is very common for new residents to temporarily set-up home in one area before moving permanently to a completely different one, so registering for a Dr in your temp home might seem like a waste of everyones time. Services like Dr's & dentists need to meet your individual, perhaps particular needs, which usually means, at least, asking around & talking to people about their experiences/recommendations... In our situation we had no one to ask locally & the prevailing opinions were that getting a Dr should never be a problem... I'm sure anyone with a particular medical need, or with kids would register with a GP, regardless of reputation, ASAP after arrival?

Having lived many years in a country with Private health care & spent 6-months in Spain & time in France, all with private HC, I was prepared for Tassie to be different from UK with its unique NHS. However, I would never have anticipated having a problem finding a GP, or getting an Emergency Appointment would be an issue. For Poms used to the UK National Health System, it is quite different from a country with PRIVATE health care, paying @ point of delivery. There's not many options in UK when it comes to choosing ones GP. Last time we moved to a new region we automatically registered with a DR asap, but there really was only the one Medical Center option, & between myself & the receptionist a GP was assigned. Now, whether one actually ever sees THAT GP, is a different question! In this instance, it was probably a year before our first routine visit. And my last DR was changed without my knowledge, & I don't suppose I ever saw the same DR more than twice! However, we kept our private dentist 500-miles away, as good dentists are NEVER easy to find, but still a big PAIN in an emergency!!! But ones GP by necessity needs to be close to home, so I should point out, that having a GP in Sandy Bay when you live in Kettering isn't local, nice if it was!

No one was more surprised than me, when I heard the locals indignantly complaining that all the Doctors around Kingston had stopped taking patients; many were outraged & these were AUSSIES. It was concerning, but I wasn't unduly worried, thinking it's only 2 months until the move to our permanent home, then we would find a GP locally, 1st priority! Based on our GP usage in England, usually YEARS between dramatic events, & OK, an annual routine check-up, I didn't anticipate an urgency; ever the optimist! I had no idea within a couple weeks my OH would be needing a GP urgently...

When my OH became ever sicker & it was evident doing nothing apart from taking proprietary medicines was no longer an option, I called my Aussie friend in Kingston & asked my boss for their suggestions, all dead ends. So, then my friend & I called around hoping one doctor would consider seeing OH as an EMERGENCY rather than taking him on as a new patient. I even asked the receptionist's what would if someone had suspected pneumonia or we were visiting from out of town - they said you'd to go to the Royal in Hobart! Why go all the hospital if you have flu, that's just daft - surely Hospitals weren't designed for that?! It's not an easy option driving so far when you have a raging fever & can't breath, or you've torn your ham string & sitting down to drive is agony...

In DEFENSE of the National Health Service in UK, sure, one can't just walk into a surgery without an apt. Not that I would expect that anywhere, let alone here, & I've never turned up anywhere without an Appointment! Although NHS drop-in clinics in bigger towns are popping up, with suggestions that such places be in Tesco's... And other Euro Countries, etc., with Private health care usually have conveniently located drop-in clinics in town. However, in UK, if one is really sick, or as with my Mother-in-Law last Summer when she was staying with us, just worried about her meds & BP, appointments are available, care is accessible when required, maybe not that day - unless it was an emergency. Some years ago, when I was visiting from USA, I needed emergency treatment, although I was no longer on the books at my old Dr's, when my symptoms were described I was seen asap & then transported to in an ambulance, despite my protests & HATING hospitals, lights flashing, siren wailing, to the area hospital 15-miles away... there was never any question I would be denied care because of some bureaucratic policy, & although willing to pay, as a UK citizen, I was never billed.

Our family runs a Theme Park offering daily fun to thousands, and amongst them are accidents & illnesses waiting to happen. One or two might be local, registered with the Dr when transported there, but 98%+ are going to be out-of-towner's, visitors, foreign nationals, etc., a LONG way from home & consequently, their registered GP - Have we ever had a problem gaining medical care for any one of those people in need? Of course not! It would be outrageous to suggest otherwise. We've had people presenting with fits, toothache, stomach upsets, flu, broken limbs of every variation, contusions, abrasions, cuts, crushes, gashes & heart-attacks, and all have been successfully treated as emergences or casuals by the appropriate medial professionals, medi-vacd out if critical, driven to the hospital by my father if necessary... care has always been available, never denied. Certainly the appropriate services are notified in advance, whenever possible, appointments secured as necessary, but just because one is not registered at that Dr/Dentist's/Osteopath doesn't mean he wouldn't treat you if possible, as an emergency, or that one could only expect treatment at an hospital.

Everyone has different experiences based on where they are coming from. However, as part of a caring medical system, I would anticipate Emergency care to be available in all but the remotest or most primitive of places - I also thought it was part of the Hippocratic Oath that they could not fail to treat the sick; evidence Israel/Palestine!? And I never said I expected to get an appointment that day, as if OH had the common cold, although as an Emergency, there is usually some allowance allotted for such unexpected eventualities... What would one do if here on business or visiting & fell ill? What happens should my Mom fall sick or have problems with her BP when visiting, she doesn't have a DR locally? People don't usually like to go to hospital unless it's absolutely unavoidable! It still worries me that DR's were not even taking one-off Emergency appointments, as, surely, it should concern anyone...

Now that we have moved to our new home, we have to find a local(relatively!) GP, I'm hoping the neighbors will provide insight, but it seems a shame that we are on the books of a surgery we only ever needed that once, which might mean for someone new moving into that area being unable to get on the books because we are taking up their space. Whilst I'd love to be able to keep this DR, as he was very caring & the foundations of a relationship is there, I doubt he'll be at a surgery 11/2 hrs away. All I hope from this is, that people bear it in mind, & probably ought to register with a GP asap; but Sally, finding a doctor isn't necessarily straight forward, especially when one lives in the sticks as we do! Also some private health schemes dictate your GP options, but personal preference especially when paying for the service, should be a natural consideration... It's just more things that the average Brit or migrant from who-knows-where, or just someone moving into the area, OR visiting has to factor into the equation... ! The care is great once you can access it, but again, it's being aware of the means of delivery of Care that could be critical, which was the point of my original post...

And, ironically, I should add, that in the time we were waiting to see Dr, the phone was very busy, yet I don't suppose 95% of those patients were actually able to see their REGISTERED Dr., either he was fully booked for the next X days, only was there Tuesdays/Fridays/Blue Moons, so it would be 3-weeks before an appointment was available, however, they were offered other DR's, just not their OWN! My Aussie Boss called it a farce... I'm not sure I could be so uncharitable.

Trust everyone keeps well & if you've got a Dr, better hang on to them! X :emoticon-signxmas:

Sorry, Correct me if I am wrong but can anyone walk into a doctors surgery in the UK unregistered and get an appointment that day. We have had no trouble in getting a Doctor over here and in fact whilst we were staying in Howrah we had a Dr there too. There is a Travel Doctor in Hobart which in case of emergancy an appointment can be made. I understand at least it was the case a month ago that there were Drs in Taroona, Blackmans Bay, Mount Nelson, Sandy Bay and if all else fails Salamanca taking parients on. We may have been lucky but due to Colin having Rheumatoid Arthritis finding a Doctor was top of our list when we got here. And I would suggest that it is top of most lists even though you may not settle in the area that you first stay in at least you have a Doctor and with children it is important. We have a have nothing but praise for the system over here. we can get to see our Doctor who is at the New Kingston Surgery. Colin goes to seea specialist who puts the Rheumatoid specialist in the UK to shame. We have no trouble in getting to see an Osteopath, chiropractor or anyone else. Our son had to see the Dr a couple of weeks ago , he had a dreadful flu bug, could not talk due to his throat. Got into see a Dr that morning and he wasnt registered. So as you can see everyone is different.

Sally

Tasmanian GP shortage

AM - Saturday, 20 September , 2008 08:15:00

Reporter: Felicity Ogilvie

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Australia faces a chronic shortage of GPs. And doctors in Tasmania say they're frustrated by a federal government cap that only allows them to train a certain number of General Practitioners every year.

Felicity Ogilvie reports from Hobart.

RECEPTIONIST: Good afternoon, Claremont Village Medical Centre. Yes, look I'm sorry I'll just have to stop you there; our books have been closed for new patients for over two years.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Tasmania's GP shortage isn't just a rural problem; even in the suburbs of Hobart doctors are turning away patients.

Despite a dire shortage of GPs, the Tasmanian organisation that trains them is turning away doctors.

Frank Meumann is the chief executive of General Practice Training Tasmania:

FRANK MEUMANN: We had six applicants for our program who didn't get in; they were all Tasmanian graduates, all highly motivated and very suitable for general practice training.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Why did GP Training have to say no to those students?

FRANK MEUMANN: We had to say no because the quota has been set at 16 and since we had 22 applicants and 16 positions, we couldn't take six applicants.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The news has angered Grahame Alexander who runs the Claremont Medical Centre. He has been working as a GP for 20 years.

GRAHAME ALEXANDER: You could only describe devastating; there wouldn't be a practice in this state, probably hundreds of practices, who are desperate for doctors.

And when they're Tasmanian-trained they are the doctors who know the illnesses of Tasmanians better, and they stay and work in Tasmania.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Peter Barns is the chief executive of a Tasmanian GP recruiting service. State-wide he says there's vacancies for 60 GPs.

Mr Barns wants the six Tasmanian doctors who missed out to get into the GP training program.

PETER BARNS: The opportunity exists to train these doctors; general practice training in Tasmania so that they can take more registrars, they can take the extra six.

We have more than enough practices out there that are accredited to take trainees and to provide them with the support they need.

They exist, so it's disappointing that we can't find a way that these guys to employ them and providing a service in Tasmania as of January of next year.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The Tasmanian Government has written to the Federal Health Minister asking for the quota to be increased so that the six students who missed out can be trained.

A spokesman for the health minister, Nicola Roxon, says a new training option is needed, but for the moment the quota system will remain.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Felicity Ogilvie reporting.

I am not even going to bother to reply at length to your comments . Suffice to say that I repeat my comments that you kindly reminded me of .I nor my family have had a problem with GPs nor hospital . We are patients of the Doctor of our choice. So we muct be the lucky ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is why we all should realise how good the much maligned NHS is.....my sisters lad was very ill xmas day and was seen within the hour.

I always get an appointment the same day at my quacks.

But the point is Sally, so much depends on where you live, when you want a doctor, whether that Dr's available, etc. ,& that's regardless of whther you're registered with them or not!) and it's NOT me making this up as some kind of fantasy; hence the article which throws up very real issues of genuine public concern...

While not always getting what one wants is it's pretty much called Life, the whole purpose of the medical profession is to get us happily, healthily & as painlessly as possible through IT, so of coursse Governments should be rightly concerned if there are not enough Dr's to go round. Back in the winter, I tried the very surgery you attend but they were not taking new patients at that time, which didn't help my OH in his time of need, but worse than that I felt, was their attitude, they honestly couldn't care less - & it's not as if I wanted a car serviced, I needed medical help for my OH.

Also, in Australia the system is different, it's not a by-product of hi-taxation so free for all entitled, so, like America, where we PAY at point of delivery one would expect at least the same level of service and attention as delivered by any other service-provider, and while in our limited experience the Doctors are exemplary, the front-of-house staff remind me very much of The (bad) Old Days, when they were employed as the first line of defense against time-wasters and misanthropes, and I've found a much warmer reception at the chimney-sweeps, car dealer's, exterminator's, where-ever, than at any of the numerous medical centers & doctor's offices I've called (including one only yesterday, they just are not pleasant - why not? Aren't they getting paid enough, so miserable in their work?!) So based on that alone, I'd still be hunting for a GP I felt happy with... as it is, I expect I'll just have to settle for getting whomever's available, & I suppose count my blessings (that I hardly ever, touch wood, have to see them)... I can't imagine you'd think that very satisfactory, let alone ideal... So don't count yourselves lucky, just fortunate, because if you'd been looking for your GP's now, or back in the winter you might not have had any choice, either... A bit like UK, except here we have to pay on delivery... it's just, as I said all along, another factor to bear in mind when you first move over, it's nothing personal - so only trying to be helpful & share... Take care

Right. Lets just get this straight once and for all. I have said now on numerous occaisions both to you personally and on this site. I can only say what is my opinion. not yours or anyone elses . I have had no problems with the GP or anything medical over here. I have chosen to live in a non rural area. I made a point to get on a GPs list as soon as we arrived not waited until I had a problem . In fact we had a GP on the Eastern Shore and got into that surgery with no problems either so thats 2 . As for attitude we have not found that there is an attitude certainly not to us and Colins illness is quite complex and they were happy to take him on both times .

We have friends over here and they have had no problems in getting into a GPs OK they might not have got them down the road and they may have to have to use petrol to get to them but never the less they have a GP. Also a visitor from the UK on holiday had no problems in getting to see the holiday doctor down in Hobart. It did cost a little more apparently but it is open to all people and if it is needed then so what if it costs a bit more. There is of course the Royal Hobart Hospital . Of course there could have been a long wait but any problems that arose could and would have been treated.

I dont however think that PIO is the right forum to keep going on about this . If you have a problem and it is obvious that you do then write to Lara Giddings the State Health Minister or your local state government representative.. You will have to travel to this office as I think that she is based in the Hobart suburbs. They are the ones that you need to speak to as you are unhappy with the way things are going .

As for I dont like it, I have spent all of my working life apart from the last 2 1/2 years in health needs and I can assure you that the treament over here in such a small state and low population is as good if not better than I have been used to.

I will now add if you have anything else to say to me then email me you have the address . I will not be corresponding with you on this thread further as I feel that nothing would be accomplished. We we do not agree and as I said I am entitled to my opinion the same as you are . I have not had problems with attitude , service, appointments or anything else when I have then I will make a comment about it . It will however be in the correct circles and to the correct people. My only advice to anyone coming over here whether they be from the mainland Australia or anywhere else is that they work out were they intend to live and sign onto a surgery as soon as possible and not wait until they have to. or have to pay more for it.