Guest Guest 47403 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Right folks be totally honest please it's not something I've thought about before now not bothered about me but for those with bin lids are the waiting times to see the doc as bad as the UK (2 weeks+) I've read the Tas gov are cutting costs?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Im not in Tasmania so can only speak for where i am in QLD , the kids always get in on the same day and 3 times this last 6 months ive turned up with my son , with no appointment and been seen within 40 minutes.. I rarely visit my GP ,if i do its normally 2 or 3 days from ringing to get in unless its an emergency. Cal x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hels Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 ive only been once in 2 years to my docs, i rang at 8am and had an appoinment for 10am, so id say pretty good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 The overwhelming majority of people in the UK DONT have to wait 2 weeks + as you put it, that was clear in your other thread on the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runslikeafish Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 My only experience so far has been phoning in the morning and an appointment the same day. Another thing to bear in mind here is you can "shop around" for your GP if you want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 My only experience so far has been phoning in the morning and an appointment the same day. Another thing to bear in mind here is you can "shop around" for your GP if you want to. Thats what we did here, we are fortunate that we can choose between 3 different surgeries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 (edited) I go to a walk in bulk billing one. Last time I had to wait about 20 minutes. Quickest time has been about two minutes. Longest about an hour. I'm in SA though. Edited May 9, 2013 by blossom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Right folks be totally honest please it's not something I've thought about before now not bothered about me but for those with bin lids are the waiting times to see the doc as bad as the UK (2 weeks+) I've read the Tas gov are cutting costs?? My (ex) foster daughter - now grown up! - has 2 small children and she has always been able to book them in the same day. In fact, on occasion, she has stopped at the doctor's surgery without phoning ahead and they have seen the child almost immediately. I think they make a point of it with young children for obvious reasons. The government cutting costs has no impact because doctors are independent professionals running their own businesses. Remember, as runslikeafish said, you are free to attend any doctor's surgery (providing their books are not so full that they are closed to new patients). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Thats what we did here, we are fortunate that we can choose between 3 different surgeries. He's asking about Tasmania, not Herefordshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest16631 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 ........I like the same Dr............have only seen two main GP's in 20 years here...... .........there are those that have stood in when mine are away for any reason..... ..........usually get an appointment the same day or at least the next........ ...........after a holiday tends to be a bit harder...... ............the specialist I see ,I can usually see her within the month ,referred by my GP... ............though will ring me if they have a cancellation and I can attend at that time.... ............there are choices...........some of the larger clinics.........having other medical facilities attached... .............great if you need frequent blood tests and X-rays,....... ............most surgery's will also........squeeze in children.......or emergency's..... .............last week a gentleman who had badly cut his hand.........was swiftly seen to first..... ...............as was a distressed asthmatic child....... ...............not a bad system............I pay a gap fee at the GP's surgery..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Thats what we did here, we are fortunate that we can choose between 3 different surgeries. Not quite the same, you do have to register with a GP in the UK - certainly in WA you don't, if I can't get an appointment at one I can phone another, horrendous for continuity of care of course. I have found access to a GP much better here, if I am happy to see any Dr at my usual surgery then it is rare not to get an appointment the same day. It tended to be 3-5 days where I was in the UK unless you could persuade the receptionist that it was an emergency. Of course the difference here is each appointment costs about $40 and that's after the medicare rebate. I am sure if you go to a bulk-billing Dr. the waiting times aren't disimilar to the UK! Working in London there were drop-in GP's where you would be seen the same day - for a price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 My (ex) foster daughter - now grown up! - has 2 small children and she has always been able to book them in the same day. In fact, on occasion, she has stopped at the doctor's surgery without phoning ahead and they have seen the child almost immediately. I think they make a point of it with young children for obvious reasons. The government cutting costs has no impact because doctors are independent professionals running their own businesses. Remember, as runslikeafish said, you are free to attend any doctor's surgery (providing their books are not so full that they are closed to new patients). Precisely, whether you think that is a good thing or a bad thing is a matter of personal opinion - I would personally prefer my primary care provider not to be profit driven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 We had to register at the surgery or more accurately group of surgeries which certainly makes it easier and waiting time is minimal. Not quite the same, you do have to register with a GP in the UK - certainly in WA you don't, if I can't get an appointment at one I can phone another, horrendous for continuity of care of course. I have found access to a GP much better here, if I am happy to see any Dr at my usual surgery then it is rare not to get an appointment the same day. It tended to be 3-5 days where I was in the UK unless you could persuade the receptionist that it was an emergency. Of course the difference here is each appointment costs about $40 and that's after the medicare rebate. I am sure if you go to a bulk-billing Dr. the waiting times aren't disimilar to the UK! Working in London there were drop-in GP's where you would be seen the same day - for a price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Yes, I should make clear that you don't register with a doctor here. As long as their books aren't "closed" you could theoretically try them all. :wink: With kids it's also worth knowing about all the other options as they have a habit of getting sick at the most awkward times! There is the Outpatient Clinic at the local public hospital - free, but waiting times may be very long; A & E clinics at 2 private hospitals - waiting times not as long but there is an upfront cost (which may be reimbursed if you are with certain private health funds); an after hours doctor's surgery (2 locations in Hobart - not sure about other areas of Tas.) - bulk bill, I think (ie they claim the total cost for your appointment from Medicare). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Is it more usual to register with a specific Dr here as we just registered at the group of surgeries ? We can see whoever is available. I assumed that was normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausborn Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 I think you will find it quicker Baz than the uk. In my opinion there is wayyyy to many GP practices here. Where I am in brisbane, I got at least 20 surgeries in a 5 minute drive from my house in any direction. One road has 4 on it. Things like blood tests , X-rays , scans will definitely be loads quicker. Usually same day as seeing the doctor just go close by and get it done. Doctors here you ring up and hour or two later you in seeing one or just turn up and wait to be seen. . Never understand why there is so many around here, even in the shopping centres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 My times are with bulk billing drs who I don't pay a penny to. It is in sa, but longest has been an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 My times are with bulk billing drs who I don't pay a penny to. It is in sa, but longest has been an hour. An hour to get an appointment ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Is it more usual to register with a specific Dr here as we just registered at the group of surgeries ? We can see whoever is available. I assumed that was normal. i have never heard of that in the UK (& I have live the north, south, east and Scotland and multiple places in each. You register with a practice and can only go there (though a practice may have several Dr,'s) The last Dr's I was registered at in Scotland was at a health centre and there was several practices there but you could only go to the one you were registered with. if you have an emergency away from home you can in theory see another Dr. and i(Good idea to carry yr NHS card) indeed I have. In some areas there is a real crisis with no GPs taking on new patients and there are people who are not registered with any Dr. NHS direct is very good though and in an emergency will get up a Dr appointment very quickly. A couple of high profile fails means any suggestion of an emergency and they err on the side of caution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Well thats a bonus then, we can go to 3 surgeries in our village and 2 others. i have never heard of that in the UK (& I have live the north, south, east and Scotland and multiple places in each. You register with a practice and can only go there (though a practice may have several Dr,'s) The last Dr's I was registered at in Scotland was at a health centre and there was several practices there but you could only go to the one you were registered with. if you have an emergency away from home you can in theory see another Dr. and i(Good idea to carry yr NHS card) indeed I have. In some areas there is a real crisis with no GPs taking on new patients and there are people who are not registered with any Dr. NHS direct is very good though and in an emergency will get up a Dr appointment very quickly. A couple of high profile fails means any suggestion of an emergency and they err on the side of caution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Precisely, whether you think that is a good thing or a bad thing is a matter of personal opinion - I would personally prefer my primary care provider not to be profit driven. How do you expect them to live then? Seeing as GPs in both Aus and the UK operate as private businesses, albeit differing funding models Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramac Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Well thats a bonus then, we can go to 3 surgeries in our village and 2 others. The practice I worked at had three surgeries on different sites, but was still one practice. Is that the case where you live? Most practices keep some appointments back for emergencies. Either that, or operate a system where if you need to be seen the same day you can turn up at the end of surgery and 'sit and wait'. The surgery I worked at also did home visits after morning surgery. There's an increasing number of 'walk in' surgeries now too. On the rare occasion I've not been able to get a same day appointment to suit me, I've been able to go to one of those instead. The information is then sent to my practice so any follow up care can be given there. It's a pretty good system, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Don't know about Tas but I go to an excellent surgery, always got in the same day - but they also have an out of hours surgery so you rock up a 7pm and wait and you'll be seen without an appointment - this was a god send when my son cut his head and needed it glueing and my hubby had a really nasty wound that they saw to. The also operate an out of hours (rock up clinic) on saturday and sundays, so we have access to our GP 7 days a week. To top it off they're both excellent too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Yes thats the case, they are all in the one group so there is never a problem getting in and they are only a few miles apart. The practice I worked at had three surgeries on different sites, but was still one practice. Is that the case where you live? Most practices keep some appointments back for emergencies. Either that, or operate a system where if you need to be seen the same day you can turn up at the end of surgery and 'sit and wait'. The surgery I worked at also did home visits after morning surgery. There's an increasing number of 'walk in' surgeries now too. On the rare occasion I've not been able to get a same day appointment to suit me, I've been able to go to one of those instead. The information is then sent to my practice so any follow up care can be given there. It's a pretty good system, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 How do you expect them to live then? Seeing as GPs in both Aus and the UK operate as private businesses, albeit differing funding models I assumed GP's in the UK were NHS employees, is that not the case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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