Sassy Duck Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 (edited) I have read all these comments and just have to add a couple of things. Firstly, I can't believe people actually go to Australia not knowing that in some places it's going to be very hot for a lot of the time. Brisbane does get a few hot days during the Summer months and can be humid during that time, but the other months are lovely. Melbourne and Adelaide almost have four seasons, although Adelaide does have hotter Summers. I returned to UK after many years in Australia to be with my elderly mother, who unfortunately died suddenly at the end of 2015. I have spent the last few months sitting in a very well centrally heated modern house with a hot water bottle on my lap as I just can't get warm. Since October the days have been very dark and short and who wants to go out in the freezing cold and dark. Basically unless you want to spend every night in the pub, you just sit in an watch TV (which isn't as good as it used to be in my opinion). A friend has had her routine operation cancelled 3 times and has now been waiting almost 18 months for a definite date. There is a shortage of Doctors, the NHS is under enormous pressure to cope with the amount of patients it already has, and media reports are that people are dying in hospital corridors. Getting a Doctors appointment in my area can mean a wait of up to a week. If they can afford it, people get operations done privately because they have waited so long and are in a lot of discomfort. I still feel that wherever you decide to live, the grass is always greener. Good luck to everyone who is heading back to the UK in the near future, I sincerely hope it works out well for you, but please don't expect to always find it the same as when you left it! I didn't. Am heading back "home" to Australia this year and will be very happy when that day comes. I have to agree with you on the dark and cold and not wanting to go out or do anything when it's like that. Most people tend to hibernate over those months unless you get some crisp sunny days. Have to say though central heating is amazing!! Australian houses are awful in winter and I've got into a few "arguments" with ozzies along the lines of "but we don't need heating" to which I reply "nor do we in the summer" I've never been so cold in a house as I have in an Australia, apart from when we were kids in the uk without any heating in the house. Have to agree that the nhs is getting worse. I've always had to wait for appointment but then I think it depends on where you live. Always had to wait at least two weeks for results of tests. Was shocked in Oz when I booked a dr's appointment at 11pm and was able to get in the next morning. Sent for blood test which were done the same day and an ultrasound, which I booked and got appointment two days later. Results back in two days! Saying that the nhs is seriously overstretched and I've always received great treatment. Edited March 21, 2016 by Sassy Duck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolman Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Totally untrue, there are loads of things you can do during the winter.This past winter we went ice skating a lot, long country walks in the woods, by the river and on the beach. Went to lots of Christmas markets, went on the steam train on the north Somerset coast with beautiful scenery, went to the medieval town of Dunster for their annual Dunster by candlelight just before Xmas. Went to London to take my daughter to Winter in Wonderland, and various other National Trust places where there was always something going on. Went to explore Exmoor a lot and all the lovely villages and towns that you come across during the drive. Would have gone sledging as well if we had the snow, but unfortunately didn't this year. Went to the pub maybe once, but only because you happen to stumble upon an old and cosy pub and you want to check it out. When the weather was really bad and chucking it down with rain, there are many indoor activities you can do especially with children like art & pottery classes, libraries, childrens activities in museums where entry is free, cinemas and theatres where the choice of different plays are endless for all ages. Not to mention sport centres with their huge choice of activities if you fancy some exercise. The only time we watched TV when we wanted to and that was usually a DVD anyway, because we wanted to stay at home, cook together and watch a family movie. Now with summer coming, there are so many things to do and see and all the programmes and activities that are planned, my head is spinning... if only work didn't get in the way. Exactly. Most people are still out and about in the winter and getting on with stuff, it's just different stuff than what they do in the summer. Hardly anyone hibernates indoors, why would you when there is still so much to do ? The horrible cold dark days are few and far between especially the last few winters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disney Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I have to agree with you on the dark and cold and not wanting to go out or do anything when it's like that. Most people tend to hibernate over those months unless you get some crisp sunny days. Have to say though central heating is amazing!! Australian houses are awful in winter and I've got into a few "arguments" with ozzies along the lines of "but we don't need heating" to which I reply "nor do we in the summer" I've never been so cold in a house as I have in an Australia, apart from when we were kids in the uk without any heating in the house. Have to agree that the nhs is getting worse. I've always had to wait for appointment but then I think it depends on where you live. Always had to wait at least two weeks for results of tests. Was shocked in Oz when I booked a dr's appointment at 11pm and was able to get in the next morning. Sent for blood test which were done the same day and an ultrasound, which I booked and got appointment two days later. Results back in two days! Saying that the nhs is seriously overstretched and I've always received great treatment. I to had to have a blood test and ultra sound recently and got the results for the ultra sound the next day and the blood tests took 3 days. This was great as the standard time for results on the NHS is 14 days. But I did have to pay $213.55 for the ultra sound, I will get $83.55 back from Medicare and my private health won't cover it, not sure which I prefer? We lived in Adelaide and the waiting time for a knee arthroscopy on Medicare was 2 years, so no better than the NHS. I guess most people do have some kind of private health cover in Australia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolman Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I to had to have a blood test and ultra sound recently and got the results for the ultra sound the next day and the blood tests took 3 days. This was great as the standard time for results on the NHS is 14 days. But I did have to pay $213.55 for the ultra sound, I will get $83.55 back from Medicare and my private health won't cover it, not sure which I prefer? We lived in Adelaide and the waiting time for a knee arthroscopy on Medicare was 2 years, so no better than the NHS. I guess most people do have some kind of private health cover in Australia. Who on earth told you the standard time on the NHS was 14 days ? Lol. They took my blood start of the week and had the results end of the week. I don't think most people have some sort of private cover. Exactly right though waiting times for surgery is no different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JockinTas Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Who on earth told you the standard time on the NHS was 14 days ? Lol. They took my blood start of the week and had the results end of the week. I don't think most people have some sort of private cover. Exactly right though waiting times for surgery is no different. I had to have surgery not long after moving to Tasmania. Saw doc - had scan - had surgery 3 weeks later. Don't think that would have happened so quickly in Sydney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johndoe Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 (edited) The thing is all the same stuff is happening in Australia with the hospitals, people having operations cancelled time and time again. People dying waiting for treatment, it's all stuff I heard when we were in Australia. My by-pass was done within 7 daysand my aneurism 26 days. Your "stuff I heard" is well out of date, not that it ever was that bad from"what stuff I heard" and in fact, waiting times have decreased to a point where most surgery is completed within recommended times and it is now legislated that where surgery cannot be achieved in the laid down times under medicare, then the patient is sent to a private hospital at medicare's expense. In Australia, there are 3 national categories: Urgent (Category 1)—surgery recommended within 30 days of being added to the wait list Semi-urgent (Category 2)—surgery recommended within 90 days of being added to the wait list Non-urgent (Category 3)—surgery recommended within 365 days of being added to the wait list. Queensland records shortest elective surgery wait times in Australia Posted 15 Oct 2015, 9:53am Elective surgery wait times in Queensland are now the shortest in the country, according to an annual report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The average national wait time has held steady at 36 days for four years but the delay in Queensland dropped to 27 days over the past financial year. Between 2010–11 and 2013–14, the time within which 50% of all patients were admitted (the median waiting time) was stable at 36 days. In 2014–15, the median waiting time decreased to 35 days; it ranged from 27 days in Queensland to 55 days in Tasmania. Between 2010–11 and 2014–15, the proportion of patients who waited greater than 365 days to be admitted for their procedure decreased from 2.8% to 1.8%. The surgical specialties with the longest median waiting times in 2014–15 were Ear, nose and throat surgery, Ophthalmology, and Orthopaedic surgery (73, 70, and 64 days, respectively). Cardio-thoracic surgery had the shortest median waiting times (18 days). Coronary artery bypass graft was the procedure with the shortest median waiting time (14 days) and Septoplasty had the longest median waiting time (214 days). The median waiting time for Indigenous Australians (42 days) was higher than for other Australians (35 days). The proportion of Indigenous Australians who waited more than a year for elective surgery was higher than for other Australians (2.3% and 1.8%, respectively In February, the NHS revealed that almost 20,000 patients had their operations cancelled at the last minute in the last three months of 2014 An NHS England spokesperson said:“Waits for an NHS operation remain close to an all time low - down from a maximum wait of 18 months over a decade ago to 18 weeks now, with the average wait less than 10 weeks. That is why public satisfaction with the NHS is near to its all time high.” So if satisfaction with the NHS is near to it's all time high with an average wait of 18 weeks, I guess Australians should be ecstatic with a national waiting time of only 36 days which was in effect at the time you lived here, and Queenslanders even more so, but I guess you knew that seeing as you haven't been out of the country too long, or is it that you'd rather publish the "stuff I heard" as opposed to the actual facts. Edited March 22, 2016 by Johndoe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johndoe Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Who on earth told you the standard time on the NHS was 14 days ? Lol. They took my blood start of the week and had the results end of the week. Depends on what they're testing for doesn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolman Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I had to have surgery not long after moving to Tasmania. Saw doc - had scan - had surgery 3 weeks later. Don't think that would have happened so quickly in Sydney. No there is no way that would have happened in Sydney or probably not Brisbane either. Wait times have been coming down in both countries which is good, I'm not sure what the estimated wait times are in both countries but they have come down considerably. Both countries have health systems that are at times pushed to the limit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sassy Duck Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I to had to have a blood test and ultra sound recently and got the results for the ultra sound the next day and the blood tests took 3 days. This was great as the standard time for results on the NHS is 14 days. But I did have to pay $213.55 for the ultra sound, I will get $83.55 back from Medicare and my private health won't cover it, not sure which I prefer? We lived in Adelaide and the waiting time for a knee arthroscopy on Medicare was 2 years, so no better than the NHS. I guess most people do have some kind of private health cover in Australia.[/quote I didn't pay for any of mine as was bulk billed. I did go to docs with a knee problem in the uk and they referred me to a specialist. Think it took about 5 weeks for the appointment to come through and they sent me to a private hospital in Bath. Amazing treatment, had mri scan and xrays and got the results about 2 weeks later. I must admit I was surprised to be treated at a private hospital but was very nice to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sassy Duck Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I to had to have a blood test and ultra sound recently and got the results for the ultra sound the next day and the blood tests took 3 days. This was great as the standard time for results on the NHS is 14 days. But I did have to pay $213.55 for the ultra sound, I will get $83.55 back from Medicare and my private health won't cover it, not sure which I prefer? We lived in Adelaide and the waiting time for a knee arthroscopy on Medicare was 2 years, so no better than the NHS. I guess most people do have some kind of private health cover in Australia. I didn't pay for any of mine as was bulk billed. I did go to docs with a knee problem in the uk and they referred me to a specialist. Think it took about 5 weeks for the appointment to come through and they sent me to a private hospital in Bath. Amazing treatment, had mri scan and xrays and got the results about 2 weeks later. I must admit I was surprised to be treated at a private hospital but was very nice to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I have had good and bad health care in both countries. In Oz, I was referred by the doc for an urgent investigation - she was worried about prostate. But, the wait time was so long I had to go private (with a out of pocket expense of several hundred). On another occasion, she was concerned about something else and I was referred and was seen the same week as a public. Same GP, same hospital and even same procedure! Before we moved to Oz, I had an excellent GP. Then, changed when we moved house and the new one was useless - I would have been better off getting a diagnosis from next doors cat. I believe he was later struck off. Not surprised as he was permanently stoned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunbury61 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Why don't you and OH stay in England forever? Why are you coming back to live eventually when you would rather be back in the UK? Could it possibly be the grandkids in oz ....and was that part of the sea with her husband ,hats my guess . And good on him for stepping up to the plate . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disney Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Who on earth told you the standard time on the NHS was 14 days ? Lol. They took my blood start of the week and had the results end of the week. I don't think most people have some sort of private cover. Exactly right though waiting times for surgery is no different. I worked for the NHS for 20 years :huh: unless it's urgent GP's normally saw 14 days. That was 3 years ago maybe that has changed now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gbye grey sky Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I worked for the NHS for 20 years :huh: unless it's urgent GP's normally saw 14 days. That was 3 years ago maybe that has changed now? It does seem variable. Our local doctor surgery in Surrey would always give a same-day appointment when you rang in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disney Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 It does seem variable. Our local doctor surgery in Surrey would always give a same-day appointment when you rang in the morning. sorry I meant wait for results, not to see the doctor. I have never waited that long to see the doctor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JockinTas Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 No there is no way that would have happened in Sydney or probably not Brisbane either. Wait times have been coming down in both countries which is good, I'm not sure what the estimated wait times are in both countries but they have come down considerably. Both countries have health systems that are at times pushed to the limit. It probably depends on where you live in both countries. Maybe large cities have the longer waiting times. My neighbour here was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was flown to Hobart for op and treatment immediately all on Medicare. Follow up treatment was in a local hospital. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolman Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 (edited) I worked for the NHS for 20 years :huh: unless it's urgent GP's normally saw 14 days. That was 3 years ago maybe that has changed now? We have never had to wait even close to that for any results, that is just ridiculous. As I said mine were 3 days and they were in just routine. Edited March 23, 2016 by bristolman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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