What's healthcare like in Australia?

[MicheleW]

The first time we needed it after 20 years of us both being taxed for it, we were denied treatment. Probably because we weren't foreign, lesbian or smackheads, they seem to do ok out of it.

 

Wow, I certainly missed out when I was living in the UK then with 2 out of 3 of your criteria met I never received preferential treatment. :mad: Maybe I should go back and complain that I had to wait over 6 months for a specialist appointment. On second thoughts maybe not because my female partner did get great treatment from the NHS when diagnosed with cancer so maybe we did benefit from being a minority.

 

As far treatment in Australia goes, we couldn't find a doctor that bulk bills but that isn't really an issue as we are happy to pay for treatment if needed. My partner has been twice for different problems and was very impressed.

[Guest guest37336]

Fortunately I have very little to do with the hospital system in Australia, not that I'm extremely fit or healthy, just been fortunate enough to either DIY own stitches etc, or am very lucky.

 

But when I first arrived as a migrant I was gob smacked at the ability to walk into a doctors surgery and be seen the SAME day, I don't know, maybe things have changed, but it was certainly a sight for sore eyes.

 

In actual fact on being told I could be seen the same day I hyperventilated and was seen even earlier.:biglaugh:.

 

Seriously though, never had a problem with it, and speaking from my wife's perspective when she was pregnant in OZ, could not fault the service, and that was in Cairns and Perth, so in all honesty unless things have changed drastically, I am all for saying the health service in OZ has done good by me.

 

Cheers Tony.:wink:

[Nats]

Swings and roundabouts me thinks. I couldnt wait to leave the NHS behind when I came here over a year ago, (speaking from an employee perspective - given that Im a nurse) any treatment I have ever received on the NHS (including 4 surgeries) has been satisfactory, despite the hospital I attended having the worst reputation going. I prefer to take other peoples opinions with a pinch of salt until im in a position to make my own judgement. Having worked in various NHS hospitals, I feel its fair to say that some departments fair better than others within the same hospital. The same can be said of the hospitals here ... one person or many may criticise a hospital when perhaps they've just visited a underperforming department or a clinic /ward on a bad day.

 

Since coming to Aus (working within private sector) my workload has improved, but I do not see the treatments or facilities on offer as being in any way superior to the NHS. Fortunately I havent needed any medical assistance so far (touch wood) and I havent registered with any GP either, I am interested to see how the public system over here compares because, tbph - Im not overly impressed with the private situation. Yes you get seen right away (if lucky) - but the standards are no better in my opinion. But then again - that is entirely my opinion, based on the little exposure I have had so far. I have private health insurance incase I need it, but would opt for public where possible and heaven forbid - should anything serious ever happen to me, and I am in need of long term care - Im on the first plane home to the overstretched NHS.

[kernow43]

Swings and roundabouts me thinks. I couldnt wait to leave the NHS behind when I came here over a year ago, (speaking from an employee perspective - given that Im a nurse) any treatment I have ever received on the NHS (including 4 surgeries) has been satisfactory, despite the hospital I attended having the worst reputation going. I prefer to take other peoples opinions with a pinch of salt until im in a position to make my own judgement. Having worked in various NHS hospitals, I feel its fair to say that some departments fair better than others within the same hospital. The same can be said of the hospitals here ... one person or many may criticise a hospital when perhaps they've just visited a underperforming department or a clinic /ward on a bad day.

 

Since coming to Aus (working within private sector) my workload has improved, but I do not see the treatments or facilities on offer as being in any way superior to the NHS. Fortunately I havent needed any medical assistance so far (touch wood) and I havent registered with any GP either, I am interested to see how the public system over here compares because, tbph - Im not overly impressed with the private situation. Yes you get seen right away (if lucky) - but the standards are no better in my opinion. But then again - that is entirely my opinion, based on the little exposure I have had so far. I have private health insurance incase I need it, but would opt for public where possible and heaven forbid - should anything serious ever happen to me, and I am in need of long term care - Im on the first plane home to the overstretched NHS.

 

I have only ever had Public in 41 years here. I have a daughter who next week will undergo her 9th joint replacement in Melbourne[Public Hospital} nearly all within 6 weeks of seeing the specialist. I have a son who has had a brain angioma since birth, had a stroke 4 years ago, had new treatment at the Alfred in Melbourne 3 years ago, suffered a relapse 2 years ago, spent 6 weeks in neuro at Royal Brisbane, did not have to wait at all for treatment.Now is on the way to full recovery, {angioma has shrunk by 50%] Two weeks ago had an assistant to the surgeon in Melbourne came up to Brisbane solely to do an assessment on his retention and other skills. I can't have enough praise for our system. We are very fortunate & thankful for our system here. I don't think I would be on a plane back!

[fish.01]

Can't be that bad: List of countries by life expectancy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[caramac]

Having worked and been a patient in both systems I don't think they're that different in terms of care really.

I worked in a private hospital in Perth and some of the things that happened there really worried me, but I would guess I'd have the same concerns in a private hospital in the UK.

My husband works at a senior level in the public system in Melbourne and loves his job - there are things which frustrate him, but there are things in the NHS which would frustrate him too.

Our eldest daughter was very sick when she was two weeks old and spent a month in itu in Newcastle (UK). The care she (and we) received was the very best and we are eternally grateful to the people there who made a horrible experience bearable.

I had to have a heart op here in the UK. I was referred to Papworth and was seen and operated on within a few weeks with fantastic care.

My children were all born in the UK and again no complaints.

We've had a couple of not so good experiences, especially in A&E where it was complete chaos., but the staff were good humoured, kind and tried to help as much as they could, except for one dr who was rude.

The few experiences I've had in Aus have been pretty much the same - twice to A&E with children; one needed stitches, the other a had a broken arm, both dealt with efficiently and with kindness. We had a long wait in fracture clinic a week or so later, but that would be the same in the UK.

I had a minor op in Aus - waiting time about the same as the NHS.

The only difference I really noticed was the waiting time to see other health professionals. Seeing physios etc was much quicker in Aus, but we had to pay and it wasn't cheap even with top tier health cover. I have had to see one here in the UK and did wait three months before being seen, but now I'm in the system, I can just phone and go in within the week.

 

I have to say that I wouldn't want to work in the NHS right now. There's too much uncertainty and moral is very low. A friend of mine is a gp and said that she's always been very proud to be a medic, but at the moment wishes she could do anything but medicine. No gp I've spoken to wants to have charge of the budgets - they're not accountants, and worry about the amount of time it will take away from patient contact.

 

It's very sad.

[Nats]

[/color]

 

I have only ever had Public in 41 years here. I have a daughter who next week will undergo her 9th joint replacement in Melbourne[Public Hospital} nearly all within 6 weeks of seeing the specialist. I have a son who has had a brain angioma since birth, had a stroke 4 years ago, had new treatment at the Alfred in Melbourne 3 years ago, suffered a relapse 2 years ago, spent 6 weeks in neuro at Royal Brisbane, did not have to wait at all for treatment.Now is on the way to full recovery, {angioma has shrunk by 50%] Two weeks ago had an assistant to the surgeon in Melbourne came up to Brisbane solely to do an assessment on his retention and other skills. I can't have enough praise for our system. We are very fortunate & thankful for our system here. I don't think I would be on a plane back!

 

I think you may have misinterpreted what I was trying to say Kernow. Im very happy for the care your family has received, it is what should be expected and as a nurse, the kind of care I would hope all patients receive. As I said before, my experience thus far is of working in one 'private' hospital. And not wanting to slate my hospital, it provides some groundbreaking surgical procedures etc. I am not saying all healthcare in Aus is better /worse than the NHS, I cant - for I have not worked across the board either in UK or Aus. But from my experience so far, in an area (palliative care) which I am very passionate about, I was very dissapointed in the standard of care provided - more so because it was private and paid for ... if anything, I'd expect better. I had a bad taste in my mouth re the NHS when I came here, waiting times, nurse patient ratio etc, but in my experience - in all the places I worked, terminally ill patients were given the best care available. I was very disheartened to find when I came here, to a private hospital, that dying patients could be left for days without seeing their doctor, being a private hospital ... consultants, registrars, junior doctors etc are not present 24/7 unlike the public system /NHS system. So yes, if I was diagnosed with a life limiting condition I would much rather take my chances back home where I am certain that all my needs would be met and I could die; with all best intentions a pain free, dignified death. BUT ... as I have said previously, I am yet to try out the public system ... I can only hope it is similar if not better than the NHS. As for everything else, hubby and I love Aus and cant wait to start a family here.

[ali]

It must depend upon where you live because our GP only bulk bills for children and the elderly - as do all the other GP's in my area.

[Guest guest30038]

II was very disheartened to find when I came here, to a private hospital, that dying patients could be left for days without seeing their doctor, being a private hospital ...

 

 

Private hospitals aren't run for the benefit of the patients (sadly). They're a profit making organisation, and as such, that will be their priority. Don't get me wrong, this is not aimed at staff but at the whole ethos of private health care.

 

Call me a cynic (I am) :rolleyes: but although good palliative care may be a priority for staff, it is not neccessarily, for the hospital managers/shareholders..................after all, one of the mainstays of continued business (customer relations) is not relevant here. The client in palliative care is not going to provide further injections of money (profit) into the business once they've gone. With that in mind, a sound business manager (not health care professional) will "accommodate" that temporary client with as little funding as possible. Sad but likely true/highly probable................I re-iterate, the nature of private health care..............for profit, not ethics.

 

Sadly, In some public health areas, a similar ethos is arising in the public sector if you replace the word "profit" with "cost saving"

 

kev

[Guest siamsusie]

Looking at your post Nat, I found myself agreeing with you on many issues.

 

We have the top Medibank private cover and during a spell of hospitalisation recently I was transferred over to a private hospital.

 

* I found the nursing staff exceptionally willing and pleasant to deal with when you could find one!

 

* Not having access to a Dr particularly during the night was not a pleasant experience

 

* Chronically understaffed (dangerously so). It was a rare occurance to see a nurse during a shift.

 

* No ITU facilities

 

* I am not partial to all these statues of Jesus and Mary looking down on me every few metres lol

 

* These views are very much shared with friends of mine here in Tasmania which also include

medical professionals.

 

* I then requested a transfer to the General Hospital through Medicare and cannot speak highly

enough of the care and treatment I received/am receiving. Waiting times are very acceptable.

 

I now actually understand why my husband told me initially to say we were not privately insured!

Some of the excesses appear to me to be extortionate considering we have been in the system a fair number of years (OH 25 yrs or so).

 

I was under the impression that "private" would be something similiar to the Portland in London:laugh:.

I am far bettered suited to a normal hospital where I find the care and attention is far superior.

 

 

Susie x

[kernow43]

It must depend upon where you live because our GP only bulk bills for children and the elderly - as do all the other GP's in my area.

I think also Ali in our area we are not short of Doctors, far from it, so that would make it more competitive, and one way to attract patients is to bulk bill. 6-8 years ago we had no one bulk billing!

[Guest siamsusie]

I think also Ali in our area we are not short of Doctors, far from it, so that would make it more competitive, and one way to attract patients is to bulk bill. 6-8 years ago we had no one bulk billing!

 

In Karratha the standard fee was $120 to see a Dr.:mad:.. believe it or not despite being a mining town there is an element of poverty that exists amongst the community and I found the hospital was over subscribed with patients that just could not afford to go to the GP.

 

Initially I was charged as normal here in Tasmania but the same Dr now bulk bills both my husband and myself ... maybe we look poor:biggrin: but I am not complaining.

[rach28]

I think its a bit of a shock to the system.

I came here 34 weeks pregnant and didnt pay for antenatal care only scans. The maternity ward and delivery rooms where what i would expect from going private in the uk. the maternity ward has two beds to a room with an ensuite and i was the only person in my room. which i think was great compared to the uk. yes i pay $65 to see doctor and get some back on medicare but i ring in morning and can most of the time get appointment same day. kids get dental treatment free through school dentistry, if its more complicated and need to see orthodontist like my eldest then you have to pay. Also like previous if you child needs to see peadatrician they you pay but get some back on medicare. If its major then you dont pay. I was sent by gp out of hours to emergency having suspected apendercitise turned out i was having eptopic, they where fantastic i had specialist paged to come straight to the hospital and was treated straight away. I didnt have to pay anything even all my follow up care i was not charged for.

I have no problems with the healthcare4 system here its just a shock when you have to pay when yyour used to not having to pay

 

Rachael

[Guest siamsusie]

I think its a bit of a shock to the system.

I came here 34 weeks pregnant and didnt pay for antenatal care only scans. The maternity ward and delivery rooms where what i would expect from going private in the uk. the maternity ward has two beds to a room with an ensuite and i was the only person in my room. which i think was great compared to the uk. yes i pay $65 to see doctor and get some back on medicare but i ring in morning and can most of the time get appointment same day. kids get dental treatment free through school dentistry, if its more complicated and need to see orthodontist like my eldest then you have to pay. Also like previous if you child needs to see peadatrician they you pay but get some back on medicare. If its major then you dont pay. I was sent by gp out of hours to emergency having suspected apendercitise turned out i was having eptopic, they where fantastic i had specialist paged to come straight to the hospital and was treated straight away. I didnt have to pay anything even all my follow up care i was not charged for.

I have no problems with the healthcare4 system here its just a shock when you have to pay when yyour used to not having to pay

 

Rachael

 

:hug: Rachael, I hope you have recovered now.

 

In the UK we are paying NI on a PAYE system so we were paying for it through deductions, some of us through the nose.

Parting with physical cash when it comes to medical issues can be surprising at first .. but I guess its no different from the credit card perspective.

 

Susie:wubclub:

[Guest guest36762]

Can anyone tell me what the standard of healthcare is in Australia? And does the healthcare system work properly or is it based on some 1950s design as in the UK?

 

One of the reasons we're leaving the UK is to get away from the NHS. At the moment if we have any health worries we know we can get a Ryanair flight to Latvia and see the appropriate consultant (here in the UK you have to make an appointment to see a GP who won't know anything and with the latest changes to NHS budgeting will have even less inclination to refer you to a proper doctor). So how does it work in Australia if say my child is sick and needs to see a Paediatrician?

 

Are you serious?

how do you know when you need to see a specialist, or for that matter which specialist, or for that matter why Latvia? Why is their system so much better?

Aren't GP's 'proper doctors'? Surely they went to medical school too, or am I missing something?

[Guest guest36762]

I think the Aus system is pretty good overall, though there are serious gaps and inconsistencies.

For example, here in Geelong there is no means of seeing a paediatrician, dermatologist or gynaecologist other than privately in their rooms. Waiting times can be very long indeed: it takes 6 months to see a dermatologist (and that's privately-no public option), people often have to wait over a year for a hip replacement, in agony. The whole issue of who bulk bills and who doesn't is entirely at the discretion of the treating Dr. Some bulk bill everyone, some no one, others only kids, others kids and pensioners etc. Overly complicated and arbitrary.

Private medical insurance seems a bit of a rip off: you still have 'gaps' to pay.

That said many things seem to be more efficient, for example getting xrays, scans and blood tests etc is lightning fast compared to the NHS. And people aren't as hung up on having everything for free, which means there's more private enterprise, which means more competition, better service etc

 

I think if you're seriously ill in either country, you'd be well looked after, probably for free.

I'm not so sure about Latvia though!:goofy:

[Petals]

My view is who wants to see a specialist, when you have to see a specialist its getting serious.

[Paul1Perth]

How do you find these bulk billing doctors? I can't find one locally so have to pay $60 upfront then get about half of it back a couple of days later. I have a nasty suspicion that none of the doctors in my area do bulk billing.

 

So far prescriptions have been about the same as in the UK, blood tests etc are free adn the service has been about the same though I did get a lovely Low GI recipe book free.

 

I had my vasectomy done on bulk billing. Just rang around until I found a surgery who did vasectomies and bulk billed.

At the time my friend was having the same op and paid to go to another doc.

Mine was done with a local anesthetic, with two cuts. The whole time the doctor was talking me through what he was doing and telling me about how some doctors just leave the vas close together so they might heal up while he sewed it back on itself to leave a bigger gap. (too much information i hear you say).

After the op I went to the movies with my youngest son and felt OK until the anesthetic started to wear off. Last half hour of the movie was painful.

 

My friend who paid had general anesthetic and only one cut to do the operation through.

 

We were both fine but his just cost a lot.

[boganbear]

yes thats too much information. How much did that cost? did you compare scars?

[Paul1Perth]

yes thats too much information. How much did that cost? did you compare scars?

 

Mine was free, didn't cost a cent. Didn't compare scars but we were both down at the beach the following weekend up to our waists saying what a relief the cold water was.

[davlap]

How do you find these bulk billing doctors? I can't find one locally so have to pay $60 upfront then get about half of it back a couple of days later. I have a nasty suspicion that none of the doctors in my area do bulk billing.

 

So far prescriptions have been about the same as in the UK, blood tests etc are free adn the service has been about the same though I did get a lovely Low GI recipe book free.

 

If you live in Melbourne you should find bulk billing easily enough.Where do you live exactly?

I just had a whole heap of xrays, bloods, ultrasound, some on the same day I phoned. I am now on a care plan for osteoptah now and so far paid zip. For osteo I get $50 back from $65 fee (some don't charge any out of pocket)

But prescriptions - I used to get 3 months statins for 6 GBP, now pay $34 a month.

 

We are also on medibank private, but the rebate doesn't compare despite high level of extras. I would quit it, but my wife (a nurse !) wants to keep it..