Experience of the health service in OZ (Adelaidebrits)

Just thought i'd post our experience we've had this weekend dealing with the health service....hopefully it may put some people's minds at rest, who, like us don't have private health care..

We are registered with Fountain Valley Medical centre in happy valley, who bulk bill. (still don't understand why some bulk bill and some don't...but never mind)

Jon woke up yesterday with excruiating pain in his back....was being very sick etc. I thought :sign53: what do i do?...I then remembered seeing at the medical centre, last time i was there, that they are open 7 days a week...checked on the internet and they are open sunday's from 9am until 8pm!....(actually they are open until 10pm monday to friday as well...and open on saturdays.

Anyway, phoned them up, they offered me an appointment that morning, but i explained there was no way i could get him there...he was in so much pain. So they offered me a home visit!...no charge...all bulk billed!...

The doc turned up late morning, gave him injections for the pain/sickness etc...and reckons he has kidney stones....told me that if he got worse to take him to A&E. Told me to bring him to the surgery today, he would then refer him for an ultrasound.

Phoned the ultrasound people today, (thinking it would be ages for an appointment), have him in on wednesday PM....the doc also said if kidney stones are confirmed, the most he should be waiting for treatment is 10/20 days....all thre treatment will be covered by medicare.

We mentioned about waiting lists etc in the UK...he said he knows what its like as he used to work there....he said its so much better over here...

Fortunately the pain has gone now...but we know if he takes a turn for the worse, we go straight to hospital.

So...i hope our little story puts some peoples minds at rest, about the care over here...especially for those like us who don't have private health cover.

lorraine

That's excellent service Lorraine, hope Jon is feeling much better, my Mam had kidney stones last year so I know how bad the pain is. Think the system here is much better than the Uk, I recently injured my wrist & I had an ultra sound & an x-ray a couple of days later. My Dr's are also excellent & are open from 7am until 10pm 7 days a week & they aslo bulk bill plus the ultra sound & x-ray facilities are in the same building

:D

You sure it wasn't all that jumping up and down at the TV on Saturday night watching the Hammers????!!!!!!!...seriously reckon you are spot on.I had a 1pm apt at hospital and went in to see the Doc at 1.01pm..out by 1.30pm....

Cheers

scotty

I second that, my experience of the health service so far has been really good. I'm here on an SIR 495 visa and spent a couple of days in hospital a few months ago.

When I arrived in A&E at The Royal Adelaide Hospital on North Terrace and couldn't talk because of an abscess on my throat I was taken straight in and put on a drip (no waiting at all) and spent the next couple of days being looked after extremely well.

This didn't cost me thing because I have Medicare and my other health experiences with my GP and having an MRI scan have also been first class.

So, as Lorluc says, don't worry so much about the health aspect of emigrating here to Adelaide, the service is second to none for anyone with Medicare.

Mick

I am glad he feeling better now Lorraine. My dad had some sort of stones in early 80s, the wait time for him then was 18 months :sign68:
hope it doesnt come back
sarah

Glad you have had a good experience.
Having dealt with public and private over here, we have been lucky to get only the best treatment, ditto for the UK.
jacqui

I'm glad to hear that, i had a strange dream the other night about, Crappy hospitals!!!!!!!

QUOTE (scott6 @ Sep 17 2007, 02:52 PM)

You sure it wasn't all that jumping up and down at the TV on Saturday night watching the Hammers????!!!!!!!...seriously reckon you are spot on.I had a 1pm apt at hospital and went in to see the Doc at 1.01pm..out by 1.30pm....

Cheers

scotty

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

good though wasn't it!

Great news that the treatment is so quick. Hope that he is feeling better soon. :sign03: It sounds MUCH better than the UK.

Our family have had to go private a few times in the UK as the waiting time was so long;

An Aunt who was already deaf was told that she would have to wait 3 years for a cateract operation. By which time she would be blind and deaf - so her quality of life would be terrible and she would have to go into a nursing home - which meant she had to sell her house to pay the fes. We paid for her to have the op 2 weeks later and she had another 6 years living independantly in her own home!!

My daughter was losing the sight in her right eye due to a muscle not working properly. She was told she would have to wait a year and by the time the op was done there could be permanent damage to her eyesight. We had her done privately after 3 weeks. Eyesight is now perfect.

When I was expecting my daughter, they were late calling me for my 20 week scan - it was done at 23 weeks. They found a problem which could have been a serious genetic problem with the baby, an infection which needed antibiotic treatment or nothing to worry about!! Then they said the only way to tell was an amniocentisis (SP?) but that I would have to wait 3 weeks on the NHS. If the problem was very severe I would have to have an abortion - but it would be over the legal limit at 26 weeks! I was SO stressed. We paid for a private amnio - 2 day wait and everything was fine!!! I can't imagine waiting 3 weeks, in the stressed state I was in.

Also when I was preganant they reffered me to another dept as I had a problem with my hip joint which they wanted looked at BEFORE I gave birth. I was never seen and had to have a section as they couldn't risk me giving birth without the all clear - costing the NHS thousands. The appointment came through 2 YEARS later!!!!!

So I don't think I am very worried about the Ozzie system! We are pretty much used to having to pay anyway. :doh:

Nicola

QUOTE (Gotooz @ Sep 17 2007, 06:32 PM)

Great news that the treatment is so quick. Hope that he is feeling better soon. :sign03: It sounds MUCH better than the UK.

Our family have had to go private a few times in the UK as the waiting time was so long;

An Aunt who was already deaf was told that she would have to wait 3 years for a cateract operation. By which time she would be blind and deaf - so her quality of life would be terrible and she would have to go into a nursing home - which meant she had to sell her house to pay the fes. We paid for her to have the op 2 weeks later and she had another 6 years living independantly in her own home!!

My daughter was losing the sight in her right eye due to a muscle not working properly. She was told she would have to wait a year and by the time the op was done there could be permanent damage to her eyesight. We had her done privately after 3 weeks. Eyesight is now perfect.

When I was expecting my daughter, they were late calling me for my 20 week scan - it was done at 23 weeks. They found a problem which could have been a serious genetic problem with the baby, an infection which needed antibiotic treatment or nothing to worry about!! Then they said the only way to tell was an amniocentisis (SP?) but that I would have to wait 3 weeks on the NHS. If the problem was very severe I would have to have an abortion - but it would be over the legal limit at 26 weeks! I was SO stressed. We paid for a private amnio - 2 day wait and everything was fine!!! I can't imagine waiting 3 weeks, in the stressed state I was in.

Also when I was preganant they reffered me to another dept as I had a problem with my hip joint which they wanted looked at BEFORE I gave birth. I was never seen and had to have a section as they couldn't risk me giving birth without the all clear - costing the NHS thousands. The appointment came through 2 YEARS later!!!!!

So I don't think I am very worried about the Ozzie system! We are pretty much used to having to pay anyway. :doh:

Nicola

I think you will find that the wait time for cataract/eye surgery in the Uk Is now less than 12 weeks.

Here in SA for cataract surgery it is many months for an appointment and up to 18 months for surgery and in queensland up to 3 years!!!!

Yes the Nhs had some problems but overall In my opinion the skills and training of British doctors is second to none

Here in Oz remember you have to pay for

doctors visits £10
all prescriptions even kids
kids and adult dentist costs,
ambulance charges
flu vaccinations
optician tests

Maybe if wed had to pay all of these in the uk,the service could have been even better!!!

QUOTE (Adelady&Steve @ Sep 18 2007, 05:40 PM)

QUOTE (Gotooz @ Sep 17 2007, 06:32 PM)

Great news that the treatment is so quick. Hope that he is feeling better soon. :sign03: It sounds MUCH better than the UK.

Our family have had to go private a few times in the UK as the waiting time was so long;

An Aunt who was already deaf was told that she would have to wait 3 years for a cateract operation. By which time she would be blind and deaf - so her quality of life would be terrible and she would have to go into a nursing home - which meant she had to sell her house to pay the fes. We paid for her to have the op 2 weeks later and she had another 6 years living independantly in her own home!!

My daughter was losing the sight in her right eye due to a muscle not working properly. She was told she would have to wait a year and by the time the op was done there could be permanent damage to her eyesight. We had her done privately after 3 weeks. Eyesight is now perfect.

When I was expecting my daughter, they were late calling me for my 20 week scan - it was done at 23 weeks. They found a problem which could have been a serious genetic problem with the baby, an infection which needed antibiotic treatment or nothing to worry about!! Then they said the only way to tell was an amniocentisis (SP?) but that I would have to wait 3 weeks on the NHS. If the problem was very severe I would have to have an abortion - but it would be over the legal limit at 26 weeks! I was SO stressed. We paid for a private amnio - 2 day wait and everything was fine!!! I can't imagine waiting 3 weeks, in the stressed state I was in.

Also when I was preganant they reffered me to another dept as I had a problem with my hip joint which they wanted looked at BEFORE I gave birth. I was never seen and had to have a section as they couldn't risk me giving birth without the all clear - costing the NHS thousands. The appointment came through 2 YEARS later!!!!!

So I don't think I am very worried about the Ozzie system! We are pretty much used to having to pay anyway. :doh:

Nicola

I think you will find that the wait time for cataract/eye surgery in the Uk Is now less than 12 weeks.

Here in SA for cataract surgery it is many months for an appointment and up to 18 months for surgery and in queensland up to 3 years!!!!

Yes the Nhs had some problems but overall In my opinion the skills and training of British doctors is second to none

Here in Oz remember you have to pay for

doctors visits £10
all prescriptions even kids
kids and adult dentist costs,
ambulance charges
flu vaccinations
optician tests

Maybe if wed had to pay all of these in the uk,the service could have been even better!!!

what, not happy then.

stevo.

QUOTE (Adelady&Steve @ Sep 18 2007, 05:40 PM)

QUOTE (Gotooz @ Sep 17 2007, 06:32 PM)

Great news that the treatment is so quick. Hope that he is feeling better soon. :sign03: It sounds MUCH better than the UK.

Our family have had to go private a few times in the UK as the waiting time was so long;

An Aunt who was already deaf was told that she would have to wait 3 years for a cateract operation. By which time she would be blind and deaf - so her quality of life would be terrible and she would have to go into a nursing home - which meant she had to sell her house to pay the fes. We paid for her to have the op 2 weeks later and she had another 6 years living independantly in her own home!!

My daughter was losing the sight in her right eye due to a muscle not working properly. She was told she would have to wait a year and by the time the op was done there could be permanent damage to her eyesight. We had her done privately after 3 weeks. Eyesight is now perfect.

When I was expecting my daughter, they were late calling me for my 20 week scan - it was done at 23 weeks. They found a problem which could have been a serious genetic problem with the baby, an infection which needed antibiotic treatment or nothing to worry about!! Then they said the only way to tell was an amniocentisis (SP?) but that I would have to wait 3 weeks on the NHS. If the problem was very severe I would have to have an abortion - but it would be over the legal limit at 26 weeks! I was SO stressed. We paid for a private amnio - 2 day wait and everything was fine!!! I can't imagine waiting 3 weeks, in the stressed state I was in.

Also when I was preganant they reffered me to another dept as I had a problem with my hip joint which they wanted looked at BEFORE I gave birth. I was never seen and had to have a section as they couldn't risk me giving birth without the all clear - costing the NHS thousands. The appointment came through 2 YEARS later!!!!!

So I don't think I am very worried about the Ozzie system! We are pretty much used to having to pay anyway. :doh:

Nicola

I think you will find that the wait time for cataract/eye surgery in the Uk Is now less than 12 weeks.

Here in SA for cataract surgery it is many months for an appointment and up to 18 months for surgery and in queensland up to 3 years!!!!

Yes the Nhs had some problems but overall In my opinion the skills and training of British doctors is second to none

Here in Oz remember you have to pay for

doctors visits £10
all prescriptions even kids
kids and adult dentist costs,
ambulance charges
flu vaccinations
optician tests

Maybe if wed had to pay all of these in the uk,the service could have been even better!!!

I appreciate the NHS is underfunded. I think the NHS is fantastic BUT when we needed it, it wasn't there. It's no good to us that the waiting list is now 12 weeks - when my Aunt needed her op it wasn't. Maybe the fact that people have to go private has reduced the waiting list?? I haven't mentioned that both myself and my daughter nearly died during my pregnancy due to lack of care. Serious medical issues related to previous surgery which I flagged up over and over were ignored by the midwives who did not have the relevant training to deal with my condition. I was only seen by a student Dr who hadn't heard of it either. It wasn't until I nearly died that they took me seriously and allowed me to see the consultant!! If I had gone private I would have seen the same Consultant as routine rather than because I was an 'at risk' patient and the problem would have been spotted immediately.

I accept that we will have to pay more in Oz - but I would pay anything to get appropriate medical treatment when we need it. At the moment we have to wait 4 weeks for a Dr's appointment unless it is urgent. Of course most things become urgent if left untreated for 4 weeks! Even when you actually get to see the GP, they are reluctant to prescribe anything because of the cost implications. When I was having my section I was actually told off because I needed a drug which cost £25 more than the one they normally used! I must add that this section would have been unecessary if the other Dept had seen me before the birth.

The NHS only provides flu vaccinations to people 'at risk'. We are not at risk. We could go to Asda to get them at £25 a pop!!! So no difference at all.

We are already paying for private dental treatment as we can not get an NHS dentist - they don't seem to exist anymore. My dentist took on my daughter as NHS as a special favour as we we existing clients! A local Ortodontist is currently on bail awaiting charges of defrauding the NHS by getting unqualified staff to treat the children!!!!

All these medical problems plus many others I have heard from friends have happened in the last 7 years. Before then everyone in my family has always had excellent treatment. So I have come to the conclusion that there must be something going seriously wrong with the NHS. Where is all this extra money that was pumped in??? I don't think any of the problems we have encountered are due to the staff - but due to lack of funding and efficient organisation. No wonder half the people on the emmigration sites are medics, they must be as fed up as we are.

Roll on Oz!

I think the difference here is that are you are paying for the service so you are simply getting a better service. If you have a problem here it is thoroughly checked out if you have a problem in England they see if your symptoms go away first... if not then they refer you to a specialist. This is a simplistic view and maybe just my experience... but I much prefer the service here as you are not left for months worrying whether you have something seriously wrong witn you, I don't actually mind paying and it does make you think twice about going to the doctor for something minor!!

My OH had symptoms of cervical cancer and from the initial test to being given the a ok was 18 days later. The service was superb and the total cost through the medicare system via the specialist,an operation in the modbury hospital as a private patient on the medicare system, with all the tests was $500. How good was that.

Stevo.

QUOTE (lynsteve @ Sep 19 2007, 08:51 AM)

,an operation in the modbury hospital as a private patient on the medicare system,

Sorry, I know this might make me look thick but how does a private patient be in the medicare system?

Jo

Even if you opt to see a Private consultant and are treated in a private hospital, some of the specialist's/surgeon's/anaesthetist's charges are able to be claimed from Medicare. This reduces the amount you are liable to pay for private treatment.

doctors visits £10 - never pay a cent, because our doctor bulk-bills
all prescriptions even kids - I used to pay for kids scripts in the UK ???
kids and adult dentist costs, - kids under 15 do not pay at our school's(Backwood) dental clinic
ambulance charges - we have insurance, $53 a year
flu vaccinations - I don't as I work at a school, neither do the kids
optician tests
- ummmm... we don't! you only pay for the glasses - even adults

QUOTE (steve-n-jo @ Sep 19 2007, 11:11 AM)

Sorry, I know this might make me look thick but how does a private patient be in the medicare system?

Jo

He also does day surgery in the Modbury Hospital, using their facilities etc etc, and you get charged accordingly via medicare. Complicated i know, but i think the system here cannot be faulted.

Stevo.

QUOTE (Gotooz @ Sep 18 2007, 06:58 PM)

QUOTE (Adelady&Steve @ Sep 18 2007, 05:40 PM)

QUOTE (Gotooz @ Sep 17 2007, 06:32 PM)

Great news that the treatment is so quick. Hope that he is feeling better soon. :sign03: It sounds MUCH better than the UK.

Our family have had to go private a few times in the UK as the waiting time was so long;

An Aunt who was already deaf was told that she would have to wait 3 years for a cateract operation. By which time she would be blind and deaf - so her quality of life would be terrible and she would have to go into a nursing home - which meant she had to sell her house to pay the fes. We paid for her to have the op 2 weeks later and she had another 6 years living independantly in her own home!!

My daughter was losing the sight in her right eye due to a muscle not working properly. She was told she would have to wait a year and by the time the op was done there could be permanent damage to her eyesight. We had her done privately after 3 weeks. Eyesight is now perfect.

When I was expecting my daughter, they were late calling me for my 20 week scan - it was done at 23 weeks. They found a problem which could have been a serious genetic problem with the baby, an infection which needed antibiotic treatment or nothing to worry about!! Then they said the only way to tell was an amniocentisis (SP?) but that I would have to wait 3 weeks on the NHS. If the problem was very severe I would have to have an abortion - but it would be over the legal limit at 26 weeks! I was SO stressed. We paid for a private amnio - 2 day wait and everything was fine!!! I can't imagine waiting 3 weeks, in the stressed state I was in.

Also when I was preganant they reffered me to another dept as I had a problem with my hip joint which they wanted looked at BEFORE I gave birth. I was never seen and had to have a section as they couldn't risk me giving birth without the all clear - costing the NHS thousands. The appointment came through 2 YEARS later!!!!!

So I don't think I am very worried about the Ozzie system! We are pretty much used to having to pay anyway. :doh:

Nicola

I think you will find that the wait time for cataract/eye surgery in the Uk Is now less than 12 weeks.

Here in SA for cataract surgery it is many months for an appointment and up to 18 months for surgery and in queensland up to 3 years!!!!

Yes the Nhs had some problems but overall In my opinion the skills and training of British doctors is second to none

Here in Oz remember you have to pay for

doctors visits £10
all prescriptions even kids
kids and adult dentist costs,
ambulance charges
flu vaccinations
optician tests

Maybe if wed had to pay all of these in the uk,the service could have been even better!!!

I appreciate the NHS is underfunded. I think the NHS is fantastic BUT when we needed it, it wasn't there. It's no good to us that the waiting list is now 12 weeks - when my Aunt needed her op it wasn't. Maybe the fact that people have to go private has reduced the waiting list?? I haven't mentioned that both myself and my daughter nearly died during my pregnancy due to lack of care. Serious medical issues related to previous surgery which I flagged up over and over were ignored by the midwives who did not have the relevant training to deal with my condition. I was only seen by a student Dr who hadn't heard of it either. It wasn't until I nearly died that they took me seriously and allowed me to see the consultant!! If I had gone private I would have seen the same Consultant as routine rather than because I was an 'at risk' patient and the problem would have been spotted immediately.

I accept that we will have to pay more in Oz - but I would pay anything to get appropriate medical treatment when we need it. At the moment we have to wait 4 weeks for a Dr's appointment unless it is urgent. Of course most things become urgent if left untreated for 4 weeks! Even when you actually get to see the GP, they are reluctant to prescribe anything because of the cost implications. When I was having my section I was actually told off because I needed a drug which cost £25 more than the one they normally used! I must add that this section would have been unecessary if the other Dept had seen me before the birth.

The NHS only provides flu vaccinations to people 'at risk'. We are not at risk. We could go to Asda to get them at £25 a pop!!! So no difference at all.

We are already paying for private dental treatment as we can not get an NHS dentist - they don't seem to exist anymore. My dentist took on my daughter as NHS as a special favour as we we existing clients! A local Ortodontist is currently on bail awaiting charges of defrauding the NHS by getting unqualified staff to treat the children!!!!

All these medical problems plus many others I have heard from friends have happened in the last 7 years. Before then everyone in my family has always had excellent treatment. So I have come to the conclusion that there must be something going seriously wrong with the NHS. Where is all this extra money that was pumped in??? I don't think any of the problems we have encountered are due to the staff - but due to lack of funding and efficient organisation. No wonder half the people on the emmigration sites are medics, they must be as fed up as we are.

Roll on Oz!

I have posted earlier regarding the treatment we have recieved as a family and individually in the UK and Oz. Luckily we have had only the best treatment and quickly for various reasons....however, I had to respond to this as you obviously have on a pair of 'rose tinted glasses'
Do you seriously think it is any better in Australia?, there are thousands of complaints lodged every day. There are numerous 'medical errors' 'medication errors' and problems related to the 'care' given in hospitals. It can be very expensive , and if the health funds can get out of paying they will. There are waiting lists, dependant on where you live, treatment options are dependant on where you live and the knowledge doctor.
How do I know? I work in the health service here and see how it works day in and day out. I see the good and the bad, as I did in the UK.
The biggest difference I see between the two countries is that at least in the Uk a complaint may be taken seriously, here a lot of the Doctors still have a 'God' complex and believe they are 'above' it.
I am sure that others will have differing thoughts to this, but this is my experience.
I love it here but have to say, if any of us have a serious problem there is only one hospital I would insist we are taken to, and if certain Doctors are not available I would get airlifted back to the UK!!!!!!!

Lastly, just because you pay for your consult/treatment does NOT mean you get better treatment.
jacqui

having been here nearly 17 years, numerous trips to hospital with the kids, one being born here, numerous trips to the docs and specialists etc etc, all being on the public system, we cannot praise the system enough here.

Stevo.

QUOTE (s/nurse @ Sep 20 2007, 06:45 PM)

QUOTE (Gotooz @ Sep 18 2007, 06:58 PM)

QUOTE (Adelady&Steve @ Sep 18 2007, 05:40 PM)

QUOTE (Gotooz @ Sep 17 2007, 06:32 PM)

Great news that the treatment is so quick. Hope that he is feeling better soon. :sign03: It sounds MUCH better than the UK.

Our family have had to go private a few times in the UK as the waiting time was so long;

An Aunt who was already deaf was told that she would have to wait 3 years for a cateract operation. By which time she would be blind and deaf - so her quality of life would be terrible and she would have to go into a nursing home - which meant she had to sell her house to pay the fes. We paid for her to have the op 2 weeks later and she had another 6 years living independantly in her own home!!

My daughter was losing the sight in her right eye due to a muscle not working properly. She was told she would have to wait a year and by the time the op was done there could be permanent damage to her eyesight. We had her done privately after 3 weeks. Eyesight is now perfect.

When I was expecting my daughter, they were late calling me for my 20 week scan - it was done at 23 weeks. They found a problem which could have been a serious genetic problem with the baby, an infection which needed antibiotic treatment or nothing to worry about!! Then they said the only way to tell was an amniocentisis (SP?) but that I would have to wait 3 weeks on the NHS. If the problem was very severe I would have to have an abortion - but it would be over the legal limit at 26 weeks! I was SO stressed. We paid for a private amnio - 2 day wait and everything was fine!!! I can't imagine waiting 3 weeks, in the stressed state I was in.

Also when I was preganant they reffered me to another dept as I had a problem with my hip joint which they wanted looked at BEFORE I gave birth. I was never seen and had to have a section as they couldn't risk me giving birth without the all clear - costing the NHS thousands. The appointment came through 2 YEARS later!!!!!

So I don't think I am very worried about the Ozzie system! We are pretty much used to having to pay anyway. :doh:

Nicola

I think you will find that the wait time for cataract/eye surgery in the Uk Is now less than 12 weeks.

Here in SA for cataract surgery it is many months for an appointment and up to 18 months for surgery and in queensland up to 3 years!!!!

Yes the Nhs had some problems but overall In my opinion the skills and training of British doctors is second to none

Here in Oz remember you have to pay for

doctors visits £10
all prescriptions even kids
kids and adult dentist costs,
ambulance charges
flu vaccinations
optician tests

Maybe if wed had to pay all of these in the uk,the service could have been even better!!!

I appreciate the NHS is underfunded. I think the NHS is fantastic BUT when we needed it, it wasn't there. It's no good to us that the waiting list is now 12 weeks - when my Aunt needed her op it wasn't. Maybe the fact that people have to go private has reduced the waiting list?? I haven't mentioned that both myself and my daughter nearly died during my pregnancy due to lack of care. Serious medical issues related to previous surgery which I flagged up over and over were ignored by the midwives who did not have the relevant training to deal with my condition. I was only seen by a student Dr who hadn't heard of it either. It wasn't until I nearly died that they took me seriously and allowed me to see the consultant!! If I had gone private I would have seen the same Consultant as routine rather than because I was an 'at risk' patient and the problem would have been spotted immediately.

I accept that we will have to pay more in Oz - but I would pay anything to get appropriate medical treatment when we need it. At the moment we have to wait 4 weeks for a Dr's appointment unless it is urgent. Of course most things become urgent if left untreated for 4 weeks! Even when you actually get to see the GP, they are reluctant to prescribe anything because of the cost implications. When I was having my section I was actually told off because I needed a drug which cost £25 more than the one they normally used! I must add that this section would have been unecessary if the other Dept had seen me before the birth.

The NHS only provides flu vaccinations to people 'at risk'. We are not at risk. We could go to Asda to get them at £25 a pop!!! So no difference at all.

We are already paying for private dental treatment as we can not get an NHS dentist - they don't seem to exist anymore. My dentist took on my daughter as NHS as a special favour as we we existing clients! A local Ortodontist is currently on bail awaiting charges of defrauding the NHS by getting unqualified staff to treat the children!!!!

All these medical problems plus many others I have heard from friends have happened in the last 7 years. Before then everyone in my family has always had excellent treatment. So I have come to the conclusion that there must be something going seriously wrong with the NHS. Where is all this extra money that was pumped in??? I don't think any of the problems we have encountered are due to the staff - but due to lack of funding and efficient organisation. No wonder half the people on the emmigration sites are medics, they must be as fed up as we are.

Roll on Oz!

I have posted earlier regarding the treatment we have recieved as a family and individually in the UK and Oz. Luckily we have had only the best treatment and quickly for various reasons....however, I had to respond to this as you obviously have on a pair of 'rose tinted glasses'
Do you seriously think it is any better in Australia?, there are thousands of complaints lodged every day. There are numerous 'medical errors' 'medication errors' and problems related to the 'care' given in hospitals. It can be very expensive , and if the health funds can get out of paying they will. There are waiting lists, dependant on where you live, treatment options are dependant on where you live and the knowledge doctor.
How do I know? I work in the health service here and see how it works day in and day out. I see the good and the bad, as I did in the UK.
The biggest difference I see between the two countries is that at least in the Uk a complaint may be taken seriously, here a lot of the Doctors still have a 'God' complex and believe they are 'above' it.
I am sure that others will have differing thoughts to this, but this is my experience.
I love it here but have to say, if any of us have a serious problem there is only one hospital I would insist we are taken to, and if certain Doctors are not available I would get airlifted back to the UK!!!!!!!

Lastly, just because you pay for your consult/treatment does NOT mean you get better treatment.
jacqui

couldnt agree more Jacquie

and I also have worked in the nhs for 20 years and now working in the healthcare system over here.Like you I would choose very carefully which doctor/hospital here and if I that wasnt possible then I would to elect to have surgery in the UK

Every day I see post op complications that I may have seen once or twice a year at most in the NHS.Here I see them twice a week!

Probably why the NHS system is knackered, too many people sponging off it, by just going to the UK for an op and returning to where they live.

Stevo.

QUOTE (lynsteve @ Sep 21 2007, 04:22 PM)

Probably why the NHS system is knackered, too many people sponging off it, by just going to the UK for an op and returning to where they live.

Stevo.

That will be me then ;)
jacqui

I work for the NHS and have for 18 years
We call it the InterNational Health Service
Hey-ho thats the way it is i'm afraid
All the time people can come and use the service,they will. Cant blame them
Kezza xx

I also agree with Jacqui. Last year I was taken to the Royal Adelaide. During the hour wait in A & E I have never seen so many drunks and druggies shouting and throwing up in one place even on a Saturday night in a London hospital or street! Luckily the receptionist was very helpful and advised that I would be seen before them. I was taken through to a private room due to my problem and then seen by an australian doctor straight away (impressed) until he completely messed up my hand putting a drip in as he was so heavy handed in inserting it (this isn't me being a wimp as have had this done many times in UK) . There was a wait of another hour then I was seen by an english doctor who was extremely helpful and understanding. There were several english nurses too who were helpful. The english doctor came to tell me I was being taken for a CT scan (again impressive wouldn't get it that quick in UK) she advised that she had been on shift for two days and was going home (she looked exhausted) During the CT scan I was told that I would experience a rushing then some pain. During scan thought my head was going to explode the pain was so bad. During the scan I suddenly realised there was lots of people rushing in and shouting. One doctor then asked me why I hadn't yelled out - I explained that he had told me there would be pain to which he replied not that bl***y much! By now I was terrified as everyone seemed to be panicking it was my arm they were concentrating on so I looked down to see that it didn't look like my arm it had swollen to about 8 times bigger and was rock hard. I was told this would calm down after a couple of hours. The lovely english doctor was there trying to calm me down she said she had heard and come back! What a brilliant service I had from her. The outcome was that they had to concentrate on getting my arm back to normal so that they could operate on me for my original problem. When I was still in two days later I discharged myself I'd decided I would wait for my op as wasn't sure I wanted it done there! So there is just the same amount of good and bad here as in the UK - it can happen anywhere. My op well I've heard from my old UK doctor and I'm going back to UK to have it done soon. I am not ashamed as worked for 20 years in UK and am still paying my stamps etc even though I live in Oz now! To Jacqui and the other nurse (sorry didn't get your name) your work is very much appreciated!!!!!

I went to the RAH to assess a student the other afternoon, and you are right, it is full of druggies and drunks. I have never seen so many in one place at one time. Even my local hospital in the UK on a Sat night was not that bad :ph43r:
Like I said before, there is good and bad everywhere, we just need to be aware of that and not expect things in Oz to any different to the UK.
jacqui

QUOTE (s/nurse @ Sep 22 2007, 05:08 PM)

I went to the RAH to assess a student the other afternoon, and you are right, it is full of druggies and drunks.

Were you discussing the National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse?
particularly sections 2.1 and 2.3?

It's nice, but I prefer the good old days........... article 7 of the UKCC Code of Professional Conduct...........short and sweet :)

I was admitted to Ashford Hospital on Easter Satuday with a suspected heart attack, it is a private hospital but my treatment was second to none, I`ve been in Flinders as a public patient and I couldn`t have had better treatment

My friend, last week was flown to Sydney for a Kidney transplant, she`s now in the Kingsmead hospital and doing really well, she went in for a double transplant, kidney and pancreas as she is a really bad diabetic, unfortunately the pancreas failed, but the kidney is working well.

Don`t knock the service here, when its a matter for life or death you get priority here how many DIE in the UK

and I must say you get more honesty from your GP than in England, they will sit and talk to you about problems and my doctor you can call him Terry without him being offended, its more relaxed than in the UK and anyone thats goes to a surgery in Aberfoyle Park knows I`m telling the truth, I`m not sure if I should say whazt surgery, but if you want to know just PM me

And I might add she is a PUBLIC patient

I`ll say no more
Sheila

People, don't forget what the original post from Lorluc was meant to convey.

Quote "Just thought i'd post our experience we've had this weekend dealing with the health service....hopefully it may put some people's minds at rest, who, like us don't have private health care."

I for one was under the illusion that you had to pay for most things health or medical related.

When I discovered that the health service here was on a par with the UK and the cost was minimal I was very relieved.

Mick

QUOTE (Andy @ Sep 22 2007, 04:15 PM)

Were you discussing the National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse?
particularly sections 2.1 and 2.3?

It's nice, but I prefer the good old days........... article 7 of the UKCC Code of Professional Conduct...........short and sweet :)

I have just beeen asked to sit in on the discussion group to update the competencies.........mmmmmmm can't make up my mind to do it or watch paint dry instead!!!!!
jacqui :D

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