It can be a long wait in Queensland too, depending on the hospital and the area. A relative last year classified Priority 1 (the most urgent) had to wait over 6 months. A newspaper report in another town said some people were waiting several years.
I had a colonoscopy last year followed by a flexi sigmoidoscopy 3 months later, 2 weeks waiting time for each - the benefit of private health insurance.
This is one of the REAL problems in our country ... and it is NOT improving.
No matter what colour of politician we have at the helm (in State OR Federal) they do NOTHING to address the shortage of skilled staff and lack of facilities and service.
This applies equally to teachers and our ambulance services as well. Any poll taken of the population seeking opinion on rating the things that are highest on our list of priorities shows that Health and Education are in the top three always.
Surely one would think that Health and Education would be "vote winners" - and it probably is during the election campaigns. However, once they have their legs under the table (noses in the trough?) it seems to fall off the agenda - or gets piddling lip service.
Why is it that no matter how bad these services become, we keep giving these same politicians the reins and then they find BILLIONS to spend on everything else.
It not just we "old folk" who are being overlooked, all aspects of national aged-care and health is falling over - mental health is getting even less, disability perhaps may get some assistance with the new NDIS - but that is mainly focussed on existing disabilities and excludes disabilities that occur after age 65.
I am NOT looking for a debate on which colour of politician is/has been doing the best - but how can we make anyone in power realise it ? How could we make our vote actually count to improve the important things in our community
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
I have just had one done on the 22/7/14. I think I waited about 3 months from filling out the paperwork for the hospital, as a public patient, and they sent me to the new University Hospital in Kawana on the Sunshine Coast Queensland. So I think was not to bad seeing as I didn't want to have it done anyway... I'm a big sook !!!!
As a Public patient I had one recently in Brisbane and waited 6 weeks and all was fine.
I didnt realise it was as bad in other states. I realise my location was busy and just waited the 6 weeks thinking that was about normal.
As far as the RockLizard's (John) comments - i agree with you...
Poli's are all tarred with the same brush..no matter what colour....lip service to anything, to stay in power. They dont really care about any of us.
As long as they get paid...Take the descrimination of when you leave work.. your super stops and your paid out...
If you really fined out ... all the past poli's getting there super and benefits still paid...along with offices, staff, concessions on trips etc...what a joke..
Its worth millions / millions which could be paid into pensions and disabilities... without any other increases....
but what Poli is really going to cut his own benefits...it just gets worse as the years roll on. Sickening...
Since my first working days all those years ago...I have never been out of work until I retired......
So I often wonder now, I wonder if ALL the GNs voted in one direction... that would be one huge (group) of voters for them to consider...
Maybe it starts with which poli would lean towards more GN benefits. After all, like me many GNs have paid our taxes all our life and now that we come to spend any of it...
holy moly....they want to jump all over us...
Maybe its time all picked one poli in each state...and then all of us bombard him /emailed for more for an agreed list for GNs....after all we have earnt it havent we?.
Just a hopeful thought....what do you think???
Cheers
KT
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Been to Rome - Now Just Roaming... Still alot to see ...Life is too short ...
Hi folks , I did the doo doo test and went to the docs for results , had to wait 6 weeks for the colonoscopy and then return again a few weeks later to see if it was all removed . Hell of a worry at the time but Do It , it may save your life. By the way I went public
I'm on 3 yearly watch after failing the test some 6 years ago, all is good so far, and due for my next one in October, my advice, do it, get tested its a small inconvenience for a lifetime of peace.
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Greg & Shas
"Take kindly the council of the years gracefully surrendering the things of your youth"
We have always paid an arm and leg for top private health cover with CBHS. With both of us requiring regular colonoscopies (every few years or so), it's paying us back now.
No real waiting time for us. Just pick a suitable day & time a couple of weeks in advance at local Private Hospital/Specialist Center.
-- Edited by Cupie on Saturday 2nd of August 2014 09:48:50 AM
I often wonder what our health system would be like if the billions of dollars collected from tobacco and grog excise yearly was put into a slush fund for each state to draw on proportionally for hospital and equipment upgrades? Alan Jones, some time ago, said that the taxes collected from tobacco alone in NSW would pay the states health bill and more.
We are not going to stop people smoking or drinking so lets use the taxes for the benefit of all.
Just a thought.
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Cheers Peter and Sue
"If I agree with you we'll both be wrong"
No, I'm not busy, I did it right the first time.
Self-powered wheelie walker, soon a power chair (ex. Nomad)
A bit too easy for me, as it seems I can get mine done at anytime because some mates have told me that occasionally I get around with my 'head up me arse'.............
A bit too easy for me, as it seems I can get mine done at anytime because some mates have told me that occasionally I get around with my 'head up me arse'.............
I seem to remember somewhere in the distant past that The old Tattersals run by George Adams financed the public health system down south in Vic and Tas. I may be wrong,perhaps someone will remember.
I've been going to the head honcho Gastroenterologist at RBH Brisbane since 2001 for Ulcerative Colitis. Although I see him in his private clinic, I don't pay anything. That's his doing, because he knows I'm on a DSP. So I have Colonoscopies at least once a year, in the public area, and I'm in pretty quick once he's decided it needs doing again.
Totally agree with everything Rocky Lizard has said. It gets me on my soapbox too. Particularly for people who have Cancer and STILL have to wait. As some of you know, I had a BCC on my nose and because I had to wait a year, it grew and I ended up with the whole nose needing a skin graft, and even then they didn't get it all, so I then went through 6 weeks of a very high dose Radium. This wouldn't have been necessary if it'd been done quickly as my Molescan doctor had said...'this needs to be seen to right away! It's a bad one!'.
It's also cost the taxpayers a small fortune for my 6 weeks of Radium.
How could we make our vote actually count to improve the important things in our community 
