I'm constantly surprised by the number of people who hit the road with chronic health conditions, when the excrement hits they fan expect the system to take care of them.
Wonder what percentage are covered by private health insurance.
Annual beat up news story. These things always appear around this time of the year. Nomads all gone home and first cyclone hasn't arrived so a very slow news week.
If people were permitted to retire earlier rather than later, then they could do the Big Lap in a healthier state. Should these selfish people, who worked all their lives and are now trying to enjoy whatever time they have left, just stay at home and croak quietly?
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"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."
Even if it's true surely all these emergency treatments help with the economy and certainly help with their argument to governments that the towns need much improved facilities for EVERYBODY.
Young ''adventurers'' getting lost in the bush or quite often getting injured doing risky, dangerous, adrenalin pumping activities are a drain on rescue & medical services. What about them, or is it just us ''old farts'' that are the problem? Tell ém to go & find another target!
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Cheers Desert Dweller.
Our land abounds in Natures gifts. Of beauty rich and rare.
If people were permitted to retire earlier rather than later, then they could do the Big Lap in a healthier state. Should these selfish people, who worked all their lives and are now trying to enjoy whatever time they have left, just stay at home and croak quietly?
I'm with you mate,I'm not even 60 yet and a life time of plumbing in my own business workin for peanuts ( thata what ya get workin for yourself believe me...!!!) and my quality of life is down the dunnie...!!!
Love the fat gutted pollies in their AC offices who say work till youre 70 gumby so ya can pay my super ha ha ha ...
I've lived and worked in Broome during the wet season, and my caravan park literally had 4 vans remaining, all the smart people left lol.
The humidity is oppressive beyond belief, and I wonder how I survived it without air con.
A few weeks ago, as part of my 2 week cruise, I dropped in for a day, and I nearly died with the unbearable heat, I couldn't wait to rush back to the ship.
I can't imagine oldies hanging around for too long getting sick, it's either hot or stinking hot, and very expensive. Cheers Lesley
I'm hearin' ya vik. Other than pollies, we all have to wait till 60 ( working 40+ years paying taxes) before we can get our super & then this is what is published.
It's not just Grey Nomads with medical conditions with problems in the back blocks. Many Victorians from major cities (Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat etc.) decide retiring to a cabin park or downsizing along the Murray somewhere is a good idea until they have their first medical emergency. Which is why some towns that do have good aged medical facilities are getting nicknamed "God's Waiting Room". Business in booming in these towns.
Why is it most expect to have all conceivable medical service available at their beg and call Live is a game just like Russian roulette and no matter how close or how good the emergency facilities are when it's time then it's all over red rover I agree if you have a chronic medical condition then before you hit the road plan your trip to loop passed places that have the facilities you may need, remembering that the remote area facilities can't do it all and once your stabilized you may need to be transported elsewhere. I have no sympathy for those who don't have appropriate medical cover to cover transferrers to major facilities then when on the road to recovery whinge about the cost to save their lives. Even if you find yourself with a bill of a few thousand $ this is only a fraction of what it really cost the tax payer to save you . Nothing is free in life regardless of how much we thinkwe have paid in over our working career, that tax dollar doesn't go all that far when you consider what else other than health it has to cover .
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First point is that this is old news, more than a year old and was the subject of extensive discussion when it was first released. Second point, if people have a chronic health condition there is a medical system established to deal with that and it doesn't matter where they need the medical assistance whether it be a bricks and mortar home base or a caravan park up the road or a road side stop in another state the health care system will provide the necessary treatment and care or are you suggesting that only those with a clean bill of health from a medical professional should be allowed to travel?
Similarly with private health insurance, are you suggesting that only those with private health insurance be permitted to travel across the country? Bloody ridiculous.
Good comment D&D. I am amazed that it took 15 posts to get any real sense. It was my belief that we had a National Health System here, at least that is what I thought I was contributing to for years. Are all getting cranky old men (& others) as we age or does our sphere of complaint narrow as we age.
I have been a member of this forum & followed it for years while making few comments, I just couldn't let this pass.I doubt that anyone goes to Broome with the intention of availing serious medical treatment. I would think Broome's medical capabilities may be limited at best.
PS; After being on the road nearly 7 years I have twice had need to avail myself of our medical services for probable life saving treatment, on both the western state and an eastern state. Both unplanned and neither pre-existing. May I suggest we get a grip and find something more pertinent to complain about. God only knows when any of us may require His help as well as that of local medical officers.
terry
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Chris & Terry
3.2lt 4 x 4 Mazda BT 50, single cab chas with full alloy canopy
Maybe we need to start a Grey nomad Funeral Service to take the strain off local Funeral service , Maybe buy a motor home for funeral home and tow a crematorium behind it , I could offer Funeral plans .
Look - the problem is the drive to Broome - it is all uphill from Perth ... just look at a map.
As also stated in the article, it is that drive from southern States to Cairns that is also a problem.
And those hard drives have been identified by the doctor quoted in the story -
So, there ya have it
Mr Turnbull, the popular saviour of the Australian population, economy, climate, education and health, needs to be innovative and agile and pass legislation that disallows anyone over 60 years of age from ANY travelling from south to north due to the arduousness of the journey. I would assume the Greens and Labor would also see the political wisdom of ensuring the Grey Army are saved from themselves in readiness for the election next year.
GEEZ - everyone knows how much harder it is to drive a 4x4 and van if heading to Broome or Cairns than driving the same outfit from Melbourne to Adelaide.
Problem solved
cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Sunday 13th of December 2015 08:59:19 AM
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Maybe Quota system to visit these places , You visit Centrelink and apply for a permit to travel to an area , Then they could control the numbers , If you are self funded and have private health you don't need to seek a permit , But you must have a funeral plan .
Live like there is no tomorrow - but be careful. Take care and plan ahead.
Private Medical & self funded retiree is of not much use if there are no or limited facilities in the first place.
If you crash or get a rented 4WD bogged in the outback, you are still in the same amount of trouble as if it was your own. Just cos it's not yours, doesn't mean you do not have to take care (don't drive it like you stole it).
Getting out for a pee behind a bush on a major highway and falling base over apex due to a rabbit hole and knocking ones self out, or tearing yourself on a rusty barbed wire fence could be very dangerous too.
Got a $7,000 helicopter ride out of a remote area a few years ago. It was a TAC funded trip as I'd fallen of a motorbike. Hasn't put me off going out again.
It's a case of if you want to do it, JFDI.
I've just come back from visiting my 91 year old mum in a nursing home. Her legs unexpectedly stopped working today. I'm going to play up until that happens to me.
No doubt the reporters and those interviewed have yet to reach the mature age of 40 yet and are intolerant of older people. As some like Dave have pointed out - you need hospital care no matter where you live - in Broome or a capital city if you fall ill or are injured. If you have private health insurance, in smaller towns you will be treated in hospitals the same was as a public patient and occupy a bed or staff time in no different way. All that happens is the public health dept should (and because many are incompetent) bill your insurer for your public bed and treatment. There was a yet another scandal with the WA health dept (they have one at least once a month like putting patients in gyms or not sterilizing operating instruments) about a year ago where they were not charging the health insurers as required
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
A reminder for people who find themselves in trouble in the outback. The RFDS will fly you to the nearest/most suitable hospital in an emergency.
It is your responsibility to get yourself or your partner back.
I was camped beside a bloke on the Thomson River in South Western Qld. last May whose wife was flown out with a serious (obviously) illness.
He sat & waited & made her her train & bus back to nearby even though she was in need of a serious operation.
He expected the RFDS to bring her back.
I did suggest he could hook up the van & get to Rocky within a day if he wanted to be with her. Not an option apparently?
