Question about private/public for a friend

Hi there @sister. I’m in qld and my breast surgeon works public and private and I saw him initially at his private clinic when I was first diagnosed with bc then he was able to put me on his public list for my mastectomy to my affected left side and I had my surgery two weeks after that. I also took my right boob off as a prophylaxis and I went in as a private patient in the public system and had the same surgeon again. If the surgeon sees private and public patients she can definately see him privately initially then he can put her on his list in the public system or alternatively her GP can do a detailed referal  directly to him in the public system as well. Just make sure he words it to say thats who she wants to see . The GP can also speak to the surgeon directly to make sure he’s aware of it as well. I work in a GP clinic so I  can be done. I would assume the same can happen in SA. My referal for my reconstructive surgeon in the public system (Royal brisbane)  was addressed directly to dr Matthew peters and I’ll be waiting forever to see him but I will be seeing him unless thIngs change for some reason. Hope this helps. Margie  xxx

Whilst I love my surgeon Dr Kollias I believe Melissa Bochner who is the other surgeon at tbe RAH is also very very experienced and has a good reputation.

Her profile.
http://adelaidethyroid.com.au/the-surgeons/dr-melissa-bochner-mb-bs-ms-fracs/

Public all the way! Never had anything but the best and no out of pocket expenses.

Thanks all!

@Sister you may find the Cancer Council Vic publication called Cancer care and your rights helpful to look at. It can be downloaded or ordered via the website & has practical information about navigating the health care system and public/private sectors. I highly recommend it. 
Rosie

@Sister Melissa Bochner also works at the RAH and is spoken of very highly too.

I went through the Breast Cancer Institute in Westmead as a public patient... I was sent by GP to Dr Elizabeth Elder at the institute she has a team under her. I am very happy with the way I was treated and all subsequent follow ups. I have my last appointment 5 and 1/2 yrs out in a few weeks.

Yes, @Sister
The surgeon can put her on his public list but on the day the hospital can over-ride this if it is a teaching hospital.  He would still be in the room but as the ''teacher''.  It is a question she should ask of him.

I don’t think there is any harm in asking the question. I saw my oncologist privately for the first consult. I then decided to attend chemo as a public patient. My oncologist is the director of the region and arranged this. My reviews are with him strictly. I see the rotating junior doctor weekly (on paclitaxol). He is only a phone call away for any trouble shooting. 

For my surgery, I was a private patient. I paid the gap. Couldn’t be happier. My surgeon is the “project manager”. She co ordinates my treatment in the back ground. 

My radiation oncologist is private but bulk bills. 

Im not sure how surgeons would work publicly. You can only ask the question.
x

She can certainly give it a go, she has nothing to lose. I'm a public surgical patient at Peter Mac and alternate between two surgeons. They both have minions attached who seem to handle all the boring follow up stuff but I can see the head honchos when things turn to shit.