I went public the whole way through. Diagnosed on a Friday. Surgical apointment within one week. I could have had the surgery the next week but as I was wanting a lumpectomy if at all possible. we had to keep looking for the primary tumour.
I had discovered the lump in the lymph nodes and couldn't find anything in the breast. Two mammograms and 2 ultrasounds couldn't find it. MRI finally did. Even the first core biopsy missed and I had to go for a second. So it was four weeks before surgery but that was my choice.
I found the public system was fantastic. My breast care nurse was waiting for me at every appointment at the hospital. Every appointment was followed through by her. The surgeon even rang one of his collegues to come in and do the second core biopsy so we could move along.
I was referred publically to a local private hospital as I wanted to use the scalp cooler through chemo and did my radiation there as well. They were more than happy to take a public referral. Cost to me $0.
I have had numerous conversations with people who have gone private and had to pay out thousands of dollars out of their own pocket. Some health funds class Chemo as an outpatient appointment and don't cover it. I have one friend who had to reborrow off her house to cover her Chemo treatment. No body that I have spoken to with private cover seems to have had any better care than I did and in fact in mose cases it was not as good.
The public hospitals ask to use your private health cover (they normally pay the excess for you) to raise funds for the hospital to keep providing care. Government funding just does not go to far these days.
I agree, health care should be free for all.
