Forum Discussion
Private hospital
I get my Herceptin at a private hospital under a govt funded scheme. Today they decided my temp was too high, My BP was too high and my heart was racing too much to have treatment. They sent me to their ED on the understanding I wouldn’t need to pay. I got there and the triage nurse told me I had to fork out $420. I told her I would leave and go to the public but thank you. She asked me to stay while she spoke to the doctor and then came out and said they would do it this once but not again. I informed her I was happy to leave. At that point the doctor came out all smiles and ushered me in. The triage nurse had to have her last say and called out to me, “so you don’t have insurance at all?” Half an hour later triage nurse comes in and tells me I will have to pay for any scans. Once she left I told the dr No scans thanks. He agreed with this request. FOUR HOURS later they give me a script for a viral infection! Even the public was quicker than this. I am now tired sore and cranky not to mention really hungry as I haven’t been able to swallow. I then came home and wished my daughter a happy birthday and put dinner on. Just as well we finished making her cake last night. Okay. Rant over.
18 Replies
- I've been told that not all specialists will accept an indefinite referral, sadly. But definitely worth a try.
Something to do with lowered payment rates with medicare or the private health funds - Specialist to specialist is actually even worse. It's only 3 months. The recommendation is generally then to go to your gp for a longer lasting one. It's not actually the doctors fault. The bureaucracy that is Medicare/Department of Health makes the rules around how long a referral written by this person or that is valid for
- I think that is correct Specialist to Specialist is 6 months. The ongoing is from your GP to Specialist
I have ongoing for all specialists concerned with my Breast Cancer treatment.
Take care - @Afraser My GP offered! I'd never heard of them. She's wonderful.
- Thanks @afraser. I will ask next time I go to the GP. I've always been told that they only go for a year (or 6 months if it's specialist to specialist) but obviously not the case.
- I railed about the same thing @Sister but apparently you have to ask, no-one offers. I will have at least two referrals for life. Ah well, better to
know late rather than never. - @Sister Yes, ask your GP for an indefinite referral. I have one for my BS as he's going to be in my life for 10 years. Will get one for my oncologist as well.
- Love my ABC, if for nothing else than their exposes. You know what annoys me? Small potatoes in the scheme of things but having to keep going back to get a new referral to a specialist that I am seeing for a specified time. I get it that it's supposedly to stop specialist's from seeing patients for longer than necessary but when you know that you're going to need to see this person for at least 5 years, why on earth should you have to get a new referral every year? If that's not a bloody rort, I don't know what is.
- The Age had a write up in 2002 but nothing was done @ Zoffiel
- And they wonder why people are abandoning private cover.
On a slightly different topic, I've been watching with interest the conversation about specialist fees, particularly the insidious practice of charging 'booking fees'--sometimes in the thousands of dollars--that are not covered by insurance and don't show up on medicare claims.
Roll out another royal commission, this one looking at the behaviour of medical specialists and private hospitals. Some of the collusion, cartels and protectionist strategies in rural areas are criminal, but no-one seems too interested. Nothing to see here, these people are saving lives, how could anyone suggest they are crooked? Unfortunately it probably wont happen unless the 7.30 Report does a program on it--that seems to do the trick. I live in hope.
