Forum Discussion
Maitland Public or Private Hospitals?
Has anyone here had treatment in Maitland Private or Maitland Public Hospitals? Financial constraints are pushing me towards the Public System but we do have Private Health Insurance so could go Pri...
I had shoulder surgery at Maitland Private 12+ years ago & it was excellent.
You should be able to ask your surgeon for written quotes on both hospitals, so that you can see the actual costs - and plan for them.
I went private with my surgeon (my surgery was 2 days after I saw him!) and I knew there was a fair sized gap to pay - but he was the best & I had the best aesthetic outcome too.
(I went to Sydney for it & never regretted it.) My surgeon is the the Head of Surgery at Westmead Cancer Institute and an associate clinical professor at the University of Sydney, where he teaches.
All the best xx
I’ve been to the Maitland Private hospital a couple of times over the years and they are lovely there.
i saw my surgeon yesterday and my options are Maitland Public Hospital in 4 or 6 weeks as she only works there every second Thursday, or, Warners Bay Private Hospital next Wednesday.
My dilemma is, if I go to the public hospital, I can have my radiotherapy at a local private clinic through the public system so will be bulk billed. If I go through the private hospital, I’m then classed as a private patient, and I will be considered a private patient at the local radiotherapy clinic and the out of pocket costs will be between $600 and $3,500.
I can go to the public radiotherapy clinic and be bulk billed but it’s a 45 minute drive each way. I have several other chronic pain issues, fibromyalgia, bulging discs in my neck, spinal fusion in lumbar spine and osteoarthritis to top it all off. I will be in absolute agony just on day one let alone five days a week for however many weeks it will be.
I’m screwed whichever way I go.
SYLV1E
I had my surgery done in a private hospital (with a gap that I'd been quoted, so was aware of it - my op was 2 days after I'd seen him!) If you can 'do' next week for your op - DO IT xxThen I had my radiation in the public system at Port Macquarie. I was able to stay at their 'Rotary Lodge' for minimal cost during my 4 weeks of treatment. It was an hour+ each way, if I drove - and I seriously didn't want to do that as my husband had dementia & I couldn't leave him at home alone, so I took him with me! :)
So don't worry about switching between the two - public & private.If anyone says you can't - they are fibbing.
Have you signed up for IPTAAS yet? They have a 'culmulative kms' over a period of time too where you can claim fuel costs .... and they will also assist with accommodation costs (but not all.)
Where abouts (roughly) is the public radiotherapy clinic you might attend? THEY should be able to advise you where clients are able to stay during their treatment. xx
IF you have family and/or friends living nearby - you can even stay with THEM and also be paid 'some' accommodation costs (not as much), that you can then pass on to them as a 'thank you'.
The actual 'radiation treatment' only takes about 15mins .... sometimes the 'setting you up' might take about the same!Is it the driving that will cause you pain (with your other issues :( ) Is someone able to drive you there?
Take care & all the best xx
Thanks for your reply.
I haven’t applied for IPTAAS yet. Can I apply before I actually start the treatment?
The only public radiotherapy clinic in our area is at The Mater Hospital at Waratah and it is a 45 minute drive each way. The private clinic is only 20 minutes each way.
I wouldn’t be driving, but just passenging is enough to cause a flare-up. I normally have to carefully plan my appointments and outings so that I don’t have two days in a row so five days in a row, for that length of time, will be excruciating.
I’m also concerned about attending the Mater Hospital as they have had a major mould problem there over the last few years and there has been some deaths attributed to it.
I have respiratory issues as well so I really don’t want to go there.
I have spoken with the admin manager at the local private radiotherapy clinic and she has indicated that they can bulk bill under certain circumstances but it’s nothing that can be confirmed until after they receive a referral from my surgeon and that won’t happen until after the surgery.
I think I’m just going to have to put the next two phases of my treatment out of my head for now and just concentrate on the surgery which WILL be next week. Having to wait 4 or possibly 6 weeks is just something I don’t want to even think about.
We decided early on that we didn’t want to tell our daughters until we knew exactly what we were dealing with and had a plan. They each have their own kids now and we have an extremely neuro spicy family so reducing their anxiety is a big priority.
Now that we have a surgery date for next Wednesday, tomorrow is the day to tell them. It’s funny that I’m more worried about them coping with it as their day to day lives are already hugely intense.
Wow, sorry for prattling on so much but I do really appreciate having someone to vent to.
Thank you so much for being that person. xo
