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Public V Private Health Care

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  1. #1

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    Public V Private Health Care

    I had an issue that was gradually getting worse but only minor discomfort but it needed dealing with. I had put it off for too many years.

    Out of interest I got a referral to the public system. It took 15 months to see a specialist. I have been pretty busy so was happy to put the procedure off until a time I was less busy.

    As the date arrived I made an appointment with the private facility in the same hospital for the same day.

    In the morning I went to see the private facility. Arrived 10 mins before my time. Name called at the appointed time. Doctor had a look with an endoscopy stated I would need surgery but to be sure I would need an Xray and a scan. Doctor discussed the risks of general anesthetic and the procedure etc and did a hard sell on getting it done sooner rather than waiting even longer for it to get worse. The extra tests were duly arranged for the rest of the morning (less than one hour) and a 2nd consultation arranged for 3 days later.

    In the afternoon I went to the public facility. Arrived 10 mins early. Waited around 2 hours. Went in there was a doctor and 2 student doctors. Same look with an endoscope but repeated 3 times so the students could look. Doctor said I needed the exact same operation and I would be put on the waiting list. Probably around 18 months. Letter came through about a week later - 12 months.


  2. #2

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    Is it urgent? I had some procedures in the public system and I cannot remember how long, but I think I was referred to a specialist next day -- I did not have to wait. I had an issue with my ear. Fixed fast and cheap -- follow-up visits were pretty much a waste of time.


  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by MandM!:
    Is it urgent? I had some procedures in the public system and I cannot remember how long, but I think I was referred to a specialist next day -- I did not have to wait. I had an issue with my ear. Fixed fast and cheap -- follow-up visits were pretty much a waste of time.
    It was not urgent. In the end took the private option so I could decide the time of the operation. As I had the time I just wanted to compare the approach between public and private. Were the expensive additional tests and follow-up sessions by the private route necessary. Probably not.

    Twice I have been to A&E and after getting a ticket, seeing a triage nurse then an admissions doctor been on the ward in less than 30 mins from arriving. If you develop an acute illness then public hospitals are the place to be.
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  4. #4

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    It sounds like you overall had a pretty good experience with the public system for a non-urgent / non-painful issue. I'm in shock you were taken on time at the private clinic, I've had to wait 2 hours there too.

    I'm really interested that you went both ways for the same thing. I don't know if the following is true or not and if you/someone can give an answer that would be great. I heard that if you go through the private system at a public hospital, you are no longer eligible to have that same ailment treated in the standard public system. For example if you have a heart bypass in the private clinic of public hospital you can never in the future get a heart bypass done in the public system for $120/day. This doesn't affect your ability to get a kidney transplant or knee replacement or anything other than that specific ailment.

    I know this sounds odd so I was wondering if it is true or not. A completely private hospital/doctor is not related so it doesn't matter.


  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by AmRa6:
    I'm really interested that you went both ways for the same thing.
    It was just for personal interest.

    Quote Originally Posted by AmRa6:
    I'm really interested that you went both ways for the same thing. I don't know if the following is true or not and if you/someone can give an answer that would be great. I heard that if you go through the private system at a public hospital, you are no longer eligible to have that same ailment treated in the standard public system. For example if you have a heart bypass in the private clinic of public hospital you can never in the future get a heart bypass done in the public system for $120/day. This doesn't affect your ability to get a kidney transplant or knee replacement or anything other than that specific ailment.

    I know this sounds odd so I was wondering if it is true or not. A completely private hospital/doctor is not related so it doesn't matter.
    No Idea. I can imagine there should be some element of hospital liability if things go wrong and you need to go to a public hospital to get to sorted out.

    Ultimately insurance cover is not limitless so at some point if the money runs out i.e. you lose your job the public sector I hope would treat you regardless.

  6. #6

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    Original Post Deleted
    You are correct it did. Probably one of the main reasons I did it. I am sure for different types of issues experiences have been very different for other people.

  7. #7

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    Curious to know if the second doctor on the public side looked at your eHealth records and wondered why you went to the private side and you're repeating on the public side?


  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by shri:
    Curious to know if the second doctor on the public side looked at your eHealth records and wondered why you went to the private side and you're repeating on the public side?
    Yes. I told him to see how long it would take in case my insurance didn't cover a non-urgent operation. Surely it is just sensible to arrange two meetings in the same day in the same building?
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  9. #9

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    Can you also share what the cost differences were?

    In a case involving a stay by a family member about 4-5 years ago, we were told that there is no space available on the private side at Queen Mary. A call to the HA head by someone we know confirmed this.

    Yes, there were beds vacant but they were on hold for govt quota or something like that, forget the terminology used.

    In this case the costs involved would have been similar to Canossa if I recall correctly.


  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by shri:
    Can you also share what the cost differences were?

    In a case involving a stay by a family member about 4-5 years ago, we were told that there is no space available on the private side at Queen Mary. A call to the HA head by someone we know confirmed this.

    Yes, there were beds vacant but they were on hold for govt quota or something like that, forget the terminology used.

    In this case the costs involved would have been similar to Canossa if I recall correctly.
    I didn't have the operation in a public hospital.
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