sormesher

hi there,
without too many details i have just spent 4 days in hospital with expected burst appendix but they found a 9cm cyst instead. they packed me off and said that i will be put on the waiting list. i really would like to get it sorted what should i do when i get to australia next week?
thanks

tony4563

Had they suspected a burst appendix, they would have operated immediately due to the threat of septacaemia from the pus and crap entering your abdominal cavity.

Surely an ultrasound or CT scan (which you should have had) will have shown this cyst earlier?

I'd have it done first before you leave personally and try and claimon the insurance

Ozzidoc

Many people have asymptomatic ovarian cysts. CT scans are done for symptoms (and staging - another kettle of fish ).

If the OP had no/few previous symptoms, then the scanning undertaken at the recent admission would have been her first.

tony4563

Well can't argue with the doc

It must be the policy here where I work. There always seems to be a query appendix going to scan ...just as you've finished your last patient at 3am

Ozzidoc

No no, feel free to argue I'm actually not very good at arguing


I assumed from the OP's post that she'd had a scan, which showed an 8cm cyst.

quoll

I'd suggest getting a letter from the people who made the diagnosis. Then registering for medicare when you arrive here (just rockup to the Medicare shop in your nearest big shopping centre usually). Then find yourself a GP - and it doesnt have to be a bulk billing GP, just find one that you can relate to - and explain the story and see where they go from there. They will refer you to a gynaecologist who will fit you in when they have a vacancy - around here that could be anything from 3 days to 3 months but it depends on the urgency with which your GP presents the case.

As it is a pre-existing condition you wont be able to get it covered on private health insurance so you will be at the mercy of the public hospital system with however long a waitlist you are prioritized for, if you require surgery.

tony4563

just out of interest.. how long roughly do you need to wait for surgery in an ozzie public hospital compared to UK?

jad n rich

Firstly it will vary by state, secondly by how urgent the operation is. Other factors will also influence, budgets, beds, random factors like qld surgeons recently being required to take all paid leave....

My partner needed a eye ( sun damage ) operation, the wait on medicare was several years, and funding for some eye surgery has just been cut again, however with private insurance and some out of pocket costs it was done in 6weeks. My son needed surgery when aged 11, ENT related, the wait was estimated to be 18 - 34 months, however bleeding started and he was seen and operated on within 2 weeks, on medicare. I needed minor gyno stuff, I know the wait on public was 2 years, as I have friend on wait list. However with $2000 (most of it refunded by private health) I was seen the next week for day surgery.

Heart attacks, car accidents etc, like anywhere you go to emergency and get the immediate care, however follow up operations from that problem you may go back on a wait list.

About half the population in OZ has private health insurance, and a lot of people who dont, often pay for private surgery if the wait lists are too long.

SillyOldBag

My husband has been on a waiting list for knee surgery for nearly 4 years now up here in QLD. I think he may have fallen off the list somewhere along the line.

sormesher

hi there,
thanks for the messages they have been a real help.
i have a copy of the scan results and will just find a doc the day i get there to get on that illusive list.
i couldnt beleive myself that the docs suspected a burst appendix and then said nature had taken its course and that it was all okay now, i did think to question the poison side of things but didnt push them, maybe i should.
i was interested to hear that i wont be able to get it done on private as it is a pre existing condition, and i hope i wont have to wait 4 years either. that would be a nightmare.
well it will be a good introduction to the oz health care system and maybe at the end of it i may be one of the lucky ones who will understand it a bit.
thanks again

fish.01

Here's some stats on the oz side of things:

Queensland Total (Elective Surgery)
-----------------------------------
Admissions: 107,623
Median Wait: 27 days
Overdue/Extended Wait: 16,430
Seen within recommended time: 85%
Waiting more than 1 year: 2.3%

Australia Total (Elective Surgery - Gynaecology)
------------------------------------------------
Admissions: 74,059
Waiting more than 1 year: 1.1%
Median Wait: 31 days

tony4563

Good luck and hope you are sorted soon

DadAgain

...and just to complicate matters there are lots and lots of people who have private health insurance (for tax reasons) but cannot afford to be a private patient - since the insurance EVEN AT HIGHEST LEVELS OF COVER will not cover your costs and simple treatments (with associated consultations and post-operative follow up) can end up with a bill in the $1000's.

If your need is great then public health in Australia is generally very good and you'll end up with a $0 bill. (If, of course your condition is not life threatening and not deemed an emergency then all kinds of other factors come in to play and you might have a bit of a wait)

jad n rich

Sounds great, would love to find a median hospital then

Certainly nothing like the wait times quoted by the royal childrens bris or the general at namb on the sunshine coast.

It shows real life V a stat is a very different thing.

Of course should add, I bet that is the waiting time AFTER you have seen the specialist, the wait time to see a public hospital specialist can be a major delay ( years as I said ) if your problem is not urgent.

Scotty1

have pm'ed you