Re: How to get a GP
 

I have a lovely GP - Mr PP and I both go to them, excellent surgery and facilities. And I have a GP for when I am working in the city.

Re: How to get a GP
 

I'm not sure how that all works, but it hasn't seemed to be a problem so far, after quite some years.

Re: How to get a GP
 

Yes, it does. You need to keep your wits about you, remembering which GP ordered which test, what the result was, etc. The Australian system allows individuals more choice, but it can also be abused in terms of drugs used illicitly and tests being carried out several times unnecessarily. It can also lead to poly-pharmacy situations happening, with interactions between drugs not being picked up if one GP prescribes one thing and a 2nd GP another and the patient doesn't tell them. There is a movement towards electronic health records to prevent this type of thing happening.

If an illness develops, useful records might be held by a GP and not accessed by the other, or by a hospital. When it comes to kids, it seems even more important to keep to one GP, although I have used one near the school when getting a treatment for a school injury, or when I can't get an appointment soon enough at the regular GP. The other GP is nearer home for the usual stuff. You can fill in a form to have your records transferred to another GP, if you find one you prefer.

Re: How to get a GP
 

Or, like us, you have 2 out of 3 kids, who have to see a peadiatrician reguarly, along with OT's and Physios etc......so yes to spend $30 each time I need a script for yet another ear/ chest infection is just tips it over the edge.... And Quoll the safety net seems a looong way off when you only earn a few K over the limit for getting a concession card. Last week I had a Drs visit, 3 lots of Anti b's to get, a new referal (as after 12 months the old one runs out, what a friggin rort!) and my sons monthly controlled prescription.....BEACAUSE of BB it only cost me $79...without it, I dread to think. Oh and then the monthly review with the pead costs $110 and I get $70 back from medicare....

The fact that for kids in the UK this would have all been free does gall and I dont see why all Drs dont just BB....$50 odd bucks for 5 mins isnt such a bad return surely?

To the OP, hope you feel better soon :)

Re: How to get a GP
 

Shame you can't find a good GP who bulks bills kids. :( There's lots around here. Btw, surely a private paed wouldn't be free in the uk?

Re: How to get a GP
 

I have :) (I was pointing out that IF I didnt the cost would be astronomic!)Hes fantastic :thumbsup: No, i would imagine a private paed wouldnt be free, but this paed (who is excellent) isnt private either...she was seeing my older son (aspergers) and when my younger son was transfered (as a premie) from city hospital to local she was on duty that day, apparently you get the one doing the hospital rounds that day. It was great news for me :thumbsup:

Re: How to get a GP
 

Almost 80% of gp visits are free Australia wide so most should be able to find a free child gp if financially necessary.

:confused: If they are treating your child as a public hospital outpatient why does it cost anything? It should be free - just like the nhs.

Re: How to get a GP
 

I have no idea.....maybe its because you go to their rooms?.... When my hubby was out of work and we had a blue concession card, it was free then, but now we pay....even though my son has a HCC? Seems crazy to me? That said any surgical referals from the paed are free...tonsils adenoids, ear ops....

But its SO confusing. Hubby sees his neuro surgeon once a year. He was on call (I think they all must do some pro bono work??) the night hubby was taken ill and he was rushed in to do the emergency op. This guy is a very succesful private surgeon....but because he operated on my hubby as an emergency public patient ( a few times) hubby is now his patient forever, but because he went in as public, he never pays, not even for th anual MRI. There was another guy who had an anyerysm (sp) at the same time and used his private insurance, we bumped into and he goes to The Neuros rooms for his check up each year and of course pays....The system is so glitchy its ridiculous! Its enough to mke me need neuro surgery!

Re: How to get a GP
 

I have, as I said, but the script costs were $79....non PBS ear drops, 2 lots of anti B's and a monthly controlled prescription. My whole point was that someone said that surely $30 out of pocket to see the GP isnt that bad? Maybe that is true if your kids are normal :eek: Or if you are not allergic to everything that moves...and find more things each month yadda yadda...

My gripe is that medicare pay what? $50 per visit? I just dont see why that isnt enough for a GP for a 5 to 10 min visit...why do they need to charge more? I just dont get it....

Re: How to get a GP
 

This is how I understand it - any corrections from the experts welcome:

If you go to a public hospital to see a specialist as a public outpatient it is free - same as nhs.

If you go to a private hospital or see a specialist in their private practice - which can be situated anywhere including on the grounds of a public hospital -you pay.

Even if you do go private the Medicare system gives you some money back.

Because medicare gives you money back even when you see a private specialist many assume this is the public system. It's not. If you want to see a public specialist you ask your gp for a referral to a public specialist at a public hospital.

Simple huh ;)

Re: How to get a GP
 

Yeah...simple...:eek:

But doesnt explain the paed does it?

Re: How to get a GP
 

I agree. If I had to go all the time I would use a free one too.

Most do accept scheduled fee for kids but I guess some don't feel the standard 15 min consultation fee is enough to cover their staff costs, overheads etc. Couldn't tell you who is right but I'm pretty sure the fee hasn't kept pace with inflation over the years so gp's have probably already covered some of the increases.

Re: How to get a GP
 

Maybe :) The Drs who only have a couple of Gps probably find it harder. The more Gps the more the revenue I guess. Do you think they get kick backs for referals to private specialists? Just something I wonder...randomly...to myself...:o

Re: How to get a GP
 

Not really. Did she treat your son in public hospital and then you made a follow-up appointment with her private practice intead of as a public outpatient without realising? Many specialists do both. I'm only guessing at the circumstances. I wish we had experts reading who could tell us 100%. are you in vic?

Re: How to get a GP
 

Your DR can send you to a specialist in a Private Hospital and put Bulk Bill on the referral.
Re PBS and non PBS scripts , there is a lot of price difference if you shop by generic brands


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