Gibbo

Why jump on him because he mentioned aboriginals in his list of undesirables? We all know that there are undesirables in that group also. I too know many who have private health cover and some who have not, all very nice people, but still don't deny, and am sure they wouldn't, that there are some who are not very pleasant people.

Pollyana

Have to admit there are a lot of poms I wouldn't want to meet in A&E

Purely on a personal level I don't think it was necessary to mention aborigines, but thats just my view. And I stand by my comment that based on some views on here in the past I think there are people on here who will be surprised to hear that there are aborigines using the private health system - that wasn't aimed at the OP, it was a general comment.

northernbird

I am so sorry to hear about Mrs R, I do hope the prognosis is good and that she is on the mend. Never doubted about private health to be honest, this reason alone is the reason we have it.

chris955

Of course there are undesirables in that group, as there is in absolutely all groups. To say someone had to 'endure' Aboriginals is absurd. I detest racism and there is never any need for it. You could say that someone had to endure a succession of undesirables from all races which of course would be accurate.

renth

I'm just telling it like it is. My dead mate's wife had to endure them, which is why she needed a security guard to escort her out of the hospital at night. Maybe she's racist too?

jad n rich

Having private health cover, (your own room, shorter wait times), when you are at your most vulnerable is certainly at the top of my priorities.

However with Gillards latest plan our cover will probably go to $500 a month.

My experience with the public system has been mixed. One good stay with a child, one horrendous stay with a teen where we checked out within 24 hours of his surgery, the conditions in the room I felt were putting us at enormous risk, poor kid with stomach eating virus in next bed!!!!!!! They wouldnt move us, and as more soiled linen was hurled our way, 13 Specialists and Doctors and family, (all robed up, but not us!) the last straw, I checked him out. Horrendous.

Race totally aside, my hairdresser is aboriginal as are two employees, like all races good and bad. Anyway the public hospital locally can be very rough, as was one stay in brisbane, people I wouldnt mix with in a million years and your sharing a room with them when you are at your most vulnerable, such a bad combination. Give me private any day!!!!!!!

Also, Partner recently had a consultation private and public, no way is it the same treatment. Looks good, under the care of the same Doctor, but private he operates, public he supervises a student.

Procedure and recovery time far far better in the private system, the public system uses a much older, cheaper form of surgery. Private system, own ensuite room V public ward of 4 or 8 beds.

Renth, really sorry to read this post, and I hope you get the best possible care no matter which way you go

chris955

Unfortunately our experiences of the public system here over the years have been almost entirely negative. Operation on my knee down in Geelong, wound was still bleeding when I was discharged so they wrapped more bandages around it. It then became badly infected. Operation on my back, became infected and required readmittance. 7 year old son broke his arm and it was 26 hours before it was set, he lay on a trolley for something like 4 hours.
As a totally unrelated aside my UK experience is badly broken leg operated on in public hospital by apparently the best orthopedic surgeon in the area and he saved my foot.

Gibbo

Too often, these days, racism is assumed where in actual fact none exists. What you are saying is that events cannot be related exactly how they occurred. We all must be PC no matter how we feel at the time or how events affect us. That's never going to happen = at least I hope it doesn't!

Cheetah7

I would have rephrased it to say, Aboriginals not a problem - the behaviour of a large percentage a very big problem.

I spent the night in Freo hospital and was told to sleep with my bag due to the behaviour of the indigenous girls family in the bed next but one to me. They were scouring the ward to steal, I remember an announcement saying 'Would all nurses check the controlled drug cupboards'

They abused the staff, they sneaked in Hungry Jacks with coke and I watched them top up the cup with vodka for their heavily pregnant relative who was in bed and spit at nurses when they tried to reprimand them.

It was the longest, scariest night I have ever spent in hospital.

So no, not all Aboriginals are badly behaved but by Christ in some areas they challenge that to the max.

And I will add that goes for ANY badly behaved group in society - no tolerance, kick them out of the hospitals because the nurses and doctors are not paid enough to take that shite.

Renth, my sincere wishes to your wife and I hope she makes a good recovery, and on another note - look after yourself as well mate, this sort of thing can take its toll on you as well, so big hugs to you.

chris955

I also wouldn't say that a large percentage of them are a big problem. Like any group it is the minority that cause the problems.

koalakim

Hi Renth

Sorry to hear about the Mrs and hope she is on the road to recovery.

I've recently had to go beyond just the doctors and I have to say this health system here must cost a fortune to run! We don't have insurance (partly because we put all our money into our business) so the whole thing was totally confusing, getting bit rebates for this, another percentage for that, I know it's all computerised but it must cost the country something to run all those Medicare offices and people to work in them!

Anyway, I had to pay and get rebates for scan and specialist at which point I could have gone into the public system for the procedure but it was a few weeks wait and as it wasn't a huge amount I went private as I just needed to know. So, I can't believe I had to go and book all these things separately, anaesthetist, day bed etc and I got partial rebates on everything except the hire of the theatre and day bed. All's okay and it's good not to have this hanging over me any longer than necessary.

However, we then worked out having been here 5 years how much insurance we would have paid and how much it cost me and it was just a fraction, I have no idea obviously how much a big op would be or on going treatment but at the moment we are up. Problem is now is our age taking it out later will probably cost a small fortune!

The other interesting thing is most people looked at me a bit iffy because I didn't have insurance. Oh you're uninsured...as if I was a tramp or something!

Another interesting thing is maybe private health insurance costs so much because the health companies are charging so much more for their services? When I booked the anaesthetist she gave me the uninsured rate which apparently was a lot cheaper than the insured rate....so how much are you paying over the odds through insurance??

Our local hospital is Frankston which probably gets it's fair share of dodgy people but doesn't sound as bad a Perth!

NedKelly

Sorry to hear that Mrs R is not well, I wish her a full and speedy recovery.

I think you have just made up my mind about ending our insurance in July. You have put the fear of God into us by reminding us of a recent visit to the Gold Coast Hospital to see a friend. The wards are fine but getting to them safely is the problem, you need to be careful who you make eye contact with whilst waiting to visit. I know it will cost us another $1000 ish a year but peace of mind and a private room when you need it is a price worth paying.

Pennines49

Best wishes to your wife Renth.
Ca'nt complain about public thus far in Rockingham, but would always like to have the security of the NHS.
Ageing and illness a big worry here
Hmm

jad n rich

Also the wait on Medicare is often so long you will have to go private anyway, insurance or not, if you want it done in a reasonable time frame.

the troubadour

I don't think it was meant in a deogatory way but there are issues.
The CEO at where I previously worked was telling me his wife, a doctor was assaulted walking from her car to RPH a few months back.
He punched her in the head knocking her to the ground and took her bag.

There are certainly security issues around that hospital. The train station can be dodgy at night as well.

And here's hoping your wife has a quick recovery to such a traumatic event, Renth.