NZ Health Care
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Location: Wellington
Posts: 122
NZ Health Care
I have recently been looked after by Wellington hospital I had eye surgery all happened very quickly taken in a day after being seen by the specialist and I'm on the mend.
I wanted to say how impressed I was by the quality of care I received and how I was looked after before and after. I was in over night and found everyone was very helpful, polite and great to deal with. I must say I actually only spoke to one kiwi all the others were from overseas, lots of Irish.
I wondered if anyone else had had a good or bad experience, from what I hear you should go private etc etc but if this is the standard of care we receive I'll save my money for better things, like the GST increase but that's another thread for another time.
I wanted to say how impressed I was by the quality of care I received and how I was looked after before and after. I was in over night and found everyone was very helpful, polite and great to deal with. I must say I actually only spoke to one kiwi all the others were from overseas, lots of Irish.
I wondered if anyone else had had a good or bad experience, from what I hear you should go private etc etc but if this is the standard of care we receive I'll save my money for better things, like the GST increase but that's another thread for another time.
#2
Re: NZ Health Care
I have recently been looked after by Wellington hospital I had eye surgery all happened very quickly taken in a day after being seen by the specialist and I'm on the mend.
I wanted to say how impressed I was by the quality of care I received and how I was looked after before and after. I was in over night and found everyone was very helpful, polite and great to deal with. I must say I actually only spoke to one kiwi all the others were from overseas, lots of Irish.
I wondered if anyone else had had a good or bad experience, from what I hear you should go private etc etc but if this is the standard of care we receive I'll save my money for better things, like the GST increase but that's another thread for another time.
I wanted to say how impressed I was by the quality of care I received and how I was looked after before and after. I was in over night and found everyone was very helpful, polite and great to deal with. I must say I actually only spoke to one kiwi all the others were from overseas, lots of Irish.
I wondered if anyone else had had a good or bad experience, from what I hear you should go private etc etc but if this is the standard of care we receive I'll save my money for better things, like the GST increase but that's another thread for another time.
#3
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Location: Wellington
Posts: 122
Re: NZ Health Care
All I ever hear about is how poor the level of care here is and that you must go private and the waiting lists are terrible so nice to hear more good stories.
#4
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Kapiti Coast, Wellington
Posts: 704
Re: NZ Health Care
My daughter broke her elbow a couple of weeks ago at school and has received EXCELLENT care (but not free!)
I took her straight to the local health centre (docs) as there is no hospital nearby. She was seen by a doctor within 10 mins. She was then sent to Paraparumu for an x-ray. They were due to shut at 4pm but were called and stayed open so we could get there. We then returned to Waikanae and she was plastered up there and then.
The following day we had to go to Wellington hospital (which seemed very clean), again were seen by the orthopedic registrar within 15 mins, replastered and sent away again. 2 weeks later we returned, waited no more than 5 mins for an xray and 10 mins to see the doc again.
All in all an EXCELLENT service, only fault - trying to find a space in Wellington hospital underground carpark! And I didn't mind paying the $70 to see the doc/xray if this is the level of service we get in NZ.
I took her straight to the local health centre (docs) as there is no hospital nearby. She was seen by a doctor within 10 mins. She was then sent to Paraparumu for an x-ray. They were due to shut at 4pm but were called and stayed open so we could get there. We then returned to Waikanae and she was plastered up there and then.
The following day we had to go to Wellington hospital (which seemed very clean), again were seen by the orthopedic registrar within 15 mins, replastered and sent away again. 2 weeks later we returned, waited no more than 5 mins for an xray and 10 mins to see the doc again.
All in all an EXCELLENT service, only fault - trying to find a space in Wellington hospital underground carpark! And I didn't mind paying the $70 to see the doc/xray if this is the level of service we get in NZ.
#7
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Kapiti Coast, Wellington
Posts: 704
Re: NZ Health Care
How does a broken elbow justify an ambulance? In my opinion that's just wasting resources. Given that it takes us an hour to drive to Wellington hospital and then we would have sat in emergency for how long before being seen......
She had already sat at school all afternoon with it broken, and was then crying at every bump in the road just going to xray at Paraparaumu, so was hardly in a fit state to then be driven into Wellington and waiting, so being seen locally within a few mins was worth every cent.
She had already sat at school all afternoon with it broken, and was then crying at every bump in the road just going to xray at Paraparaumu, so was hardly in a fit state to then be driven into Wellington and waiting, so being seen locally within a few mins was worth every cent.
#8
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: homeless
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Re: NZ Health Care
I have regular app with specialists at Welly hospital every year (at least two times a year), and when I have an appointment, (as long as I can walk) I always catch a bus - cos I know parking is nitemare not to mention so expensive. - thats what I normally do. otherwise, I call ambulance - a critically sick case. sounds little funny but I do have (at least) a or two trips to emergency room every year - even happened while on holiday in Auckland... anyway I've got noone take me to the hospital even when I am critically sick - but I do not call my dear Brit mates at 3.00 A.M for example. I just don't. however, if I _am able to_ manage to call taxi then I call taxi as I try not to bother busy ambulance crews.
Last edited by crap coffee; May 20th 2010 at 2:39 am.
#9
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Kapiti Coast, Wellington
Posts: 704
Re: NZ Health Care
“hhmmm....I use public transports... either ambulance........”
That was exactly my point in my last post….a broken elbow is not a “critically sick case” so an ambulance shouldn’t be used.
Public transport from here on the Kapiti coast involves driving to Paraparaumu anyway, catching a train, transferring onto a bus to the hospital and back again – with a child with a broken elbow (and younger sibling in tow), I think not….and a taxi from here to Wellington and back would be way more than $70.
All in all back to my first point, I paid my $70 happily to receive a fast, efficient, excellent, LOCAL service and would do so again.
That was exactly my point in my last post….a broken elbow is not a “critically sick case” so an ambulance shouldn’t be used.
Public transport from here on the Kapiti coast involves driving to Paraparaumu anyway, catching a train, transferring onto a bus to the hospital and back again – with a child with a broken elbow (and younger sibling in tow), I think not….and a taxi from here to Wellington and back would be way more than $70.
All in all back to my first point, I paid my $70 happily to receive a fast, efficient, excellent, LOCAL service and would do so again.
#10
Re: NZ Health Care
My daughter broke her elbow a couple of weeks ago at school and has received EXCELLENT care (but not free!)
I took her straight to the local health centre (docs) as there is no hospital nearby. She was seen by a doctor within 10 mins. She was then sent to Paraparumu for an x-ray. They were due to shut at 4pm but were called and stayed open so we could get there. We then returned to Waikanae and she was plastered up there and then.
The following day we had to go to Wellington hospital (which seemed very clean), again were seen by the orthopedic registrar within 15 mins, replastered and sent away again. 2 weeks later we returned, waited no more than 5 mins for an xray and 10 mins to see the doc again.
All in all an EXCELLENT service, only fault - trying to find a space in Wellington hospital underground carpark! And I didn't mind paying the $70 to see the doc/xray if this is the level of service we get in NZ.
I took her straight to the local health centre (docs) as there is no hospital nearby. She was seen by a doctor within 10 mins. She was then sent to Paraparumu for an x-ray. They were due to shut at 4pm but were called and stayed open so we could get there. We then returned to Waikanae and she was plastered up there and then.
The following day we had to go to Wellington hospital (which seemed very clean), again were seen by the orthopedic registrar within 15 mins, replastered and sent away again. 2 weeks later we returned, waited no more than 5 mins for an xray and 10 mins to see the doc again.
All in all an EXCELLENT service, only fault - trying to find a space in Wellington hospital underground carpark! And I didn't mind paying the $70 to see the doc/xray if this is the level of service we get in NZ.
Gill
#11
Re: NZ Health Care
Also when my dad had a heart attack last Jan, he was amazingly well looked after. Ambulance arrived within minutes and he was whisked off to the NW heart care centre. He is now fit as a fiddle and back walking up mountains and playing golf
People like to diss the NHS but it has improved immensely over the past few years (and should have done seeing how much money has been spent). Every hospital in Manchester seems to be being rebuilt at the moment!!
#12
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Kapiti Coast, Wellington
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Re: NZ Health Care
Thanks Gill
You're right, I didn't mention an ambulance and I had no intention of using their valuable resource for a broken elbow, so I was puzzled by the comment as neither public transport or an ambulance were options in this case:
"hhmmm....I use public transports... either ambulance........"
So, to sum up. I was quite happy to pay $70 for an excellent, efficient LOCAL service and would do so again. After all, our kids' health is priceless (and she's still in full plaster from wrist to shoulder 4 weeks later).
You're right, I didn't mention an ambulance and I had no intention of using their valuable resource for a broken elbow, so I was puzzled by the comment as neither public transport or an ambulance were options in this case:
"hhmmm....I use public transports... either ambulance........"
So, to sum up. I was quite happy to pay $70 for an excellent, efficient LOCAL service and would do so again. After all, our kids' health is priceless (and she's still in full plaster from wrist to shoulder 4 weeks later).
#13
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: homeless
Posts: 1,756
Re: NZ Health Care
Thanks Gill
You're right, I didn't mention an ambulance and I had no intention of using their valuable resource for a broken elbow, so I was puzzled by the comment as neither public transport or an ambulance were options in this case:
"hhmmm....I use public transports... either ambulance........"
You're right, I didn't mention an ambulance and I had no intention of using their valuable resource for a broken elbow, so I was puzzled by the comment as neither public transport or an ambulance were options in this case:
"hhmmm....I use public transports... either ambulance........"
as I said I use public transports when I go to the emergency room MOST of the time unfortunately. and I live in CBD. ideally I prefer to catch a bus and pay $2.50 for a trip, but how funny, I usually get very sick at the crack of dawn OR on weekends or (public) holidays so its impossible to see my GP and impossible to catch a bus at 3.00 AM like last March!!! (I do not want to call a taxi cos its so expensive/I do not want to call an ambulance neither cos don't want to bother them Unless Absolutely Necessary as its valuable resource) When I am sick, I can't drive my car, so I've got no experience whatsoever paying parking fees at the Welly hospital - so dunno know about it.
Me TOO. I agree, I'd quite happy to pay $$$. its priceless. it tears me up sometimes. I always appreciate everything they have ever done for me (since I was young here). thanks to them. If I ever win the lottery, I'd give (some) money to Welly hospital and Welly Free Ambulance.
Last edited by crap coffee; May 20th 2010 at 12:15 pm.
#14
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Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
Posts: 5,249
Re: NZ Health Care
And the ambulance service is not free in NZ, even if it is deemed an emergency by a GP you can expect a bill of $200 +