Is Australia's health care system a good one ?

Question

I have a friend in Australia, He says he LIKES the health care there but I would like to hear from others that live there

Answer 1

I have never been in a UK hospital,was never sick when there.But I do hear the british press having a go at there heath system.

I have used both Private and public health in Australia for my family.I have mostly been happy with both.I feel the Doctors in both are the same as,most work in both systems not only the one.I feel that the nursing and other services provided by the public system is a let down sometimes.

If you have an accident here you will always go to a public hospital as they deal with these cases and not the private sector.

Many procedures are only done in Public hospitals and you have no choice.People often think here you will get the new doctor in the Public system and that is far from the truth.If you need a specialist,often you will get the new Doc,but will have the specialist with him.

My son was epoleptic and had the best specialist in the country for years and what did it cost me? Zero,how much would that cost overseas?

If you are dieing on the street,an Ambulance will get you with highly trained staff and if you are really bad ,you will be sent a paramedic.

You are never left at the door of the hospital if you can't pay and you will be treated for free the same as any other member of the public.

Also here you can use the public hospital and choose the Doctor you want and claim it on your private health,which I have also done.

Hey I reckon it is not the best system in the world but I know its far from the worst and I am glad and proud that our country supplies it .

Answer 2

It's not perfect but compared to most other countries, especially the US, it's sensational.

I've never had any reason to complain about our system.

Also in Queensland, I don't know about the other states, everyone is covered for free Ambulance service.

Some Private Hospitals do have Emergency Rooms in Queensland.

If people don't want to be put on a waiting list for completely FREE medical care they can pay for Private Health Insurance Cover. Or they can pay for the treatment themselves and go private. We have many options to choose from.

Answer 3

We have a really good health system. If you dont have health cover,our public system is pretty good. Deliver a baby stay for 5 days in a clean hygenic single bed room, receive the best of care, the food is debatable but.........all for nothing. Not a bad deal all round. I can hear the tax payers......Hey! I am one of those.

Answer 4

Much better than the USA.

More info on our health care and how it works see http://www.medicare.gov.au/

In a nut shell GP's are subsided by the government, so if you pay around $55, you will get $35 approx back through medicare.  If you are on a pension it's free.

Answer 5

Well it could be better but then again it could be worse.

I avoid hospitals at ALL costs and nearly died from asthma last year as a result... at least by the time I got there I was criticial so they couldn't just leave me in the waiting room for 10 hours like when I had appendicitis.. (10 hours no sh*t!!! i got in at 10am and the doctor saw me at 8pm.. just lucky my appendix didn't rupture)

There are also too many student nurses and doctors who do not know how to do simple things like insert a drip (they screwed it up many times... how hard is it? I guarantee I could do it better)

Also I was in alot of pain, I was offered painkillers by numerous people only for them to dissappear so finally I asked for some and they said of course.. did I EVER get them? NO

When I wanted to go to the bathroom but couldn't cos I was stuck on a drip, we asked for a nurse EVERY 5 MINUTES and after 20 minutes one finally came... I nearly pulled the drip out myself..

I find there is alot of inexperience and the staff are over-burdened. Our lack of medical resources and equipment causes problems as well. For non-urgent MRI scans you are on the public waiting list for MONTHS

My mum broke her big toe last year so they did the cast all the way up to her knee. Within days she had 4 blood clots in her legs and within a week she had a lung embolism (blood clot on lung which can kill you)... She ended up having alot of time off work just because the stupid hospital put her in a cast up to her knee for a freakin broken toe...

Having said all that, it really depends on WHICH hospital you go to because all the public ones are different.

Oh and one thing my husband and I are VERY thankful for was that doctors restored my husbands lost sight in one eye caused by optic neuritis. Because his case was so rare they appointed him the Head of Neurology at the hospital and he was treated well.

Answer 6

I have to agree .. compared to some other countries we do have it good.

BUT ... there are still huge queues for non-private members and it has only gotten worse over the years.

Answer 7

Not really

Compared to the USA it's freaking great, but compared to places like the UK, it's not quite as good.

You can get free healthcare in public hospitals, but it isn't of the best quality (still not bad, you won't say, die of something easier in a public hospital)

So a lot of people get private healthcare, meaning they can be treated in private hospitals, which are of the same quality as UK hospitals and contain some of the best doctors in the world.

But private healthcare is obviously quite expensive. But worth it if you ask me, after all, you're kind of screwed without your health.

Answer 8

i think it is great

free hospital/health system saved the life of my wife when she had a bad bleed in her brain after 3 operations & 6 months in hospital & rehab she is back home & doing great

PS

a big thanks to the staff at the P.A HOSPITAL in brisbane for all they done