Public health system
Posted by: vettsies
22nd Feb 2025 09:32pm
After chatting with a Doctor last year, I was informed that South Australia had 50,000 joint replacement waiting list. I personally have been waiting 5 years for a knee replacement and finally I received a call from the closest public hospital to tell me my name had come to the top of the list. However my knee will be done in a private hospital by a private surgeon. Can anyone see away of fixing the Australian health system it is like a third world Country. What do other people think can be done to fix it?
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Comments 1
jtmorri
Australia's public health care system isn't terrible like America's where most people can't afford treatment. High out-of-pocket costs prevent many individuals from seeking necessary medical treatment.
A third world country health system has poor sanitation, poor infection control, poor quality of care, hardly any medication and medical supplies, no public health initiatives or vaccination programs. In a third world country people can't access basic healthcare.
A knee replacement isn't basic healthcare, it is a specialised elective procedure. As an ex orthopaedic registered nurse my take is:
If more Australian's had private health insurance, then their knee replacement operation would be done very quickly.
The surgeons work in both public and private hospitals and all it means is that an operating slot and bed in a private hospital is available for them to perform your surgery at the private hospital, because both the hospital systems are working together and co-ordinating to decrease the waiting list. The federal government then pays the private hospital and surgeon for your surgery and recovery in the private hospital. So, the government is working at reducing the waiting list and wait time for surgery.