How to See a Doctor?

• 

  jzdhgkd on 05/08/2016 - 22:05

  +10

  Generally you can't and that's the way our system works.

  It's to stop your average joe from thinking "welp my chest hurts so it's probs my heart, better see the cardiothoracics surgeon for a transplant"

  • 

    Thenarrator on 06/08/2016 - 07:46

    But if i still had the letter from the first consultation, wouldnt that make me not the average joe? I mean, now, all i need to ask the the specialist is 1 question "where is the day clinic so I can make a booking?". To ask this 1 simple question, i gotta go through several other loops..

    • 

      Kangal on 06/08/2016 - 08:52

      Just make a booking with the private specialist.
      When (not if) they ask you for the letter of referral, just give them your Dr's details.
      It's the receptionists job to chase that up for you.

      Don't take "No" for an answer, that's why she works there.
      And being in a private centre, they're usually paid better than Doctors (at least in their first year).

      Besides, most of the private health workers have good working conditions and are paid nicely.
      So they're usually cheerful, and happy to help.

      … … …
      If worst comes to worst, go back to the initial doctor/specialist and say you lost your referral.
      It's on record, they'll just re-print it for you.
      Forget waiting 3 weeks+ to repeat the cycle, your healths at stake (or so I presume).

      • 

        Thenarrator on 06/08/2016 - 10:40

        +1

        "being in a private centre"
        Dont think it is private? hes a specialist that works in a bulk bill medical centre so im not sure whether it is private or not.

      • 

        Kangal on 06/08/2016 - 23:58

        @Thenarrator:

        Oh, well that changes everything.

• 

  Findo on 05/08/2016 - 22:10

  Get PHI, that's the only way if you have medical issues you want to address sooner rather than later. I spent years underutilising my PHI until a year ago, when I racked up almost $50k worth of inpatient and outpatient care costs.

• 

  cnmarine on 05/08/2016 - 22:35

  You don't need a referral to go to that private specialist you saw previously, but if you're on his bad books, he won't see you in any timely fashion and you'll need to go see him before the day surgery clinic to book in a time for the procedure.

  • 

    Thenarrator on 06/08/2016 - 07:48

    Im not sure whether he was a private specialist or a public specialist(?) It didnt cost me money to see him.. so im confused

• 

  Donaldhump on 05/08/2016 - 22:58

  +3

  A gp is just a googler who dispatches you around

  I had bad back pain for ages, with nerve issues il left leg.

  I went around in circles, and in the end gave up…. It's less painful to just take the pain

  • 

    Thenarrator on 06/08/2016 - 07:49

    my thoughts exactly! i mean this health we're talking about and its too hard to find help at the right place! It should be easy

    • 

      Kangal on 06/08/2016 - 09:12

      +4

      Here's my experience:

      I needed wisdom tooth removal, and the pain happened around the Christmas break.
      This is in metro Sydney… 95% (or more) dental doctors had left their clinics to have a holiday.
      No joke, an entire CITY, without dentist.

      My GP was a bit shocked, and ultimately gave me a referral to go to the hospital.

      I went to the hospital, and it was quite empty. But I still waited to be addressed.
      It took them 4, that's right, FOUR hours to get me in.
      And they only checked me out for 5 minutes.
      They eventually said "all our dentists are away on holiday, except for one, which is for emergencies".
      And they said that despite the pain, they weren't going to book me in.
      They gave me an antibiotic mouth wash, and receipt for pain killers.

      I had to "sign in" to get an appointment for the surgery at the hospital.

      After 4 weeks of excruciating toothache (all 4 wisdom teeth impacting from deep gum, growing horizontally)…
      …I sort of got over the pain, and the pain died out.

      But then one of my friends working in pathology recommended their close friend for surgery.
      He was an orthodontist (specialist) and would give me the best price in Sydney.
      And he did, he quoted me for $7,000 for the whole package, compared to $12,000.
      My bank account begged to differ. I eventually forgot that I had wisdom teeth problems.

      I got a letter in the mail about 9 months later, saying that I can now go in and have my surgery done.
      I really wanted it sorted out, but I just couldn't in good faith go back to that unethical building.
      I figured if it starts causing me problems again, I'll go, otherwise stay away from those crooks.
      Seriously NINE months, all their dentists came back from their month long vacation already, and no-one wanted to deal with such an extraction.
      The dr's just played volleyball with my appointment, because they weren't getting paid $12,000 like the specialist.

      I didn't get a toothache. Destiny chose for me. I didn't go have my surgery at the hospital (not that they care).

      After a few months later, I saved up a bit of money.
      I went on overseas for a vacation, the first I had in over a decade!
      I travelled from Japan and down the East-coast of Asia, and did so on cheap flights, and budget rooms… so that I could use money on actual holiday experiences there. I think it totalled to about $5K, for ~5 weeks, and involved ~6 countries, so not "craigslist Joe" but a very affordable.
      When I was in China, I went in to a fancy specialist centre.
      I got all four teeth extracted, also got a crown for chipped tooth, a mould and dentist bleach kit. All that set me back ~$1,100.
      Something that probably would've cost me ~$15,000 here in Aus.
      So the trip PAID for itself.

      True OzBargainer style ; )

      • 

        Ughhh on 06/08/2016 - 11:57

        +4

        When I was in China, I went in to a fancy specialist centre.
        I got all four teeth extracted, also got a crown for chipped tooth, a mould and dentist bleach kit. All that set me back ~$1,100.

        Be sure to check that you don't have a missing kidney.

      • 

        Donaldhump on 06/08/2016 - 23:00

        +1

        i had a friend walk into robina hospital saying he had urges to kill himself as he had just been divorced. he then sat down for 30 mins and waited. No one came to see him, so he left, and rang up the police stating the same… they came in 1 minute

      • 

        Kangal on 07/08/2016 - 00:05

        @unclesnake:

        I can believe that.
        And the Robina hospital is a fancy one.

      • 

        Kangal on 07/08/2016 - 00:07

        @Ughhh:

        Lol, still have the kidneys. But I think my left testicle is gone.

• 

  PJC on 05/08/2016 - 23:01

  +2

  "So I decided to go back to the day surgery." Go back? Effectively, "I didn't pursue as I wanted to go public hospital" you say you haven't been there yet. You have been referred, so go there if you wish.

  • 

    esosite on 06/08/2016 - 11:43

    +4

    Yeah just call up say you missed your appointment or whatever and need to reschedule and here is my referral letter or whatever!

    Your the one thats making it difficult. Its not like a McDonalds menu - i'll take the geriatrician doctor please for my babies sore throat please! :)

• 

  brainactive on 13/08/2016 - 23:09

  What are you seeing the doctor for, if you dont mind me asking? Some things are harder to diagnose so GPs and even some less competent specialists tend to give out referrals when they're uncertain…