Monday, July 06, 2009

SOCIALIZED HEALTHCARE IN OZ: IT SUCKS THERE TOO

Patient's shock at hospital waiting list in Australia

AN UNWELL woman with a family history of bowel cancer said she was shocked to learn she had at least an eight-month wait for a colonoscopy.

Maureen Watts, 63, says she has been waiting to hear back from Royal Darwin Hospital since mid-February about when she could be booked in for the procedure.

But last week, she said, she rang to check again on when they could fit her in, and that it was then she was told there was no theatre spare.

"(She) told me they're renovating or refurbishing the hospital and that they don't have a theatre ... until September," she said.

"(And then) there was a big backlog of people that they have to go through.

"I asked what can I do about it, and she said 'well, really, nothing - neither can I'."

Ms Watts - whose mother and both grandfathers all had bowel cancer - said she had been feeling unwell before seeing a RDH doctor in February, who agreed she should have a colonoscopy as well as an endoscopy.

RDH media officer Kasey Brunt said the hospital was investigating the case.


IN THE USA SHE'D HAVE GOTTEN A DOZEN TESTS IN A FEW WEEKS.

WHICH DO YOU PREFER? WHICH KIND OF SYSTEM DO YOU WANT YOUR GRANDKIDS TO HAVE?

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