As you enter the main entrance of the Townsville Public Hospital you are greeted with a large sign which asks if you have private health insurance ; if not , have you ever thought about taking it on , information available there.
Is this sign being displayed throughout all Queensland public hospitals or is it just Townsville ? Opportunity here for local media to ask questions: How long has this been going on ? Why ? Who supplies the information...a member of the hospital staff ? Does the hospital get a commission for referrals to private insurance ?
How come a public hospital appears to be touting for private health insurance? Ladbrokes next ?
The Federal Shadow Health Minister , Catherine King , has just drawn attention to ballooning costs and the declining quality of private health insurance.
She said a new ACCC report showed complaints about private health insurance had soared-up 30 per cent-and that more Australians are choosing to downgrade or ditch their cover in response to relentless price rises , unexpected out of pocket costs and growing exclusions .
The affordability of private health insurance is now second only to electricity prices in terms of cost-of-living concerns, King continued . The Productivity Commission would be asked to make a sweeping review to find long term sustainable ways to bring down costs and improve quality.
The affordability of private health insurance is now second only to electricity prices in terms of cost-of-living concerns, King continued . The Productivity Commission would be asked to make a sweeping review to find long term sustainable ways to bring down costs and improve quality.
Thousands of people had responded to Labor’s “People Not Profits” survey, providing a valuable insight into why people are choosing to abandon their cover. Others wanting to participate in the survey are invited to contact www.peoplenotprofits.org.au to have your say.
Under the Liberals, premiums had increased by 27 per cent since 2014 – costing families an average of $1000 more. Meanwhile the insurers remain extremely profitable: they’re pocketing $3.7 billion more than they’re paying out in benefits.The Turnbull government's health insurance “reforms”–designed by the industry itself- had resulted in a double-inflation price rise this year.
PATIENT MIX UP
After a woman underwent a recent operation in Townsville Hospital , she received a follow up letter on how to continue recovery and instructions on how to attend a clinic . Only trouble was that as she turned the pages it became clear the instructions related to another woman , not her . It referred to care of a non existent drain and named a far away clinic she should attend which would require catching a ferry and bus/ buses each way, while the obvious one was a short drive away . The hospital reaction , at first, was to deny there had been a mix up , then agreed there had been an error .
SATELLITE SURGICAL CLINIC MYSTERIES
If you are aged, have a number of conditions which require occasional visits to see a doctor in various specialities in the Satellite Surgical Clinic at Townsville Hospital , you receive a pro forma notice to attend an appointment without stating what for . Is it for your most pressing problem , just a go through the motions check up , one of the other ailments you suffer from , the result of the latest referral by your GP about a new concern ?
You do not know , a situation likely to make your blood pressure rise and cause you to mutter uncouth comments about the hospital .
It helps to know in advance, instead of turning up at the dogbox like crammed waiting room not knowing what the appointment is for so that you can have an intelligent conversation with the medico . This situation was pointed out a long time ago by this writer on a visit to the hospital - without any response. The unsatisfactory situation was also drawn o the attention of the ALP Member for Townsville , Scott Stewart ; so far the hospital seems not to have got the message about modern, desirable communications with patients .
This blogger recently tried to clarify what an appointment was for and rang the number on a notice , got a recorded message . Past attempts to ring the hospital for information have resulted in repeatedly being put on hold .
The pro forma notice includes a request to bring along such things as X-rays which are not applicable to this writer.
TERRIBLE SMELL
Going on a report in February that there had been a terrible smell in the palliative care unit at Townsville Hospital for ages - years ???-due to a malfunctioning air conditioning unit , filled with mould that is a health hazard, you have to wonder what it takes to get the message through to health executives and hospital board members . Relatives of patients had complained . It took a union to make this issue public . The sniff test obviously did not apply in the corridors of power within the hospital . Incredibly , it was stated that it would take more than a year to fix the problem .
Like so many other subjects , the local media appears not to have made any progressive follow ups to find out what is going on in the interim , the situation right now, for example . Does palliative care pass the sniff test today? Is mould still forming in the airconditioning ? If so , what kind? And so on .
