General Medical issues thread

[bosox76]

The more junior doctor talked to me afterwards and told me he really wouldn't advise going to a private hospital for that kind of surgery - he felt they were fine for plain jane elective stuff, but you needed a public hospital for anything more serious.

There a quite varying degrees of private hospitals. I work in one that has almost 800 beds with a 30 bed ICU and au specialty staff of almost every type. Who do major neuro and cardio surgeries daily and some that is quite leading edge. Most also work at the large teaching hospitals. Sure for major trauma perhaps the major public trauma centre is the place to be. If one has a highly subspecialised problem (eg HIV, haemophilia, transplant etc) then you should be in public centre. As Drron says know the doctors and their limitations. That's most important.

 

[Cossie]

I know of a few doctors who work at The Canberra hospital. They are excellent. Like all professions in life though, there are some good and some bad (unfortunately)

One benefit of being married to an icu nurse, she knows all the Drs to avoid!

 

[BacchusMarsh]

I remember reading somewhere Footscray/Sunshine Hospital usually gets the lower performing students from Melbourne Uni.

Could be a problem with memory, or reading comprehension. Perhaps get it checked out somewhere?

 

[whatmeworry]

Could be a problem with memory, or reading comprehension. Perhaps get it checked out somewhere?

Wow you’re really funny... You should become a Comedian.

 

[Flying mermaid]

There a quite varying degrees of private hospitals. I work in one that has almost 800 beds with a 30 bed ICU and au specialty staff of almost every type. Who do major neuro and cardio surgeries daily and some that is quite leading edge. Most also work at the large teaching hospitals. Sure for major trauma perhaps the major public trauma centre is the place to be. If one has a highly subspecialised problem (eg HIV, haemophilia, transplant etc) then you should be in public centre. As Drron says know the doctors and their limitations. That's most important.

I think the doctor who was talking to me was talking in context of Canberra's private hospitals - the one in particular he was referring to is small - 80 beds and if anything goes wrong they bring staff over from the Public hospital. He felt the delay could sometimes result in an inferior outcome when you were talking about things like brain surgery. Obviously in big cities that sort of limitation is not necessarily the case. Family members have been treated in both private and public hospitals in Canberra and both have been fine, but I could see his point about rather going to Canberra Hospital for more serious treatment. When Mr FM had his brain abscess there was no choice for that sort of thing it was Canberra Hospital only and the treatment he had there was superb. We have had numerous types of elective surgery done at private hospitals and they have been great.

 

[Flying mermaid]

It is not as easy as saying private hospitals are good for some things and public for others.
You need to know the doctors involved and their strengths,things like infection rates,the quality of nursing and allied health staff etc,etc.
With all due respect to junior doctors most have never been associated with a private hospital and develop their opinions because they see transfers when things have gone wrong.Just as I see transfers from major hospitals that are supposedly routine but where they have missed the bleeding obvious.

Just as something that seems counter intuitive it is sometimes much better having a local doctor who doesn't have a great breadth of knowledge but knows his/her limitations than one who knows a great deal but is supremely confident in his judgement.The first has usually developed a group of trusted doctors that you will be referred to.

He was a senior registrar, so not that junior - just more junior than the guy who nearly killed Mr FM. It is all very well to say you should know all those things to inform your choice, but for we ordinary mugs that is not info that is that easy to obtain. We end up having to make more simplistic choices.

I think right at the moment I would be happier to have a second opinion - not so much for taking the drug - I am convinced she needs to and trying to convince her. Miss FM would just like more info on a whole range of things and as her current Rheumatologist is not the most friendly and doesn't communicate and just tells her what to do without discussing anything, I think someone good in the big smoke won't go astray.

 

[Flashback]

There is a saying: In Canberra when you get sick go to the airport.... Not sure how true it is...

"When you arrive in Canberra, it often makes you feel sick" -> there, fixed that for you :mrgreen:

Wow your really funny... You should become a Comedian.

*you're* Sorry, had to bite! :mrgreen:

 

[drron]

Not wanting to sound arrogant but a Senior registrar probably does not have experience of the private hospital system.
Things work both ways.A fair time ago I was working in a private hospital.there were 2 major public hospitals in the nearest city.A woman in her 50s was diagnosed by one as having severe dementia.She was placed in a nursing home close to the private hospital-she did have private cover.A few days after being placed she had a convulsion,admitted to the private hospital and CT scan showed a mass lesion.She was sent back to the public hospital where they suggested because this lesion had appeared suddenly,she had a fever and high white cell count that she had a brain abscess and due to her dementia palliative care was in order and sent her back to the private hospital.
Not satisfied it took me 3 weeks to get the other public hospital to accept her for a biopsy of the lesion.It was a lymphoma and her dementia resolved with treatment.She lived many more productive years.

So unfortunately all this means is that individual cases are not proof one way or another of which is a better hospital.Though in Canberra 10 or more years ago it may well have been that most doctors knew each other and opinions were more informed.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Not wanting to sound arrogant but a Senior registrar probably does not have experience of the private hospital system.
Things work both ways.A fair time ago I was working in a private hospital.there were 2 major public hospitals in the nearest city.A woman in her 50s was diagnosed by one as having severe dementia.She was placed in a nursing home close to the private hospital-she did have private cover.A few days after being placed she had a convulsion,admitted to the private hospital and CT scan showed a mass lesion.She was sent back to the public hospital where they suggested because this lesion had appeared suddenly,she had a fever and high white cell count that she had a brain abscess and due to her dementia palliative care was in order and sent her back to the private hospital.
Not satisfied it took me 3 weeks to get the other public hospital to accept her for a biopsy of the lesion.It was a lymphoma and her dementia resolved with treatment.She lived many more productive years.

So unfortunately all this means is that individual cases are not proof one way or another of which is a better hospital.Though in Canberra 10 or more years ago it may well have been that most doctors knew each other and opinions were more informed.

I am sure it is swings and roundabouts - I have noticed doctors are very protective and loyal to the hospitals they work in. We used to have 3 public hospitals in Canberra (they blew one up) and I have been told the rivalry between them was quite terrible.

 

[love_the_life]

I am sure it is swings and roundabouts - I have noticed doctors are very protective and loyal to the hospitals they work in. We used to have 3 public hospitals in Canberra (they blew one up) and I have been told the rivalry between them was quite terrible.

And when they blew the original Canberra Hospital up, they managed to tragically kill a young girl who was hit by debris on the other side of the lake.

 

[Flying mermaid]

And when they blew the original Canberra Hospital up, they managed to tragically kill a young girl who was hit by debris on the other side of the lake.

Yes I remember that - Katie Bender - quite tragic. I remember saying to Mr FM we should take the kids to watch and he wouldn't go near it - said it was dangerous and they shouldn't be promoting it as a spectacle. Quite accurate as it turned out

 

[love_the_life]

Yes I remember that - Katie Bender - quite tragic. I remember saying to Mr FM we should take the kids to watch and he wouldn't go near it - said it was dangerous and they shouldn't be promoting it as a spectacle. Quite accurate as it turned out

He was a wise man. I think we didn't go because we knew it would be packed. I remember the horror of watching the TV news that night with huge chunks of concrete falling close to people.

 

[bosox76]

I remember reading somewhere Footscray/Sunshine Hospital usually gets the lower performing students from Melbourne Uni.

Like most hospital based in growth areas it's an extremely underfunded and under resourced hospital. My personal experience teaching there when I was a registrar was that the students there are no worse/different than those I have taught at The Alfred, Flinders Medical, Royal Darwin. I'm pretty sure students these days get rotated through all health networks anyway (although don't quote me on that). Just like doctors there are good ones and bad ones everywhere. There were plenty of rubbish students based at the above mentioned hospitals too.

 

[whatmeworry]

*you're* Sorry, had to bite! :mrgreen:

No you are just another grammar naz_. /s

 

[Flashback]

No you are just a another grammar naz_. /s

No, you are just another grammar naz_ -> There, fixed that for you!

 

[whatmeworry]

Like most hospital based in growth areas it's an extremely underfunded and under resourced hospital. My personal experience teaching there when I was a registrar was that the students there are no worse/different than those I have taught at The Alfred, Flinders Medical, Royal Darwin. I'm pretty sure students these days get rotated through all health networks anyway (although don't quote me on that). Just like doctors there are good ones and bad ones everywhere. There were plenty of rubbish students based at the above mentioned hospitals too.

This was a while ago so perhaps policies have changed.

 

[JohnK]

Went to have broken tooth extracted 2 days ago. Not fun.

I wanted sedation from GP. Last time cannula inserted first time. This time no luck after more than 10 attempts. Ok sedation intramuscular but not sure how effective it will be.

Down to the dentist and sedation and laughing gas not working too well. Still want tooth to come out. Lets proceed with extraction. Dentist wants to put some gel as local anaesthetic in gums. I don't want it. She insisted. I can sense tooth extracted but couldn't feel any pain. Mouth, tongue and throat numb. Hate this feeling.

Was fine for a few hours but then under huge distress. No panic attack but not well. Had 3 Xanax over ~45 minutes which is not good but little effect. Went home and slept a few hours and numbness was gone ~6 hours after anaesthetic gel applied. Never again.

GP charged $200. The tooth extraction was ~$400 and I paid $196 after health fund cover. Why so much to have tooth extracted? Way too much.

Still not well.

 

[love_the_life]

Hope after a night's sleep it will feel better JohnK​. It will be still bruised for a few days though.

 

[whatmeworry]

Partly Insurance, partly greed.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Went to have broken tooth extracted 2 days ago. Not fun.

I wanted sedation from GP. Last time cannula inserted first time. This time no luck after more than 10 attempts. Ok sedation intramuscular but not sure how effective it will be.

Down to the dentist and sedation and laughing gas not working too well. Still want tooth to come out. Lets proceed with extraction. Dentist wants to put some gel as local anaesthetic in gums. I don't want it. She insisted. I can sense tooth extracted but couldn't feel any pain. Mouth, tongue and throat numb. Hate this feeling.

Was fine for a few hours but then under huge distress. No panic attack but not well. Had 3 Xanax over ~45 minutes which is not good but little effect. Went home and slept a few hours and numbness was gone ~6 hours after anaesthetic gel applied. Never again.

GP charged $200. The tooth extraction was ~$400 and I paid $196 after health fund cover. Why so much to have tooth extracted? Way too much.

Still not well.

Hope you feel better soon. Dr FM had 4 wisdom teeth out last week and it took 2 days before she felt things were getting better and another two to be over it totally.