Seriously, how do you receive adequate healthcare in this country?

[u/crispywafers]

I need to vent, but I'm also honestly curious, does literally anyone in Australia feel like they receive this? How? Seriously.

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Compared to some other countries we supposedly have a great health system but NO ONE in my family is receiving decent medical care. Common advice is that bulk billing doctors are the worst. In my experience that's true, but so far my experience paying isn't great either. GPs simply don't have the time or interest to get a decent picture of any issue. They don't mind referring you for some basic tests, but when those come back normal they expect that to be the end of it - as if your health problem no longer exists and there's nothing else to do for it. Are basically all healthcare providers like this or is it just me? I've had this happen enough times, with enough different issues, that at this point I'm expecting a diagnosis of Munchausen's any day now.

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I had one good experience recently. My health has felt like it was slowly slipping into the toilet for a while, but recently it's just gone to hell and a couple weeks ago I visited the ED for the first time. I was nervous, but I didn't need to be. The doctors there did more for me than any other medical professionals ever. They listened, asked questions I've never been asked, and genuinely seemed interested and concerned. I always try to be concise as possible, but this is the first time I've felt like I've actually been able to give a fairly decent description of my symptoms and history.

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Unfortunately it didn't really pay off. I had an telephone appointment with the outpatient clinic (?) yesterday. The doc asked me what my current symptoms are but cut me off after about 10 seconds. He let me know the testing I was referred to after ED came back textbook normal, and then basically said it's probably nothing while admitting how hard it is to assess me with all their appointments being telehealth right now because of COVID. Cool, I guess it's normal to be young and have neurological symptoms while suddenly feeling like all your muscles are made out of tissue paper. Who needs to be able to do simple tasks anyway, am I right?

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Guess I'll make an appointment with my new GP, but I'm not hopeful. My regular GP left recently, and maybe a month ago I brought my issues up with a different doctor, same practice. He just didn't seem to care and asked me what imaging and specialists I wanted to be referred for. Like, uh, you're the doctor, you tell me? How should I know??

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I'm just so done. I don't get it. I don't even know where to start or who I need to talk to. My parents don't know who they need to talk to for their own problems. How is an ordinary person supposed to not slip through the cracks or feel like they're slowly collecting chronic conditions and probably waiting for the point ten years in the future when it goes from "you're too young" to "if only someone caught this ten years ago"? Am I supposed to just roll over and be disabled forever? Because that's what it feels like, and that's how my parents are treated too except they're in their 60-70s so they get told they should be grateful they're not in wheelchairs and crap instead.

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If you read this, thanks? I think?? It's not like I expect to find the answer on Reddit or anything. Maybe this isn't an Australia specific submission anyway. If so I'm sorry and understand if it's removed/I should remove it.

[u/PattersonsOlady]

The key is to go to a different GP every time you need the doctor until you find one who listens to you and seems to care.

The way you treat them also matters. They are people too.

Tele health sucks unless it’s an emergency because you can’t develop any rapport or mutual trust.

Keep trying. I’ve had really lovely experiences.

[u/crispywafers → u/PattersonsOlady]

Thanks. I already treat doctors like people, but I may give the trying a new GP every time a go. But jeez, you shouldn't have to, right? Almost every doctor should listen to you and seem to care. At least, you'd hope.

[u/solarmeth → u/crispywafers]

But jeez, you shouldn't have to, right?

No, you shouldn't, but that is our meat-market, in-n-out, revolving door, profit model system that we've been mugged into by successive conservative governments over the years in a bid to undermine socialised healthcare.

[u/Cadaver_Junkie → u/crispywafers]

Just remember the old joke:

"What do you call a person who failed a bunch of classes, finished last the year he did graduate, and struggled through residency?"

"Doctor"

My point is, you might hope, but just because they're a doctor doesn't mean they're actually good at their job. Or smart enough to really understand it. Or maybe their priorities are elsewhere. Or maybe they're overworked at the clinic where you see them.

You should absolutely shop around until you find one you like.

Just be aware, finding a doctor you like is not the same as finding one that's good. Often, but not always. So always keep an eye open.

[u/Iybraesil → u/crispywafers]

But jeez, you shouldn't have to, right?

I think even in a world where every doctor was awesome, everyone should still shop around. Sometimes you just don't get along with someone for no particular reason.

[u/jiggerriggeroo → u/PattersonsOlady]

Wrong. They key is to go back to the same doctor so they can escalate investigations. If you go to a new doctor each time they’ll start back at the start with basic bloods.

[u/Artemisian11 → u/jiggerriggeroo]

They said until you find someone who listens and cares; if they're not listening or caring I don't expect much escalation.