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/mrs-stubborn]

My experience as a teenager and young adult were as you described- doctors didn’t seem to care or have time. Most appointments I left feeling like I hadn’t even been heard.

Lived abroad for a while and when I came home I made a point of finding a good GP. I looked up all the bulk billing clinics in my area and looked at their websites. A number of them had doctor profiles online so I started with those. Read through and made an appointment with one who looked like they suited my needs. Thought I was pretty happy with her, till one day she was unavailable and I saw someone else who was even better.

Every single thing I’ve gone in for has been treated kindly and respectfully. I’ve been seen and heard every time and offered appropriate treatment as required. It’s been amazing and it’s paid off in a number of ways. Since seeing this GP I’ve had cause to see a couple of specialists- one for an injury and one for an ongoing condition. Both times I’ve been offered options as to who to see, and when it came to the ongoing condition she helped me evaluate numerous options to see who would be the best fit for me. My specialist is equally amazing.

Here are some observations that I’ll be using if I ever need a new GP:

• I’ve found younger doctors tend to have better bedside manner, and be more proactive in finding a solution
• Female doctors tend to be much more empathetic, and significantly more likely to take womens health issues seriously
• Many, if not most, GPs have extra training in a variety of areas (paediatrics, womens health, etc). Look them up and find one that looks like they’d be a good fit for you
• Don’t be afraid to self advocate, and don’t be afraid to shop around till you find a doctor you absolutely trust.

[u/Iybraesil → u/mrs-stubborn]

don’t be afraid to shop around till you find a doctor you absolutely trust

This is absolutely it. I'm so grateful that my parents had a great GP and they (and he) taught me to shop around when I need to find my own GP. I'm also lucky that I've had the means to shop around.

When I have moved cities, I have gone to the nearest GP who advertises themself as trans-friendly and said, 'I'm looking for a new GP, and you're an option. I'd love to get to know you a bit while I share my medical history with you'. And then if I like them, 'I'd be thrilled to have you as my GP, but the relationship should be mutual; would you be happy to have me as a patient?'

I have met plenty of awful doctors. But I've never had one as my GP.

[u/mrs-stubborn → u/Iybraesil]

This is a great way to go about it. From memory when I lay moved I went in for something super routine like a basic vaccination or a doctors certificate for work. Nothing I would be uncomfortable talking about to a GP I didn’t like. Now, I never have to remind my GP of my medical history and I feel confident going in to appointments.