1162 Days Spent Waiting to See A Specialist: And That Ain’t The Record!

Consider the case of poor Graeme Turnley of St Albans Park. Mr Turnley has told the Geelong Advertiser that he ‘has waited for a consultation with a urologist since receiving a letter confirming his place on the waiting list in April 2003′.

According to the paper:

In the original letter, Mr Turnley was told he would have to wait 26 weeks for a consultation. Barwon Health later told him that wait would extend to 34 months, which passed by in February this year, before he received a phone call last Thursday asking if he wanted to remain on the list.

Sadly Mr Turnley’s case is far from isolated. According to the Auditor-General’s report, Access to specialist medical outpatient care, released last week, Victorians are waiting years to see urologists and other specialist.

Waiting lists for outpatient appointments are a hidden scandal in Victoria. The A-G found that the DHS keeps almost no records of how many people are waiting to see specialists, nor for how long they are waiting. As The Age commented ‘the number of people on the lists are only ever approximation’.

Nothing In The Budget To Ease Rural Doctor Crisis

The AMA has slammed Labor’s budget for ignoring the shortage of rural doctors.

“Doctors are extremely disappointed there is nothing in this week’s budget to attract GPs and specialists to practice in rural Victoria,” AMA Victoria president Dr Mark Yates told the Bendigo Advertiser.

“Communities across the state are justifiably concerned about the future of their local medical services.”

The news comes as the ABC prepares to broadcast an episode of Four Corners in which doctors claim that obstetrics services in some parts of rural Australia are Third World.

Since Labor came to office in Victoria, over 18 hospitals have suspended or abandoned their obstetrics services.

Get In Touch With Bracksie’s Little Helpers

Communication is the name of the game in Labor’s Victoria.

In addition to the 25 odd spin doctors who work in the Premier’s Media Unit, pushing the government line, there are hundreds more working hard on your behalf out there in government departments.

If you’re having trouble getting an answer out of the government, why not get in touch with them directly?

Some of their jobs don’t sound like much fun. Pity poor Sandra De Minico, whose duties include developing ’strong relationships with ministers offices’.

If you’re a hard-working journalist, tired of getting the run-around from Sharon or Bram or Ben or Manika or Alison, don’t bother with the media unit, try the underspinners out there in the departments.

Click on The Communicators to see the list with their contact details.

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