Plan to privatise public hospitals

bethem · Sep 15, 2006

I'm with you there. Look how well privatisation has worked for Telstra...

That said, we do have a PPP hospital nearby. So far it's OK, I guess, no different to the Big Public Hospital that's also nearby.

If Americans are reading this, please don't be offended: I really don't want our health system to go the way of the US system. I know the NHS is full of problems, but how can our government look at the US system and the NHS, and decide the one we should emulate is the US system? At present, we have major problems ourselves, but at least it is possible for every single Australian to count on hospital care when it's needed, without the fear of huge bills over their heads.

augigi, CNS · Sep 16, 2006

That is true, as long as you don't require elective surgery!! THen you get it when it's available, not when it's needed! Will be even more of an issue with increasing community age.

Grace Oz · Sep 16, 2006

I worked at the one public hospital which is privately managed here in S.A.

I'm here to tell you, it is a disaster!! I lasted three months. Had to provide my own thermometer!!! TRUE!!! I couldn't believe it when informed about having to purchase my own bloody thermometer! NEVER in ALL my YEARS of nursing had I had to purchase equipment in order to do my job. When the private management first took over, several people lost their jobs. Radiographers, ward clerks, some nursing positions, pharmacists. The cleaning went to the dogs. Place was dirty! The lack of equipment, dressings, etc etc was disgraceful. The ward kitchen was almost bare and empty of any utensils etc. Trying to locate a cup for a patient to drink from was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Sometimes I'd start what was supposed to be an 8 hour shift, only to be told after 4 hours to go home. Management had decided staffing levels were sufficient at that time and so they would just flip you off stat! No warning. No promise of being able to make up those lost hours. Too bad for those poor souls who were the sole income earner in their household! At least my income was the supplement one in ours. Still, it irked me.

Nope, private management of public hospitals is disasterous!

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2006

I have worked agency in our local hospital turned private hospital and well it is a standing joke around here - What is the average age of a CABG patient in that hospital? Answer - Who cares - so long as it is not the mortician doing the operation!!! Average age is in the nineties!! They will allocate 3 ICU non-vent patients to you at one time but those patients are in opposite ends of a long long ward. BUT the foyer is nice.

augigi, CNS · Sep 18, 2006

I'd report a facility which did not provide basic tools needed to provide safe care!! THere are standards, regardless of privatisation.

bubblesthenurse · Sep 19, 2006

semi private-semi public hospital here has been investigated countless amounts of time for neglect.

should it come in, i'm leaving nursing

Grace Oz · Sep 25, 2006

since this thread started news has come out that the particular hospital i spoke of is now being 'bought' back by the state government! the private management couldn't make it work!! :rolleyes:

will they ever learn??!!

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2006

Actually I think that is why this has died a death - there were reports that public hospitals sold to private enterprise have ended up costing the goverment three times as much by the time they have had to buy them back!!

talaxandra · Sep 29, 2006

Actually I think that is why this has died a death - there were reports that public hospitals sold to private enterprise have ended up costing the goverment three times as much by the time they have had to buy them back!!

Good! Anything that makes the government think twice (when they ought to be thinking seventeen times and then saying no) about privatising makes me happy! Is there anything the Aus government has privatised that is now better/more productive/contributes more to the community/generates more income for the people? I'm genuinely interested :)

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2006

:blushkiss

Good! Anything that makes the government think twice (when they ought to be thinking seventeen times and then saying no) about privatising makes me happy! Is there anything the Aus government has privatised that is now better/more productive/contributes more to the community/generates more income for the people? I'm genuinely interested :)

Teststra???:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Says she thinking of the recent fracas in relation to public phones.

Grace Oz · Oct 2, 2006

Perhaps they should privatise the military.

Because this government sure as ............ oh, don't get me started!

I'll stop while I'm ahead!