In wondering why UK can't adopt the Australian Healthcare system?

[chopc]

I was talking to some friends abroad and in Australia about frustrations with our wonderful
NHS for both patient and doctor. One of them wondered why we can't adopt the Australian Healthcare system. I thought the same and checked with those using it in Australia, and I can't see any downsides to it ........

What is stopping the UK adopting the same system?

I didn’t use it much when growing up to early 20s in Aus but had thought another model might be good for UK as demographics change

But reading more detail I’m not convinced Aus is right way to go - as a fit for here

Also low usage in U.K. (mainly dc births) but often I have really appreciated NHS and have always had quick GP service and dentist access, even recently.

We also have private respite only using it once in over a decade for dc, it is low take up here v Aus and that could be something to be looked at plus overall health of population (which is hard to change).

Respite - despite

My experience of the Australian system was very positive.

So you didn’t pay 420 per child, you paid 280. Worth being accurate so people get an idea about what costs actually are.

But that kind out outlay, even if most of it is reimbursed, is just not possible for many people. It’s irrelevant if you get it back or not if you don’t have it in the first place.

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

So you didn’t pay 420 per child, you paid 280. Worth being accurate so people get an idea about what costs actually are.

But that kind out outlay, even if most of it is reimbursed, is just not possible for many people. It’s irrelevant if you get it back or not if you don’t have it in the first place.

Then you wait for an appointment in the public system where you will receive appropriate care, and if it’s taking 3.5 years you complain to your state MP and state Health Minister because that’s ridiculous.

Besides, with Medicare Express now, the outlay is only minutes. It goes back into your account in very little time.

But you have to have it in the first place, and it doesn’t always take minutes. It CAN take minutes, but it can take up to ten working days.

If you don’t have $400 in your account, a minute may as well be a week.
Can children get braces on public health care plan?

Even so, that’s the choice you make. Wait for an appointment in the public system or pay to be seen sooner. And if it’s taking 3.5 years, complain, because that isn’t normal.

😂😂😂
It’s not a choice if you don’t have any money. Being poor isn’t a choice

It's not a choice if you can't take the financial hit on waiting to be reimbursed.

Then it’s not something to think about then is it? No one in Australia is forced to try to come up with the money. If you can’t afford to see someone privately, you don’t. Just like the NHS.

The difference in Australia is the options are greater for more people.

@NotBadConsidering

Then it’s not something to think about then is it? No one in Australia is forced to try to come up with the money. If you can’t afford to see someone privately, you don’t. Just like the NHS.

The difference in Australia is the options are greater for more people.

Can the children of poorer families get braces?

I don’t understand the 3 1/2 years either. In the state I work each GP referral is triaged and people are seen usually within 1 month, 3 months or 1 year. Most patients with genuine clinical need are seen as the second category and generally this is adhered fo.

Did you get a letter saying the wait time would be over 3 years? And if so, did your GP not query it and ask for another triage?

Where I work a lot of cardiology referrals are filtered through a general paeds clinic as many children with murmurs have clear-cut benign flow murmurs and don’t need to see a cardiologist. The wait time, for this public. general paeds clinic in a large city is about 2 months.

I am not saying that our health system is bad. I’m just stating that it’s very much not perfect. It’s also being rapidly eroded by a VERY conservative government. If you have been to Australia, perhaps you are aware that we have regional hospitals that cover areas thousands of kilometers in circumference. Some of them are so understaffed and so underfunded that there are no doctors permanently staffed there. The doctors are posted to a “region” that requires them to rotate amongst several or many hospitals often hundreds or thousands of kilometers apart (depending on the area.) This means that a majority of primary care - (including emergency care) is handled via over-taxed nurses and telehealth calls while waiting for ambulances and air evacuation.

I agree it’s not a choice if you don’t have the money, and silly to call it that. Many people have no option at all but to wait for the free appt. I’m sure you can get braces that way although presume need better reasons than in private where anyone who wants to pay can get braces.

No. Orthodontics aren’t covered in the public system in Australia. It’s an issue, and a reason for a campaign for “Denticare”, a dental version of Medicare.

But it’s not some form of Gotcha to point out how much better the NHS is, given how hard it is for kids to get orthodontics and how long they wait in the NHS. It’s just one area you would give a small tick to the NHS side and a cross to the Australian side.

You have to satisfy criteria for braces on NHS iirc (haven’t had them yet)

But I do think free dental care at point of service is very good.

I still think that’s impressive now that anyone can get free dental care.

@nolongersurprised - I did not receive a letter. This was what I was told by both my GP and the two cardiology groups that were willing to even discuss running these (non-invasive diagnostic) tests on teenagers. Perhaps it was because of lockdown. Perhaps it was also the whole chicken and egg situation where the kids have an “informal” diagnosis - on the referral, symptoms described, etc, but all medical tests for “formal” diagnosis were still happening. (None of the kids have the heat problem anyway thank goodness, but they have all had the syndrome confirmed by rheumatologist.)

although presume need better reasons than in private where anyone who wants to pay can get braces

I’m not from Australia and was taken aback by how many children have braces, aiming for that “perfect smile”. Probably 1/3 of the cohort in my 13 year old’s year. Including her. Her teeth weren’t actually that bad, mainly slightly crooked bottom teeth.

@NotBadConsidering

No. Orthodontics aren’t covered in the public system in Australia. It’s an issue, and a reason for a campaign for “Denticare”, a dental version of Medicare.

But it’s not some form of Gotcha to point out how much better the NHS is, given how hard it is for kids to get orthodontics and how long they wait in the NHS. It’s just one area you would give a small tick to the NHS side and a cross to the Australian side.

It’s not a small area. Dental treatment of children is a huge and very important area. It very much seems an “I’m alright, Jack” system in Australia and not one I think we should strive to replicate at all. We just need to adjust what we currently have. Not make the gap between the haves and have nots even bigger. I just don’t see that as aspirational.

All I agree with you. I wouldn’t gloss over dental either

Also as for braces IVF has criteria on NHS but if you can get it it’s a no small thing given how expensive it is

justlou do you live in an area with public cardiology services? Because 3 1/2 years is crazy, national news type waiting times.

Children can access dental treatment. They can access a dentist in the public hospitals. And many private dentists have very low fees for children. Dental services for children in Australia could definitely be improved and is being actively campaigned for.

But if your holding up children’s dental services as one reason to not look at other positive aspects of the Australian healthcare system, it’s a bit limiting if you don’t look at everything else. Particularly with children. Healthcare for children in Australia is exceptional.

Apart from teeth 😬.

@NotBadConsidering

Children can access dental treatment. They can access a dentist in the public hospitals. And many private dentists have very low fees for children. Dental services for children in Australia could definitely be improved and is being actively campaigned for.

But if your holding up children’s dental services as one reason to not look at other positive aspects of the Australian healthcare system, it’s a bit limiting if you don’t look at everything else. Particularly with children. Healthcare for children in Australia is exceptional.

Apart from teeth 😬.

No it’s not just that.

There may be other changes though.

I don't know how the Australian, American or other countries health care works.
But what I do know in most other countries foreign visitors either need insurance or pay for treatment
but in the UK we give 'free' treatment to everyone.
Let's start making visitors to the UK have insurance. Give the NHS a make over so no one profits.