Oh, the cost

I have a post scheduled for tomorrow and I wasn't going to post this, but why shouldn't I. Most of you are quite frank about medical matters. I am posting this Thursday night, and I am sure it needs some editing, but publish and be damned.  

On Friday I will attend The Alfred Hospital for abdominal hernia repair surgery, The Alfred being a public no cost hospital. This is a result of my kidney ureter surgery a couple of years ago where one entry point for the telescopic surgery bulged out post surgery. It is not life threatening but unsightly (I still have vanity) and can potentially be an issue. Obviously my six pack stomach muscles have a weak point.

The kidney surgery was within the private health system, and I have full top private health insurance, yet the cost to me was $3000 to $4000. In my opinion given the time lines, I would have been better dealt with by the public hospital system, which is no cost to the user.

For the hernia I had a pre surgery appointment mid last year at a small public hospital, associated with The Alfred. I guess it was thought with my other medical issues, I was too high risk and I needed to be at the major public hospital where there is first class expertise, should there be an issue. I had another pre surgery appointment at the major hospital, The Alfred. I can't remember why I had to have a CAT scan but I did and a area of concern was noted in my pancreas. That led to an MRI scan, and as far as my doctor could tell, it was not of concern. 

Then I waited, and waited and waited. About six weeks ago I called to find out what the delay was, and I was told it was waiting for the anaesthetist to sign off on my surgery.  Around ten days later, the hospital called and told me a date for surgery, and to expect a letter with the details. As per the usual hospital's poor communication system, it came via email. It can be a text, a letter, an email or phone call, and they wonder why patients get confused.

I will stay overnight and neighbour HH will collect me the next day. I may be in a room of six people, and I won't get a half bottle of wine with my dinner, but I can live with that and save thousands of dollars, even though I have private health insurance. 

I did think the wait for surgery was becoming too long, and I was about to call a certain The Alfred Hospital phone number after I found out about being treated at the public hospital if you have private health insurance, whereby the hospital claims on you insurance and you don't pay anything.

Meanwhile after my latest skin cancer check, an area of concern was found. It isn't a melanoma but needs to be removed and I've been referred to The Alfred because it is close to my eye and normal treatment is too risky. I've come to know The Alfred rather more than I prefer. Anything skin cancer related is triaged quickly with a fast first appointment, usually within four weeks.

So, I guess I won't be posting on Saturday morning, at the very least. If it like my last hernia surgery the recovery period takes quite some time.