How can u beat the WAITLIST for children needing surgery??

[gurlmakes3]

Hey ladies

Just wondering if anyone knows of ways to either bypass a huge wait list or at least move up???

My son, is 3.5 yrs and needs grommets, tonsils out and adenoids out, he has sleep apnea, eats bugger all foods, still has difficulty hearing esp on right side, and is constantly tired and miserable. My concern is he is now in Kindy and teachers have commented on his tiredness and grumpiness, the doctors still say his ear has fluid in, he is now losing weight only 14.1kgs, and i call the specialist and see how progress is going and all i get told is it wont be before feb next year grrrrrr, i cant afford private and i cant afford to just pay for op up front, what should i do????? all suggestions would be great

[missie_mack]

Have you had a quote to go private??
My DH had his tonsils taken out privately and it wasn't as expensive as I had thought...

However beyond that it is a waiting game, like all the other parents waiting in your area to have their children done :(

[gurlmakes3]

Yeh have had private quote, bit to much for us, prob take us the 18mths to get the money together...no dramas ill just keep waiting lol, was going to ask the doctor and school to write me a letter to say he getting worse see if that helps, cheeers

[Amara]

Have you checked out waiting lists at other hospitals? My son is waiting for grommets at my local one but I could get him changed to the RCH which has a shorter waiting list time.

[Nowhere]

publc system is done on a prorty based thing so the kids that are more effected wil be done first, Sucks for the one that are effected but not classes as high priorty or urgent unfortately.

IF you have private cover can get in sooner but i know not everyone has that.

I was shocked to read that 14 kilos in kndy is small, that gives me a dose of reality thats for sure

[MumtoD]

Unless your childs condition is life threatening you have to wait like everyone else. Lots of other people are in similar situations and without private health there isn't much you can do.

I dont know if constantly calling the surgeon will work but its worth a try? Maybe he can put you on a list at a hospital with a shorter waiting time?

[Nowhere]

Unless your childs condition is life threatening you have to wait like everyone else. Lots of other people are in similar situations and without private health there isn't much you can do.

I dont know if constantly calling the surgeon will work but its worth a try?


Doubt constantly calng wll help, unless its about a change in the condition. Each dr only gets so much booked theatre time each week, then they have the emergancy spots as well KWIM so the bookng clerks book on how much of a priority the surgery is.

[Jaspat24]

would it not be quicker and potentially cheaper to get private health now and wait the 12 months for pre-existing conditions and then get it done then?
Also...see if you can find a GP that has really close ties to surgeons and sneak in that way

i work in the private health system where we do so so so many operations each day and apparently the private surgical system is way more efficient than the public system..i really feel for you and others on public waiting lists

[TinyStar]

Can you apply for a medical loan?

They are a short term (ie 1-5 years) personal loan specifically for medical procedures.

You are also able to claim any private medical expenses as a tax deduction, (this offsets the interest on the medical loan).

[Tam-I-Am]

I 'beat' the waiting list by travelling to a much smaller town (with a much smaller waiting list) that my surgeon travelled to, at one stage. Might be worth asking about?

[Opinionated]

Yep, I was going to suggest what Tam did. My girlfriend needed surgery and lives near the city. The city waiting list was about 14 months. She had her surgery 20 minutes away from my house at a regional hospital after waiting 4 months.

[Veritas]

Yep even 20 yrs ago when I had mine done we travelled to a smaller hosp as it was shorter wait list

[gurlmakes3]

thanks so much girls i will give all ideas a go thanks again