Every week I get one or two complaints about long waiting time in our waiting room. This has been a really thorny issue which we are struggling to deal with.
On one hand, we like to see patient as soon as they come. On the other, most presentations we have now are more complicated than the usual cold and flu. We have more elderly patients. We also have more mums with very small babies in huge prams.
To make thing worse, many other practices around us have stopped bulk billing, leaving only a few places that bulk bill, and we are one of those last standing - often overwhelmed by the exodus from the private billing practices.
The appointment went out the window in 2008 as we cannot turn away the "walk-ins" with urgent problems.
I think health care shoulde be free for everyone. But if doctors are overwhelmed by the sheer demand of patient load, they'll get tired and their level of care will plummet.
Many people have asked me to follow the trend and private bill - mainly to survive financially and maintain level of care. They have their reasons. They want to pay and have less time waiting. They threaten to leave our practcie if the waiting time continues to stretch.
Others asked me to bulk bill, because they cannot afford the fee.
Let me know what you think. Will you likely to pay for shorter waiting time, or should health care be free - regardless?
