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?
9 comments:
I am a regular patient and have noticed that waiting times are long only in the hours just before or after work (ie: before 9am and after 5pm)
I have ongoing health issues and sometimes visit the clinic once every week or two weeks. It would be a real financial issue if I needed to pay each time, especially as I am not working sure to illness !
Maybe you should make people pay who come at the peak times, maybe that would spread the patients out more.
I certainly hope that bulk billing would still be available for students, retired people and those not working.
The good thing about your surgery is that the doctors generally take the time to properly consult with patients (unlike the larger medical centres who pump people through the doors).
I've noticed lots of GP's no longer accept 'new' patients. Would you consider this as an option to manage your waiting list?
Great ideas! We'll ponder on it over Christmas.
Few more suggestions from other clients:
- One appointment per hour: This means people who has non-urgent issues can wait over 2-3 weeks for an appointment. Walk-ins can have 45 mins every hour, appointments 15 mins. I kinda like this idea.
- Pay for an appointment: This will put people with financial stress in disadvantage.
- From my son: "Shut the place and run away!"
I wish I could - but he is only six! and probably will want private education :-(((
Have a great Christmas and New Year everyone!
I think bulk billing is great and I think health care should be free for everyone. Most people only go to the doctor when they need to, especially if they do have to wait. I can understand that some people would prefer to pay and not wait but I think the waiting part is fine. Generally speaking the wait is usually longer when it is before work or just after. The doctors at Avoca Street are efficient but thorough. If people realise there is a long wait then they can always return on another occasion. I haven't found the wait particularly unreasonable though and the way I see it, if people want to go elsewhere where there is appointment system and they can pay then that is their choice.
Hi all,
I have decided to make appointments available again. But only one per hour per doctor. This will at least help people who really want an appointment. Hopefully, the doctor can see the booked patients within reasonable time and still finds time to see the walk-ins.
Bulk billing comes at a price - known as life ain't fair. If you can't afford the fee then regretfully the wait time is the price you pay. Not much really when you get from your practice better quality service than elsewhere. I plead guilty for being part of the problem. Just yesterday I recommended a newcomer to Randwick to see you - that makes about a dozen or so new patients. What I like is if the queue is big, you can disappear and do something else (coffee, pay a bill, shop) and come back with your place still in the queue. You could go high tech and have a ticket system (like the RTA, Medicare etc) and Narelle could call the numbers just like bingo! Nobody could then be offended if they thought someone was a queue jumper. Don't ababdon your principles for free medicine even if you don't get to drive the Masserati. On a scale of 0 to 10 you're up there at the top. Tony (McNamara)
Hi Tony,
So it was YOU! I wonder where do all these new patients come from...
No, I won't drop bulk-billing... until I drop dead.
I am trialling the one-per-hour system. Naelle and her girls are really stressing me out about this change. But let's wait and see how it turns out.
Since i cam back from the US, we have started the new one-per-hour-perdoc apoointment policy. It seesm to have worked well. People who really want appointment can now ring our reception to book, but only for the next day and after. We do not take same day appointment to avoid collision with the urgent walk-ins.
Fingers crossed ...
Some feedback for you Dr Kien, the appointment/hour system is fantastic! I had no idea about it until Mandy told me I could book my baby in for vaccinations, but what a relief it was to walk in knowing her little unprotected body wasn't likely to get sick waiting in the waiting room for the needles to save her from half of those sicknesses!
I, too, am guilty of referring people to you; the quality of service from all the doctors is excellent and worth the wait. Not all Eastern Suburbs dwellers are the stereotypical wealthy people, so thank goodness there is an outpost of bulk billing left standing!
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