The fascist regime that made you a moron: Thanks dJonkey

[Brian d marge]

One week here for cataract, it took longer for my mate to choose the hospital than the actual treatment

We pay insurance but not as bad as the american model , ours is very affordable,,,certainly not free but cheap enough for it not to be a concern ,,,
My wife takes the boys to the hospital if they have a runny nose!,,,,
Oldies ring for an ambulance because its easier and cheaper than a taxi.. ( the ambulance people are getting pissed of with that )
I accept population scales , but eyes and teeth they bare basics
Even nhs had that right
Stephen

[BoristheBiter]

One week here for cataract, it took longer for my mate to choose the hospital than the actual treatment

We pay insurance but not as bad as the american model , ours is very affordable,,,certainly not free but cheap enough for it not to be a concern ,,,
My wife takes the boys to the hospital if they have a runny nose!,,,,
Oldies ring for an ambulance because its easier and cheaper than a taxi.. ( the ambulance people are getting pissed of with that )
I accept population scales , but eyes and teeth they bare basics
Even nhs had that right
Stephen

Now the truth comes out.
so what do you get for free? got to compare apples with apples.

[pete376403]

cochlear implant waiting time was 5 years from being told I qualified to actually getting it. (but the same surgeon could have done it the same week if i had insurance)

Can only get one side done as now my heaing is considered good enough.

Same as people who need cataract ops. Once one eye is repaired then vision is considered ok, no need to do the other eye. Or they can go private at around $3000 (when fred hollows foundation can do them for $25 in the pacific islands, etc)

[Brian d marge]

Now the truth comes out.
so what do you get for free? got to compare apples with apples.

Same as you ,,,nothing
U pay tax that goes into a slush fund , I pay city hall insurance which,,,, mostly goes into health

Stephen

[unstuck]

For your clothes here's a pretty flower.

[BoristheBiter]

Same as you ,,,nothing
U pay tax that goes into a slush fund , I pay city hall insurance which,,,, mostly goes into health

Stephen

So what is the amount (%) that is taken off you each week by the guberment?

[Ocean1]

Mate trust me
Its crap

I'm concerned to tell you that I wouldn't trust your expertise regarding public health as far as you could spell it.

I asked a question, which you ignored because the answer didn't fit your version of the facts. And I made a statement, which was absolutely correct, and you simply reply "crap"?

I'd suggest you actually find the facts to refute that statement, but you've demonstrated numberous times that you can't actually see anything that doesn't agree with your version so there's little point.

[James Deuce]

NZ healthcare is also one of the best in the world, and we have better health care now than at any time in our history, both in terms of total budget allocation and the number of available services.

Really? I'd have to disagree strongly with that one, particularly in the paediatric realm. We have to push and push to keep 2 of our kids healthy, there is no continuity of service, no joining up of the dots. 50 hospital admissions for one child and they still treat every event like a separate, new instance. That one is still undiagnosed as to why he can't walk and talk from time to time, and they will not respond to polite request, grumpy request, media threats, sitting in people's offices, or Ministerial requests. You just get labelled a "hostile" parent and child is left to suffer with no support as a result. What were supposed to do? Go, oh dear, he can't walk and talk and has tourettes, we're very sorry to have bothered you?

The other one is treading a fine line between leukaemia and hypothyroidism and we're the ones organising the blood tests to stay on top of his blood picture because GPs can only request a blood test on a 6 monthly basis, when there is no diagnosis to hand. In the meantime we have to deal with the multiple infections that result from a poor white-cell count on a case by case basis, with, once again, no joining up of the dots.

I am a "hostile" parent. The NZ health system is leaving my kids to suffer and no longer communicates with us when we ask for help. Why is it unacceptable to advocate strongly for you kids?

Also, from my perspective, I can get no treatment for the osteoarthritis that is the result of multiple accidents and fractures as ACC have declared me "OK" and I can't even begin the diagnostic process until I'm over 55, unless the pain, discomfort, and debilitating effects make it difficult to work.

Also there is no follow up treatment for head injury, no mental health service available for chronic conditions unless you pay for something one can't claim back on medical insurance. It is impossible to access these services unless you have an ethnic bias or a diagnosis that may contribute to you harming someone, then some Government funding will kick in. Fall into that zone of not crazy enough to blow up the local petrol station yet, and you're on your own.

[Brian d marge]

When did NZ's public healthcare funding ever cover teeth and eyes, Outside of school children?

NZ healthcare is also one of the best in the world, and we have better health care now than at any time in our history, both in terms of total budget allocation and the number of available services.

The first question , it kinda obvious , do I really have to answer it ,,,ooohhhn go on then.. never,,, as far as I know , except in emergency


The second part I did answer , but I will make it all nice and long and fluffy , yes its good with regards to treatment received ( WHEN ) youu receive it .... but compared to others it not so good , Hell bells people are coming over here , thailand , and I think vietnam? for treatment because its quicker and cheaper , ( google medical holidays as I suggested )

So no not ignoring you , or things that only fit with my version , ( my version of events tends to be shared by a few other people ....how strange is that ! )

Stephen

[Brian d marge]

So what is the amount (%) that is taken off you each week by the guberment?

8% per month covers everything from teeth to eyes to general health , DOESNT cover serious hear defect and some specialised treatment ,( I think)

plus you have to pay 30 % of the treatment cost up front , but you claim ( some not sure how much but its at least half ) of it back at end of year

I can say that last week for a ct scan , Xray, blood test, check up it took 90 min and including the prescription cost 8000 yen ( in the still cheap but annoying price range 2% of this month income )

more facts brought to you today by facts-r-us


Stephen

[BoristheBiter]

8% per month covers everything from teeth to eyes to general health , DOESNT cover serious hear defect and some specialised treatment ,( I think)

plus you have to pay 30 % of the treatment cost up front , but you claim ( some not sure how much but its at least half ) of it back at end of year

I can say that last week for a ct scan , Xray, blood test, check up it took 90 min and including the prescription cost 8000 yen ( in the still cheap but annoying price range 2% of this month income )

more facts brought to you today by facts-r-us


Stephen

And what about the rest? income tax etc as ours is all lumped in with income tax so all should be included.

Oh and I go for a ct next week cost $0, blood tests for the last month $0 prescription for pain meds $3
I don't know what the exchange rate is but I think I came out better off.

[Brian d marge]

And what about the rest? income tax etc as ours is all lumped in with income tax so all should be included.

Oh and I go for a ct next week cost $0, blood tests for the last month $0 prescription for pain meds $3
I don't know what the exchange rate is but I think I came out better off.

that looks cheap. they must like you , last time I had an xray in NZ it was 70 dollars

not sure what my income tax is ,,around 5 % I think ,plus some "rates"

Stephen

[BoristheBiter]

that looks cheap. they must like you , last time I had an xray in NZ it was 70 dollars

not sure what my income tax is ,,around 5 % I think ,plus some "rates"

Stephen

Just depends on, age, how life threatening it could be, and if you have a good GP.

So you only pay 13% in taxes? does that pay for roads, schools etc?

[Brian d marge]

Just depends on, age, how life threatening it could be, and if you have a good GP.

So you only pay 13% in taxes? does that pay for roads, schools etc?

one assumes so, highways have tolls

Stephen

[Ocean1]

Really?

Yes, really. There’s more resources available for public health now, and that translates into both higher numbers and a wider range of health interventions.

I know you’ve had grief from the system, I don’t know whether the services you want are funded or not. But here’s the thing: it’s simply not possible to deny someone, especially kids whatever they need to stay healthy. It’s also not possible to supply all of that. Having said that, I agree some of the simple organisational and administrative issues you talk about aren’t acceptable.

Given an unlimited budget every one of us would, during our lives consume more in health services than we’ve contributed in tax. There’s always going to be people we can’t afford to fix, the trick is making your health dollar stretch as far as possible. We’ve managed that very well in the past. Pharmac essentially thumb their noses at world legal opinion to bulk-buy generic drugs at way, way less than the price the major producers charge. ACC manage to stitch us up for well under the international average for ED admissions.

Overlaid on that is an age old tradition of politicians fiddling with the system, “because it’s obscene that such-and-such a service/drug is being denied one of their uniquely deserving constituents”. Eventually, your list of funded procedures/drugs becomes far larger than you can afford. How do you then meet budget? You allow waiting lists to balloon until either funding catches up or enough people fall off the back of the list to shrink the service numbers to meet the budget. Sad stuff.

Politicians again: Public health WILL meet these here new waiting list limits! Now what? Across the board, public health service suppliers begin a general unwritten policy of disrupting access to services people are perfectly entitled to. My torn ACL is, apparently “age related” damage. My hearing loss isn’t quite exactly typical industrial-related damage, sorry. Not just sad, but unfair.

Enough. Keep fighting for your kids, Jim. If I can help in any way short of re-remortgaging the house let me know.