NSW Health.....Needing its own health check

I know I have somewhat talked about this in the past, but its one of my issues which is close to my heart because I think the way in which NSW Health currently runs for not only everyone, but more so people with disabilties is disgraceful.

For example, as I have Spina Bifida, I attend the Spina Bifida Clinic at Westmead Hospital (the adults hospital) in which at the end of the day, it has become a "referral" clinic. Basically you see one Doctor who might know a little bit about your condition to which they say you need to be looked into and referred to say the chronic pain team or see the urology clinic or the neurosurgery clinic, etc. Now yes that is somewhat good because it does 'streamline' services, but it doesn't help the patient at the end of the day.

Why?

Simply because referring to these clinics can lead to long waiting times, to which currently the chronic pain team or clinic are currently not taking on any new patients at westmead unless its honestly an emergency, otherwise the waiting list stands at a minimum 2.5 years before your going to even get in the door. And that is only the start, or end when you think about it.

I don't know how or why things have gotten this bad. Yeah ok the previous Government did undercut or not invest in health, but given now funding has somewhat increased, has things gotten better - hell no!!

I mean, what happened to the good old days when I was a kid and went to the children's hospital at camperdown and then Westmead when it moved and I attended the Spina Bifida Clinic and you would see all the doctors you required right there on that clinic day (which is generally a Friday, or used to be) and you would only get a referral if you had to have tests or if a certain Doctor was not able to make the clinis that day.

Its like that was the good old days or more so, when you're a kid, they chuck all the resources at you, but once you become an adult and get 'referred' to the adult clinics respectfully, ots like thank you and well good luck.

Its a joke and both politicians, department and hospital heads need to make change happen. Yeah it will probably be a painful change but its a necessary one if you ask me. Its time that we look at what can be done to make things become better for the patient instead of the hospital and the budget at the end of the day, because there should NEVER EVER ABE A PRICE ON ANYONE'S HEALTH at the end of the day!!

I am sorry for the caps words above but I am frustrated and over it. No one wants to make change happen for the better and they seem to want to put a price on patients or you and I at the end of the day health wise.

Its just not on and not certainly fair!!

Another Hospital Tale

It seems to be every time I come into hospital I seem to have a real life story to share, yet this one has two significant and important messages. 

The first story is about a gentleman who was riding on his motorcycle on his property in which he ended up having an accident. Now he was with two other people at the time but they where closing up and sorting out the locks for the paddock and by the time they caught up with him they found him on the ground, blood pouring out, dazed and confused. The short story is he is in hospital because he has memory loss (as he cannot remember how or what accident he had and he keeps having memory lapses of what day, year, month or even job he has) and has a large blood clot in which he is receiving medicine to help this issue.

However the moral of that story is to always no matter where ever you might be, if you are going to ride a bike, motorbike or scooter or even a buggy, please ensure you wear a helmet and always stay in a pack if you are going out anywhere. This ensures if anything goes wrong, at least you will have someone to get or give help.

The second story is quite a sad story. This is a story of a woman who came onto the ward and has been in rehabilitation for drug addiction since 1979! 

That’s at least 32 years!

It is just amazes me how much drug addiction can do to people and family. In this story the sad part of it is that one of her son’s lives over in the UK and is only coming over to Australia later on this year to renew his passport, whilst the other son was by her bedside with his wife trying their best to understand what went wrong with her.

Her son and her brother tried hard to communicate with her but as she did not have her hearing aides (none of the family knew where they were as she lives with a flat mate who coincidentally on the night she came into the room I am in, snuck her out for a smoke - naughty naughty) and you can see on their face how much they where upset, strained and tired as this had been her third admission this year, previously been admitted to ICU because of a drug overdose on her medication.

It truly shows the effects of drug addiction can have on a family and what toll it can also bring to have a loved one, a son or daughter being thousands of miles away and not willing to have any contact with you at all.

It’s truly sad.

So what I ask of you if you are reading this is to ensure you always stay safe, in a pack of with at least a couple of mates, ensure you wear all appropriate safety gear such as a helmet of goggles etc and also please and I can only really plead that you stay away from drugs like ICE, cocaine, marijuana etc as even short term, part term or long term addiction of these drugs can have a massive toll later on down the track.

I would also like to point out that if you are having issues with a friend or you feel you have an addiction and wish to give up, there is help out there and I have a couple of numbers below which you can contact anonymously:

LifeLine: 13 11 14 or you can also visit their website at www.lifeline.org.au 

Family Drug Help Line: 1300 660 068 or you can visit their website at www.familydrughelp.org.au 

SANE Australia: 1800 18 SANE (7263) or you can find out about SANE Australia’s mental health work and fact sheets online at www.sane.org.au

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 or you can find out more on their website at www.kidshelp.com.au 

Please remember that you can remain anonymous and there is help out there!