Why don't we have one of these in Australia?

[#1]

Here is a link to the number 1 rated cancer hospital in the US. A multi disciplinary approach under the ONE roof. Not only this, but they provide Patient and Family Support along with other activites, such as medication and acupuncture, relaxation and stress management. They also deal with Palliative Care and Rehab medicine. I have to ask, Why does Australia not have a facility like this? http://www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancer-information/care-centers-and-clinics/index.html

[samex]

Perhaps the new facility to be built as proposed by the late Chris O'Brien will be similar to this one. Not really sure. S

[#3]

I hope so. it seems like everyone else is ahead of us. It was so stressful having to take dad to this place, that place, not to mention uncomfortable for him, especially when he had to use a wheelchair. My father was an immigrant to Australia even though he could speak English, he still had trouble understanding at times and without native speakers (my brother and myself), it would have been an absolute nightmare for him. I'm not just trying to whack our health system here, but some of these hospitals have been around for years in other countries and we have to lag behind everybody in the first world countries. Its dissapointing.

[#4]

From what I understand there is a cancer centre at most major public and private hospitals throughout metropolitan Australia. I have been to a multidisciplinary team from the day of my diagnosis. All under one roof I have access to - Surgeon, radiotherapy specialist, medical oncologist, clinical nurse, dietician and social worker. It runs like a well oiled machine & I have felt nothing but well cared for right from the beginning up until now - 3 years after treatment. There are many issues with the current American health system which is why they are in the midst of changing it all. Plus from what I understand, the only patients most of these centres in the US will accept are those with insurance or the means to pay. My cancer centre is covered by medicare. Downsides to both and neither are perfect. I know where I would rather be.

[Jules2]

I agree that there are hospitals that have the multidisciplinary approach, although, not all. I found it was easy enoughh to access though as my hospital didnt have those facilities under one roof. It is harder but doable i found. Oh to live in an ideal world? :) Julie

[#6]

I'm glad your experience has been positive. but there are many that are not. The issues that you refer to about US healthcare has nothing to do with the quality of care at all. It's all tied in with insurance, and you will find its "not" popular with the majority of citizens who are happy with their healthcare. There are problems, ie: not covering those with preexisting conditions and illegals who clog up their emergency centres because they can't get insurance, and the costs of medical procedures if you don't have insurance, but I can assure you, that it is 10 times better than the rubbish public health system in Australia. There are no waiting lists, you don't wait to see a doctor and the quality of care and service is far above what is received here, even with private health insurance (which covers very little). My husband had insurance, I didn't work, but I was covered, I received state of the art treatment at the doctor, at the dentist and 70% was covered by his insurance, including medication. Of course if I didn't work and wasn't married I would have been sent to an emergency hospital which looks like your typical public hospital in Australia. In the US they cannot refuse you treatment at these hospitals. The "socialist" experiment the democrats want to shove down the throat of America, you will find is partially responsible for his tanking poll numbers, and for two subsequent state elections both being won by the republicans after being won by the democrats in the federal election. Americans have seen what happens with public health systems in the UK and Canada and don't want their healthcare dictated to by the govt (which I totally support). In Canada in alot of places, doctors are so hard to see that in order to see a regular GP you have to particpate in a take a ticket system to dictate when the doctor will see you - fancy that. Politics aside, medicare does not cover everything, neither does Private insurance (my father had the top level of insurance). You don't get anything for nothing in this world and that includes, top quality healthcare and state of the art facilities, and we don't have them in this country unfortunately. The health system in this country on a whole is not up to par, and needs to lift its game. I know where I'd rather receive health treatment if I needed it and it wouldnt' be here. My father lived here and to my regret, I went along with his wish to stay here instead of going to the US for treatment or a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. I experience alot here in 5 years and the shocking things I saw, heard and witnessed in palliative care, public hospitals have made me realise that when I get seriously sick, I have alot to fear. That's my opinion and I respect yours, but I've also experienced far better treatment and professionalism in the US in the medical field.

[Jules2]

I have to say that i also have had a positive experience with this last bout of cancer. Also with my first bout and then when i was diagnosed with ms it was the same. Perhaps i am just one of the fortunate few. :) I cannot comment on the USA medical system but my aunts in the uk dont seem to have too many problems and my uncle recently has had to have extensive treatment for a problem he has had and hasnt had to wait for treatment. Regards Julie

[#8]

I was not referring to the politics of the health system in the US, my info is not based on a guess it is based on experiences I and other people have had. Unfortunatley, hospitals are somewhere I have spent too much time in my life, both I and my mother have had cancer (my mother twice), I have just lost my beautiful friend to cancer 3 months ago & the palliative care were absolutely amazing. My brother in law also passed away from cancer in Feb last year and the palliative care again were incredible. My friend from the US was not so lucky, they could afford about 12 months worth of treatments, when her ovarian cancer recurred they had no insurance and no money left, their church rallied and raised nearly $30,000 so she could have the exact same chemo (cisplatin) that I was having but mine did not cost me one single cent (medicare covered). Alexia's was $2600 per treatment, she required them weekly for 6 weeks plus radiation - another $20,000. Sadly she lost her battle before the treatments were complete. So I guess my story is similar to yours although different countries, my point is neither is perfect. Im sorry you have lost your father, it is a terribly emotional time. Im no advocate for public health systems. No doubts that there are plenty of issues that should be addressed to make our public system even better. But there are plenty of positives and negatives to both sides.

[#9]

Im sorry, I have just read your last post & are you saying your father was not correctly diagnosed or treated because he was here in Au? We have some of the best, highly skilled, highly trained Doctors in the world. Our cancer research is also second to none (with more funding, even better). Dont take your negative experience as the norm. I owe my Doctor's my life, like many of us on this site. A lot of American Doctors living and working in Australia, surely that also says something.

[#10]

I appreciate what you've said, but believe me, I can't tell my story here, but lets say my father didn't die from his cancer. And my opinions are based on experience, fact and prior to my father's death. I have experienced both systems, and believe me, I stand by what I've said. There are some great doctors here and some great medical staff here too obviously but too few and far between in my experience. The issues with public health systems in this country, the UK and in Canada are very well known outside these countries. There are reasons people from around the world go to the US for treatment, there not flooding Australia's borders for healthcare, and those that do come can't afford the treatments provided in the US. There is absolutely no way, that anyone could possibly even suggest the healthcare received in this country surpasses what is received in the US. I am very Australian, but I won't defend a system with so many problems, that I have seen cost someone close to me his life. And I am not one case, but one of many. As for alot of US doctors working here, I can't confirm this, I can only state, that the payrate here wouldn't be enough to attract the very best (and from my discussion with my own Dr in the US, isn't fond of socialist medicine ie: public health care), I have yet to meet one American doctor, although my father's Aussie urologist (was brilliant) was US trained - he spend years at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in NY, no surprise there. The point is no system is perfect, and we all have our preferences, I believe a much higher standard here is required. And certain legislations altered to not protect doctors and nurses who are negligent in their care.