Can I get free X-Rays over here? (Melbourne)

CM24

So I injured my foot a couple of months ago in Dublin. I'v been to a Podiatrist (foot specialist) over here. He said it would help if I had an x-ray. However, I would have had to pay a lot extra to have it done at his clinic as podiatry isn't covered by Medicare.

However, visits to a public hospital are covered. Can I just march in and ask for an X-Ray or is there more to it? I don't mind waiting a few hours. I can't even work (manual labour) with my foot being in the state that it's in so I have a lot of free time. I'm on a WHV. I've heard of lots of Irish people getting free treatment for little minor injuries but I'm not sure about x-rays. Please let me know if you can advise me.

pete4130

Yes. It's reciprocal healthcare for emergency room between Ireland and Aus. I've been to hospital several times for free. Once for a suspect broken wrist, once for suspect tick bite. I just walked in and said I was in pain/discomfort (which I was) and showed them my passport. They are more strict now where you physically have to have your passport, not a copy.

Most recently I've been to get my back checked from a suspected work related injury while working remotely in QLD. I walked in, said I was in discomfort and was seen too. Got seen to, got a urine sample taken (I had transferred pain to my groin from the back injury) and referral to get an Ultra sound. The local ultra sound place was fully booked for some time in the local town so I drove to the next large town and walked in to the ER, said I had back/groin pain and was seen to there and then. They were actually kind enough to accept a scan/email of my passport as it was back in Sydney.



So just walk in, say you hurt your foot a while ago and its still really sore and you think you need an Xray. Don't mention pediatrist. Just say its been sore a while might be broken.

mandrake04

I work in X-Ray mostly in NucMed in Hospitals and Private Radiology practices like Castlereagh or Symbion.

An X-Ray itself is not going to help your foot, it's likely your podiatrist wants to look at an X-Ray to determine any damage.

If you rock into a hospital with a sore foot they can take an X-Ray to determine if it's broken or not, of course this would probably be covered under the Reciprocal but they are not going to hand you over a Film or Hardcopy so you can bring it to your podiatrist. (Most X-Ray these days is digital on-screen so the Doctor just looks at the screen and makes the diagnosis)

If you go to a private practice they take the X-Ray and either give you a film or a CD, of course most people pay up front and if it's Referable/Claimable then bring the receipt to Medicare and get some of the money back or if it's for private treatment your health insurance pays towards it.

I assume you are on the reciprocal so you aren't entitled to Medicare.

CM24

I actually had an x-ray taken back in Dublin after the incident happened. They said there were no bones broken. However, the physio said that with foot injuries there can be some tiny bones (sesamoids) broken that wouldn't be seen on the x-ray. Also, apparently over time extra spurs of bone start growing in the damaged area which then restrict movement of the joint. Osteoarthritis also begins to develop when not treated properly. I work in the fitness industry and am very passionate about sports so it's crucial for me to get this sorted. It's having a bad impact on my career and general mood.

I think I'd need a copy of the X-Ray that I can bring to the Podiatrist. Why do hospital's not give out copies of the x-rays? I'm hoping to start Prolotherapy injections to try and get my foot better. Nothing else has worked. There are numerous reports of this injury being succesfully treated this way. I just don't know if the Podiatrist will let me start the treatment without looking at an X-Ray first. I'm guessing it would cost a few hundred to go to a private practice and get it X-Rayed there? I'm on a Working Holiday Visa.

Legend100

I had an x-ray done about two years ago in an imaging centre in Randwick (broke my finger travelling and finaly got it checked a month later when I arrived here)

GP referred me and it was about $40 if I remember and that was to take away the hard copy x-ray


.......needless to say I was a bit too late to have anything done to my mangled finger!

mandrake04

CM24 wrote: »

I think I'd need a copy of the X-Ray that I can bring to the Podiatrist.

A general hospital X-Ray of your foot might be useless to a Podiatrist, they would be manipulating your foot and taking different angles and adjusting exposure specifically looking for problems.... a ED X-Ray is looking for a break/fracture.

CM24 wrote: »

Why do hospital's not give out copies of the x-rays?

You could ask but when you usually go to ED and get an X-Ray for a suspected break/Fracture and if its not broken that's usually good news so why would they give you a hard copy? Did they give you a copy in Dublin?

If you ask for a copy they will probably ask why you want it and catch on you are wasting their time looking a free X-Ray for Private use. These people are usual pretty intelligent. I don't know what the staff are like in Melbourne but in Public Hospitals in Sydney they would question that especially if you have not been referred by a specialist for a particular procedure and most X-Rays are used for in-house.

You can still ask, buts as the X-Ray might be of little use it could be a waste of everyone's time.

CM24 wrote: »

I'm guessing it would cost a few hundred to go to a private practice and get it X-Rayed there? I'm on a Working Holiday Visa.

Depends on how many X-Rays is required (from different angles) but they are not as expensive as you think but if you get multiple they mount up.

If you are on a Working Holiday do you have holiday insurance? sure you could always claim it back.

Mellor

I need my leg/foot x-ray'd when on a 457. Went to the hospital, it was free, took 4 xrays from different angles and gave my the hard copy to bring home.

mandrake04

Mellor wrote: »

I need my leg/foot x-ray'd when on a 457. Went to the hospital, it was free, took 4 xrays from different angles and gave my the hard copy to bring home.

POW hosp?

Mellor

Yeah, casualty in POW. I asked for a hardcopy.
There's a private radiology/Medical Imaging clinic out there too, not sure if its the same department.

I got hard copy when I went for an x-ray and ultrasound to the Medical Imaging place in waverley. I had medicare for that one though.

irishmover

Had to get an MRI at an Xray clinic. Didn't have Medicare was on reciprocal but wasn't accepted so had to fork out $180 for it.

Couldn't get the MRI at a hospital as quick as it was needed (suffered moderate head injuries not getting into it) so had to go the private clinic route.

MRI's in hospital on check up didn't cost money so as above hospital visits is free but anything else isn't.