Disgraceful HSE waiting lists

PutDownArtist

I had a serious accident in Peru which necessitated my return to Ireland. It looks like I've moved from one 3rd world health system to another -- 2 months on a waiting list just to get an initial assessment. Has is always been this bad?

BoJack Horseman

PutDownArtist wrote: »

I had a serious accident in Peru which necessitated my return to Ireland. It looks like I've moved from one 3rd world health system to another -- 2 months on a waiting list just to get an initial assessment. Has is always been this bad?

Yes, there have always been waiting lists.
Depending on the issue its getting worse.

What was the ailment?

And what was the cash cost of visiting a consultant instead of waiting for it to be done for?

PutDownArtist

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Yes, there have always been waiting lists.

What was the ailment?

And what was the cash cost of visiting a consultant instead of waiting for it to be done for?

Multiple fractures of my left leg and hand plus broken ribs.

I'm totally broke so can't afford to shell out for a consultant.

It seems unreasonable to make me wait for 2 months.

BoJack Horseman

Did A&E not cover that or was that covered in Peru?

And I would at least look into paying the consultant/doctor privately.

It may prove affordable.
(€180-€200 in my experience).

But yes, if you want something free, don't be surprised if there is a queue.

Potatoeman

Are you not covered under travel insurance?

Bogger77

no travel insurance?

Why would A&E deal with a patient who was treated initially in another country, and is not a new injury?

PutDownArtist

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Did A&E not cover that or was that covered in Peru?

I was only really patched up in Peru to be honest; I now have serious problems that need addressing -- and might require further surgery -- but God knows how long that will take.

PutDownArtist

Bogger77 wrote: »

no travel insurance?

Why would A&E deal with a patient who was treated initially in another country, and is not a new injury?

I had basic insurance but it stopped when I got back here, which is a bit of a con tbh.

Dozen Wicked Words

Can you get your GP to speed it up, if it's urgent.

PutDownArtist

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Can you get your GP to speed it up, if it's urgent.

The GP did the best he could, unfortunately all I can do is wait.

The HSE has to be the worst run govt department in the country by some magnitude.

BoJack Horseman

PutDownArtist wrote: »

The GP did the best he could, unfortunately all I can do is wait.

The HSE has to be the worst run govt department in the country by some magnitude.

Maybe.... Maybe not....

Ireland spends little on healthcare relative to other countries. (8.9% of GDP).

we can always ask to be taxed more.

PutDownArtist

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Maybe.... Maybe not....

Ireland spends little on healthcare relative to other countries. (8.9% of GDP).

we can always ask to be taxed more.

Or spend less in other areas?

I would happily have a portion sliced off my 188 eu if I could get some decent treatment.

oscarBravo

PutDownArtist wrote: »

I would happily have a portion sliced off my 188 eu if I could get some decent treatment.

...whereas other people on social protection but not in urgent need of medical attention would be angry at such a move. If the government were to slash the dole to pay for an improved health service, there would be an uproar that would make the shemozzle over water look like a teddy bears' picnic.

Bogger77

PutDownArtist wrote: »

Or spend less in other areas?

I would happily have a portion sliced off my 188 eu if I could get some decent treatment.

based on your other thread, you should be glad that you are receiving any free healthcare, and free welfare cash.

if I've read your thread right, you are a benefit tourist.

you say the HSE is the worst run dept, I'd wager it's the Social Welfare, as they are giving you cash which you haven't earned any entitlement too. You skipped outa here 6yrs ago, and have strolled back in expecting to be brought to top of the queue to receive medical treatment for injuries you sustained in another country, where you went on holidays without proper heath insurance. Prodigal son story was only a bible story, it's not going to happen in real world. You're only in Ireland cos you can't afford treatment in the US.

Disgraceful waiting lists? If you were brought to A+E, after receiving those injuries in Ireland, they'd have taken care of you, but you didn't injury yourself in Ireland, but you expect top of the range treatment here, when you come back? Sorry, you skimped on insurance, now you're dealing with the consequences.

Dannyboy83

Reminds me of an old post I wrote years ago:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=75598314&postcount=21

When my partner was out of work for nearly 3 years from '08 to '11, she couldn't get social welfare, because we were means tested since we were cohabiting, only our income was examined, not outgoing.
We were worse off then your average SW recipient.

When she did a FAS course, they wouldn't pay her since she wasn't entitled to JSA.

Didn't matter that we (particularly me) have paid a fortune into the system.
I wasn't entitled to any of her tax credits either.

We also had to send her abroad to get medical treatment privately and our private health insurance wouldn't cover a cent of it.

I'm not criticizing you for leaving, I commend you for doing what it took to find work.
And I dislike when people are told 'think how lucky you are', when they highlight a genuine problem.......... but having said that, perhaps you should put this in perspective - you haven't been here for 6 years and technically shouldn't be entitled to assistance.

We didn't go anywhere, we were contributing all along but received absolutely zero help when we badly needed it. (I would have been strongly left leaning, pro-government, pro-socialism growing up - this particular experience strongly altered my views)

Bear in mind also, the reason this nation has such limited funding for so many areas of the economy, is in no small part due to the extraordinary policy of protecting SW recipients

http://www.esri.ie/publications/search_for_a_publication/search_results/view/index.xml?id=4049
“The need for increased taxes and for cuts elsewhere in the economy was greatly increased by the decision by successive governments to protect those on low-incomes who were dependent on the welfare system. This policy choice was different from that adopted in many other EU countries, where income inequality increased significantly as a result of the crisis.”

steddyeddy

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Did A&E not cover that or was that covered in Peru?

And I would at least look into paying the consultant/doctor privately.

It may prove affordable.
(€180-€200 in my experience).

But yes, if you want something free, don't be surprised if there is a queue.

Did you establish that the OP isn't paying taxes here?

nice_guy80

a lot of waiting lists are caused by people simply not turning up to appointments.

probably due to being at work, or too unwell to attend, and maybe some laziness.

PutDownArtist

Dannyboy83 wrote: »

I'm not criticizing you for leaving, I commend you for doing what it took to find work.
And I dislike when people are told 'think how lucky you are', when they highlight a genuine problem.......... but having said that, perhaps you should put this in perspective - you haven't been here for 6 years and technically shouldn't be entitled to assistance.

W

Thank you for at least acknowledging the fact that I left this country to WORK, and by doing so saved the govt tens of thousands in benefit payments.

Sadly most people chose to view my noble decision as an act of desert, which is totally ridiculous. I would ask these people what exactly should I have done? Stay and claim? They of course would have resented me just as much.

You clearly can't win with some people in this country.

I do think non contributory benefits are probably too high here, despite the fact I'm receiving them.

PutDownArtist

nice_guy80 wrote: »

a lot of waiting lists are caused by people simply not turning up to appointments.

probably due to being at work, or too unwell to attend, and maybe some laziness.

Is it not in the consultants' interests for waiting lists to be high? It surely means more people will cave in and pay the cash rather than wait for months and months.

I'm just too skint at the moment to cough up such cash unfortunately.

Dannyboy83

PutDownArtist wrote: »

Thank you for at least acknowledging the fact that I left this country to WORK, and by doing so saved the govt tens of thousands in benefit payments.

Sadly most people chose to view my noble decision as an act of desert, which is totally ridiculous. I would ask these people what exactly should I have done? Stay and claim? They of course would have resented me just as much.

You clearly can't win with some people in this country.

I do think non contributory benefits are probably too high here, despite the fact I'm receiving them.

You shouldn't ask those people anything, & in particular, I would ignore the views of at least half of the people in these forums.

A lot of people are speaking from a theoretical position only.
Frequently they have zero personal experience when it comes to some the issues pontificated on:

"Everybody has a plan, until they punched in the face..."
Mike Tyson

PutDownArtist

I guess for some people how much money you have/can make is all that matters, everything else is irrelevant. Life is all about cash and other material objects.

If you haven't paid 'x' amount of tax you can find a nice comfy place on the street and raise funds for your medical treatment by begging.

It's scary to think that some people think in this way but the posts in this thread prove it to be the case.

hfallada

Im sorry but if you want excellent health care, you have to pay for it. Whether its true higher taxes or insurance. In Irelands case you need to buy insurance. Its the same as if you live in Germany or the US. I dont understand how you can fork up for flights halfway around the world, but cant afford to see a consultant privately. There is opportunity costs for everything in life. Health must not be a priority for you.

We could have an excellent system in Ireland like Germany. But I dont think anyone in Ireland, would like to pay 8.2% of their income for health insurance. A good health system costs money, money which Irish people dont want spent on it.

PutDownArtist

hfallada wrote: »

Im sorry but if you want excellent health care, you have to pay for it. Whether its true higher taxes or insurance. In Irelands case you need to buy insurance. Its the same as if you live in Germany or the US. I dont understand how you can fork up for flights halfway around the world, but cant afford to see a consultant privately. There is opportunity costs for everything in life. Health must not be a priority for you.

We could have an excellent system in Ireland like Germany. But I dont think anyone in Ireland, would like to pay 8.2% of their income for health insurance. A good health system costs money, money which Irish people dont want spent on it.

Ireland and the UK spend roughly the same on health care; it's funny how you're too embarrassed to mention the NHS because we all know which service is superior.

I wish I had family in the UK!

Kat1170

PutDownArtist wrote: »

Ireland and the UK spend roughly the same on health care; it's funny how you're too embarrassed to mention the NHS because we all know which service is superior.

I wish I had family in the UK!

You've been away for the last couple of years or you would have realized Germany is to be held up as Boards.ie's shining example of how everything should be run. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

heyjude

hfallada wrote: »

We could have an excellent system in Ireland like Germany. But I dont think anyone in Ireland, would like to pay 8.2% of their income for health insurance. A good health system costs money, money which Irish people dont want spent on it.

The Health Budget for the coming year is €13.079bn (www.irishexaminer.com/budget2015/budget2015-news/health-budget-plan-doesnt-add-up-says-critic-291523.html ) and the estimated income tax receipts are €18.442bn (www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2015/Documents/White%20Paper%202015_final.pdf ) meaning that the Health budget accounts for 70.9% of the governments' receipts from income tax, so if income tax alone accounts for more than 11.56% of your gross income, then you are already paying 8.2% of your income for health (whether you call it insurance or not).

Health spending increased massively during the boom years, but whether we got good value for the extra expenditure could be open to debate. Before any move to inject further funds from whatever source, surely we need to avoid making the same mistakes again. I read somewhere that the country had more public hospital beds in the 1980s than it does today, which if true, is very disturbing given the increase in health expenditure and increase in population since then.

Godge

Was going to reply and then read this about another thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=93224242&postcount=22

PutDownArtist

I sent a PM to that mod demanding an explanation; I'm still awaiting a reply.

Arcto

Serious reek of self entitlement in here OP.

The country's broke. You know this. Where do you expect them to magic up money to improve healthcare? I got travel insurance quote from 25plus.ie recently for 30 days it was 37 yoyo for me AND my wife. No one can say they cannot afford that. You took a gamble, you lost. Sorry.

PutDownArtist

Arcto wrote: »

Serious reek of self entitlement in here OP.

The country's broke. You know this. Where do you expect them to magic up money to improve healthcare? I got travel insurance quote from 25plus.ie recently for 30 days it was 37 yoyo for me AND my wife. No one can say they cannot afford that. You took a gamble, you lost. Sorry.

I DID have basic travel insurance, but it only covered my hospital care in Peru and transport to here. No follow up treatment unfortunately.

I can't help feeing that the country is broke because it's so badly managed. People on here would rather attack me than tackle the corrupt clowns in power who are clearly not fit to govern.

BoJack Horseman

PutDownArtist wrote: »

I can't help feeing that the country is broke because it's so badly managed. People on here would rather attack me than tackle the corrupt clowns in power who are clearly not fit to govern.

We await your alternative to the corruptibility of human nature.

(The country isn't broke, the government are).

hfallada

heyjude wrote: »

The Health Budget for the coming year is €13.079bn (www.irishexaminer.com/budget2015/budget2015-news/health-budget-plan-doesnt-add-up-says-critic-291523.html ) and the estimated income tax receipts are €18.442bn (www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2015/Documents/White%20Paper%202015_final.pdf ) meaning that the Health budget accounts for 70.9% of the governments' receipts from income tax, so if income tax alone accounts for more than 11.56% of your gross income, then you are already paying 8.2% of your income for health (whether you call it insurance or not).

Health spending increased massively during the boom years, but whether we got good value for the extra expenditure could be open to debate. Before any move to inject further funds from whatever source, surely we need to avoid making the same mistakes again. I read somewhere that the country had more public hospital beds in the 1980s than it does today, which if true, is very disturbing given the increase in health expenditure and increase in population since then.

But once you earn over €400 in Germany a month you pay for health insurance. Next year you can earn €12k without paying a cent on USC or income taxes. Germany makes its low income workers pay for health insurance. Where as in Ireland, its taken out of the exchequer.

Private hospitals are now huge. Think of the amount that were built and expanded in the last 15 years. I wouldnt be surprised if public beds are fewer with more people in private beds

Mrs OBumble

Arcto wrote: »

Serious reek of self entitlement in here OP.

The country's broke. You know this. Where do you expect them to magic up money to improve healthcare? I got travel insurance quote from 25plus.ie recently for 30 days it was 37 yoyo for me AND my wife. No one can say they cannot afford that. You took a gamble, you lost. Sorry.

Clearly you have no idea of what travel insurance covers.

Basically, if you're hurt overseas, it pays for your immediate treatment there, and then your repatriation home. It does not pay for continuing treatment once you're back at home - that is the responsibility of your home government, or whatever other arrangements your country makes for proving healthcare to its citizens.

This is what happened for the OP, and it's the same for any other Irish person who is injured while working in Australia / Canada / South America etc - and for any person from those countries who is injured here in Ireland.

IMHO as an Irish citizen, the OP is absolutely entitled to decent medical treatment, and to income support while s/he is unable to work. I would agree with the observation about the HSE being poorly run.

And as for the country being broke - rubbish. You only need to look at the spending on the streets for Christmas to know that the recession has well and truly packed its bags.

OP - is there any chance that your family can help with cash to get a speedier consultant's appointment? I know you probably don't want to ask them, but for the sake of a few hundred you may find you can get treated more quickly.

PutDownArtist

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Clearly you have no idea of what travel insurance covers.

Basically, if you're hurt overseas, it pays for your immediate treatment there, and then your repatriation home. It does not pay for continuing treatment once you're back at home - that is the responsibility of your home government, or whatever other arrangements your country makes for proving healthcare to its citizens.

This is what happened for the OP, and it's the same for any other Irish person who is injured while working in Australia / Canada / South America etc - and for any person from those countries who is injured here in Ireland.

IMHO as an Irish citizen, the OP is absolutely entitled to decent medical treatment, and to income support while s/he is unable to work. I would agree with the observation about the HSE being poorly run.

And as for the country being broke - rubbish. You only need to look at the spending on the streets for Christmas to know that the recession has well and truly packed its bags.

OP - is there any chance that your family can help with cash to get a speedier consultant's appointment? I know you probably don't want to ask them, but for the sake of a few hundred you may find you can get treated more quickly.

It's a miracle: a poster on this site willing to show some compassion and who actually knows what empathy is. Allow me to savour this moment.

If I had it, I would gladly pony up the cash to speed up my treatment; asking my parents is not really an option because they are both quite skint at the moment.

It really has given me a boost knowing that not everyone on here wants me out on the street in the cold with my begging bowl.

Highflyer13

I've been waiting since last Christmas to see a consultant with breathing trouble. They put me on an inhaler and I went for specialist respiratory tests in June. The consultant is going to analyse last Decembers X-Rays and the respitory test results together. But I've been told that will be the new year. Tbh as the weather has got colder the last few days I've become very ill again. I feel like it is slowly killing me. Putting on a brave face but not sure what to do. Unnacepptable imo. I nearly died last Christmas after collapsing with breathing problems in work.

My girlfriends sister is a doctor in Venezuela of all places so I'm considering going there to get sorted. Despite their garbage economy the health system doesn't seem awful.

Scared Hitless

hfallada wrote: »

But I dont think anyone in Ireland, would like to pay 8.2% of their income for health insurance. A good health system costs money, money which Irish people dont want spent on it.

I used to work for the HSE and there is incredible waste throughout the system. A good health system would not waste money needlessly but the HSE are masters of it. It was embarrassing.

babyboom

Our doctor picked up an irregular heartbeat in my then 10 year old son. He waited 3½ years to get an appointment in Temple Street. Thankfully it turned out not to be serious but the waiting times, particularly for children, are ridiculous. I'm waiting for an MRI and have been told I will probably be waiting around 9 months. Let's hope those headaches are nothing too serious.

BoJack Horseman

babyboom wrote: »

I'm waiting for an MRI and have been told I will probably be waiting around 9 months. Let's hope those headaches are nothing too serious.

An MRI costs €200 - €220.

If you truely value your health, the cost is equivalent a half year of UPC/Sky TV.

I wouldn't be waiting 9 months for it to be given for free.

Dan_Solo

All I want to know is how do you save enough money for a holiday in Peru when you're on the dole?
(if you didn't bring any money back that's basically what it was?)

PutDownArtist

Dan_Solo wrote: »

All I want to know is how do you save enough money for a holiday in Peru when you're on the dole?
(if you didn't bring any money back that's basically what it was?)

That would be because I wasn't on the dole, Danny.

endacl

PutDownArtist wrote: »

That would be because I wasn't on the dole, Danny.

Shame you didn't organise health insurance during the years you spent working in the states. Would obamacare not give you a dig out?

PutDownArtist

endacl wrote: »

Shame you didn't organise health insurance during the years you spent working in the states. Would obamacare not give you a dig out?

You appear to know very little about how the US health system operates. What a surprise.