Currently the average length of time from a first referral with a doctor, to surgery is:
Private 52 days
Public 151 days
The public health system is good with acute services (like heart attacks), complex children’s services, long term chronic conditions and intensive specialist services. However it’s not so good with elective surgery, and it has limited treatment options, which are not always provided by specialists. It’s also called public health for a reason – patients have to deal with a lack of privacy.
Statistics show that treatments are becoming more complex. Cardiac treatment for example, is moving to less invasive treatments, but with this comes more technology – and a bigger price tag.
The only way to guarantee one has an option, is to pay for private health insurance.
John Barber