Categories: uncategorized
Date: 21 August 2005 03:45:54
Perhaps no strange thing for our friends overseas, or our fellow men and women in the bush, but it was a first for me.
I've always been to GPs that bulk bill. I've always been lucky enough to have a GP that bulk bills. However, today I woke up with a rash and I wasn't sure if I was contagious or what I had, so I thought I better get it checked out: especially as it was terribly itchy. My GP is closed Sundays, so I went to a Medical Centre near church. $50 was the rate. $50! But thanks be to God that it was something that was just a fungal infection.
I can, being employed and receiving a reasonable wage, afford this: but I doubt I'll be going back there in a hurry. I have a choice: and I think next time I'll stay in bed until Monday when my GP is open. Having thought about, 'What if this was the only doctor available?', on the way home from church, I truly feel for those who have no choice in the matter, especially those who are poor and those in rural and regional Australia where the bulk billing rate is much lower than in the cities. It's quite sad on my part that I didn't think much about this before: I'd heard about the decreasing rate of bulk billing on the news, but most GPs and Medical Centres in my area do so. It was quite a shock to see a "No Bulk Billing -- $50 Consultation Fee" sign displayed.
I know the Government coffers are not unlimited and I know there is a massive discrepancy between health care in the major cities and others part of Australia, but -- simple man I am -- I can but pray that those who are poor, disadvantaged, or simply those who live outside major cities, are remembered by our Government and are not neglected in their health needs. Lord, have mercy.