Jumping Ship

After 18 years working in the public sector (health) I've decided to jump ship and join the private sector. I start my new job in 4 weeks. I consider myself a highly skilled clinician.

I was am sick of the current spat between our State and Federal Governments over health care funding. Jobs in our public hospitals are not being replaced, corners are starting to be cut, opportunities are minimal, moral is at an all time low, managers are pulling their hair out and sooner or later, mistakes will be made. This year (the first I can ever remember) close to 1200 nursing graduates could not get a position in the public system. Bed are being closed, theatre time is being reduced and the waiting lists have blown out from days to months and now years.

I'm sick of the health system being used as a political football. Our politicians are failing us and you ought to be mad as hell. I sure am.

I also work in the Victorian Public Health system (maintenance) and wonder how secure my job is. Any day I half expect to be told to clean out my locker (that will take half a day) and move on. If that happens I will probably try and make a go of it working for myself.

The Governments (federal and state) obviously can not (or want) to see what they are doing to the public health system. They may say it is great, but those of us at the coal face or using it know what it is really like.

I am as mad as hell, and hope I do not need to use the public health system.

"Tis mind boggling the things the guberments of both persuasions seem to think is fair game to do so get their bottom line into shape. :S Up here they are going to apparently close the emergence department of the Angliss hospital at night from 9 pm till 9 am. And send all the pathology to Box hill to do. The plans at the children's Hospital are also gobsmackingly stupid and retrograde.

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Originally Posted by tea lady

"Tis mind boggling the things the guberments of both persuasions seem to think is fair game to do so get their bottom line into shape. :S Up here they are going to apparently close the emergence department of the Angliss hospital at night from 9 pm till 9 am. And send all the pathology to Box hill to do. The plans at the children's Hospital are also gobsmackingly stupid and retrograde.

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Well said TL, it's as though they're totally oblivious that there are actual people involved here. No wonder our perception of the ordinary politician is at an all time low.

Hi all.
I'm in the same situation - in public psychiatric services. People are leaving in droves because they are sick of it all and are not replaced. The clinicians left behind are completely overloaded. This process has been going on for the past 12 months or so.
On Friday I pulled the pin. I'm old enough to access my super and have arranged the finances to be able to call it quits. 15 shifts to go! :U
Looking forward to spending more time in the shed and becoming gainfully unemployed. :roll:
Now just keeping fingers crossed I don' need the health system for anything urgent....:o

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Originally Posted by Scott

After 18 years working in the public sector (health) I've decided to jump ship and join the private sector. I start my new job in 4 weeks. I consider myself a highly skilled clinician.

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Sorry to hear that you're leaving my favourite hospital Scott, now I'll never get to catch up with you when I'm there as an outpatient. Though it hasn't been possible very often.

All the best with your new work.


Peter.

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Originally Posted by Sturdee

Sorry to hear that you're leaving my favourite hospital Scott, now I'll never get to catch up with you when I'm there as an outpatient. Though it hasn't been possible very often.

All the best with your new work.


Peter.

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Thanks Peter. It is a great hospital, don't get me wrong. And sorry I couldn't catch up with you lately, it's sometimes hard to get away from what I'm doing on time.

By the way, this is where I work (old, not new):

Austin Health to cut operations by 800.

A sad indictment on our flailing politicians. People's lives are being affected and the powers to be can can only spare 45 minutes to discuss it? C'mon.

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Originally Posted by Scott

By the way, this is where I work (old, not new):

Austin Health to cut operations by 800.

A sad indictment on our flailing politicians. People's lives are being affected and the powers to be can can only spare 45 minutes to discuss it? C'mon.

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My dad recently had a heart attack and the ambos said he was lucky cos Boxhill is on bypass so he got to go to the Austin and had a hear by pass operation almost straight away. Sister (who is a nurse ) said that if he had ended up in Box Hill Hospital without health insurance they would have found excuses to not do the by pass for months till they didn't have to do it anymore. :oo::C Some accountant manager is finding a great way to cut costs there.:C

The pollies all need their heads banging together but even that probably would not knock any sense into their thick skulls.

All of the above is the reason why I keep private health insurance but I appreciate that not everyone is in a position to do that.

All the best Scott - I hope it works out well.

This type of thing always looks to me like the precursor to privatisation. Good for the government (instant funds in the coffers) and nobody else :(( .

Regards
Paul

I wonder if this problem is really going to be solved long term by governments throwing money at this issue. Health, like education and the military, are black holes for money not helped by many in the private sector that suck on the government tit thinking that it can be tapped indefinitely.

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Originally Posted by tea lady

My dad recently had a heart attack and the ambos said he was lucky cos Boxhill is on bypass so he got to go to the Austin and had a hear by pass operation almost straight away.

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You're lucky he came by ambulance and Box Hill was on bypass otherwise the Austin would have sent him to Box Hill, being the nearest hospital. My GP has tried to get a number of his patients into the Austin, but was unsuccesfull and they were sent on to Box Hill and he was rung up and told of.

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Originally Posted by tea lady

Sister (who is a nurse ) said that if he had ended up in Box Hill Hospital without health insurance they would have found excuses to not do the by pass for months till they didn't have to do it anymore. :oo::C Some accountant manager is finding a great way to cut costs there.:C

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The best way to short circuit these shenenigans is to either faint on the premises so they cannot let you go because of legal complications or to refuse to take him back home and ring your local state member of parliament and complain. DAMHIK that they both work.


Peter.

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Originally Posted by Scott

Bed are being closed, theatre time is being reduced and the waiting lists have blown out from days to months and now years.

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And yet the staff working under these pressures at the Austin do a fantastic job. Whether doctors, nurses, office staff, shuttle bus drivers and car park attendants they all are a pleasure to deal with, always willing to go out of their way to help you and with a smile.

From a patient's point of view you would never know they are under such pressure.


Peter.

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...ring your local state member of parliament and complain.

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...making sure that he's aware that if you need to make another call, it will be to the media.