What cheeses me off

[Aeryn]

The early and late timeslots are only bookable online. If you are calling up you will be offered a non-premium 9-5pm appointment assuming availablity.

Those premium timeslots aren't available last minute either; they get booked out well ahead by regular patients, no shows are billed as its rude to not show up (and discourages slot hoarding).

Next thing you be complaining that treating those with a booking ahead of walk-ins is discriminatory. Or about fact that they dont accept cash payments.

Again this is a private GP practice not a public hospital or state based urgent care clinic (there is one of those 2 blocks away) or an emergency department. Practices refuse to take on new patients all the time; they are not obligated to offer everyone early/late appointments, they do not have to bulk bill, they are permitted to charge a premium for extended hours.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The early and late timeslots are only bookable online. If you are calling up you will be offered a non-premium 9-5pm appointment assuming availablity.

Those premium timeslots aren't available last minute either; they get booked out well ahead by regular patients, no shows are billed as its rude to not show up (and discourages slot hoarding).

Next thing you be complaining that treating those with a booking ahead of walk-ins is discriminatory. Or about fact that they dont accept cash payments.

Again this is a private GP practice not a public hospital or state based urgent care clinic (there is one of those 2 blocks away) or an emergency department. Practices refuse to take on new patients all the time; they are not obligated to offer everyone early/late appointments, they do not have to bulk bill, they are permitted to charge a premium for extended hours.

Online, how does the system know if you are employed, or not?

The GP and pathology you go to take absolutely no public funds? They don’t get any rebates from medicare, and you pay the full GP fee of $185 or whatever with no return to you? And for pathology you pay the $255 or whatever for tests with no rebate?

If you accept rebate, you can’t discriminate!

If a practice refuses a new patient because they are full, that applies to everyone equally. No problem there.

I do have a problem that despite the fact you meet all the other criteria, the only reason you are refused service is because you are unemployed.

 

[VPS]

Well as a retired person, anyone who thinks you have lots of time on your hands is delusional and I don't even have grandkids. Trying to catch up with some friends for even a coffee can take over 2 weeks before you can both find a mutually convenient time

 

[Pushka]

Well I am retired now and if I do need a fasting test I will go between 1000 and 1100. I do not find that a problem.
The worst example you gave was the monitor being put on. That should have had an appointment for later in the day and not being allowed to just turn up early.

But I came to post WCMO at the moment are red cars that don’t go fast.

My red car can go fast. But it almost came to crunched metal today as a van in the lane to my left and following a slow truck - they looked like they were travelling together - decided to pull into my lane where I was doing 96, he of course was travelling at the speed of the slow truck and basically came to a relative standstill in my lane until he could accelerate. I’m leaning hard on my brakes and my horn, and the truck to my right was leaning hard on his horn. Maybe thinking I’d swerve to his lane but I wasn’t, did have time to even think of that. He was a young tradie. Then I hear that drivers should lose their licence at 70!

On a different note, almost saw a collision like you had in Japan. Semi was in front and had right indicator on. The car behind him presumed that was a signal for them to pass. It wasn’t. The truck was turning right into a quarry. Speeds of car and us behind, around 95 on a 100 km road.

Truck realized he suddenly had a car overtaking him as he was slowing to turn right. Massive brake explosion. Car in front continued on. Idiot.

 

[RooFlyer]

WCMO - a smarmy CBA call centre person. Made all the worse because because I've usually found them to be very good.

 

[dajop]

The Americanisation of the world as manifested at this time of the year by promoting faux sales based on tomorrow which has zero cultural significance anywhere else. Sick of hearing the two words, which when growing up had more to do with some tragic bushfires than rampant consumerism. End of grumpy old man rant

 

[TheRealTMA]

The Americanisation of the world as manifested at this time of the year by promoting faux sales based on tomorrow which has zero cultural significance anywhere else. Sick of hearing the two words, which when growing up had more to do with some tragic bushfires than rampant consumerism. End of grumpy old man rant

"Enshittification" is a term coined by Cory Doctorow to describe the decline in quality of online platforms over time, which occurs in a three-stage cycle: initially creating a great product to attract users, then making the product worse for users to benefit business customers, and finally making it worse for both user and business customers to extract profit for shareholders.

 

[Julesmac]

WCMO - signed up for Britbox, cancelled with 24 hours. They charged me and are refusing a refund, even though they have 7 day free trial. They say the link I used did not include a trial period, even though all their advertising says they do. I asked for proof, they said they can't give it to me. Chargeback on MCard wants proof of cancellation...there is none, I cancelled from within my account. I am cheesed off!

Try contacting Choice. They just lurrrve these sorts of cough methods telcos, cable services etc use to what can only be described as scam customers. They'll be able to give you some advice I'm sure

 

[Aeryn]

Employed patients dont have health card on their profile; as only eligible for health card if on unemployment benefits or pension etc. Reception screen online bookings, if they see someone ignoring policy they can have the booking cancelled/moved.

Its a selfish person that is informed of policy but then expects to be exempt or be "special".

If a practice refuses a new patient because they are full, that applies to everyone equally. No problem there.

Since there is no guaranteed regularity of how often those without chronic conditions will need to visit the GP, how can you define full? there is no hard rule that says once you have x patients per doctor you are full (since only a small number will be at the practice regularly, whilst most only when feeling unwell or injured which is random).

It's just a convenient excuse to avoid scrutiny over choosing your customers.

The GP practice on the corner of my street has a sign up out front (and on their website) saying they are full and not taking any new patients (for at least the last 10 years) yet my new neighbour who just moved in downstairs just started going there. How was this possible if they are genuinely full? Its possible because its all BS and just a way some practices are able to maximise profits by favouring younger fee paying patients (of which they can have more because they generally go to GP less). In reality if you know an existing patient as my neighbour did and they make a recommendation, and you fit the type of customer they want then magically the practice has capacity for you.

 

[Denali]

People snagging early appointments who dont have jobs to go to. I've been at pathologist since it opened at 8am for a fasting blood test and wait has been 90mins already, I keep having to push back meetings and 90% of those in front are reitrees who could come later in the day.

I've been listening to chatter none of them are needing to be anywhere urgently.

Can I add no benches outside these offices so you have people standing in line 30+mins to snag a spot (for some) before opening while fasting. I gave my husband one of these compact stools the other day for his test as people steal milk crates from the nearby cafes.

 

[drron]

I wonder if it’s actually lawful to discriminate, based on employment status?

They are not being denied the test so no real discrimination. What about compared with the Chairman’s Lounge. How many unemployed workers do they admit.
The funny thing that when there is an appointment requirement for a medical procedure the older people tend to pick a later appointment. For instance when having my venesections I usually am offered an 0845 time as too late for the workers and then not convenient for those oldies. So introducing appointments for the simple pathology tests may improve the situation for everyone.

 

[mrsterryn]

My blood works place only wants Medicare. No concession cards are noted

 

[RooFlyer]

my new neighbour who just moved in downstairs just started going there. How was this possible if they are genuinely full?

Well, in one case for me, when I moved back to Tas, I went to the Doctors' surgery that I went as a child. Sorry, no new patients. I said 'but I am an existing one' - so, OK.

Also, if an additional doctor has joined the practice, it would open up more patient slots.

Maybe they just went in and pleaded their case.

there is no hard rule that says once you have x patients per doctor you are full (since only a small number will be at the practice regularly, whilst most only when feeling unwell or injured which is random).

I suspect that its a rule-of-thumb for any particular practice, with a bit of patient data behind it. If the existing clientele is younger (so use the practice less frequently), they will probably allow more patients per doctor; if older, fewer.


Or some sort of metric such as - over the past year, or five how many appointments are unfilled in the morning.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They are not being denied the test so no real discrimination.

That’s not the test for discrimination.

 

[dajop]

Straight out of the airline "enhancement" playbook? (my bolding). Fine with the change but was the last sentence really necessary (#WCMO)? It doesn't sound like an improvement me.

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[Quickstatus]

How is blood test appointment based on some rule going to be policed.

Lets say its to 0800 slot for Monday 1December. and lets say there a 5 people who want that slot but the pathology service does not know that.
How is the system going to give the most deserving person that slot.
Do patients have to fill in an online request form for 0800 and answer all the eligibility questions and does someone or AI looks at the form to see who is most deserving?
Does the slot "winner" get announced at 0800 1 December? .Why not? The most deserving patient might put in a request at 2330hrs the night before?

That is silly and above all completely unworkable.
However appointment times on a first come first serve basis would work. As there are only so many hours in a working day, there will still be unhappy coustomers if the pathology centre is a busy one.

That’s not the test for discrimination.

It can be
Discrimination is the unfair and/or prejudicial treatment of someone or group based on some characteristic of that person/group
The various Discrimination Acts in Australia: Age 2004, Disability 1992, Racial 1975, Sex 1984 narrows the characteristics of the person /group that would be illegal to discriminate against.

Just because it may not be illegal does not mean it is not discrimination.

.....

Re Fasting blood tests:
Fasting for 8-12hrs is optimal. But no more than 16hours.
Fasting blood tests means drinking plain water is OK
Avoid alcohol 1 day prior
Children fasting blood tests no more than 6 hours

 

[Quickstatus]

That’s not the test for discrimination.

It can be
Discrimination is the unfair and/or prejudicial treatment of someone or group based on some characteristic of that person/group
The various Discrimination Acts in Australia: Age 2004, Disability 1992, Racial 1975, Sex 1984 narrows the characteristics of the person /group that would be illegal to discriminate against.

Just because it may not be illegal does not mean it is not discrimination.

 

[RB]

Employed patients dont have health card on their profile; as only eligible for health card if on unemployment benefits or pension etc. Reception screen online bookings, if they see someone ignoring policy they can have the booking cancelled/moved.

Its a selfish person that is informed of policy but then expects to be exempt or be "special".



Since there is no guaranteed regularity of how often those without chronic conditions will need to visit the GP, how can you define full? there is no hard rule that says once you have x patients per doctor you are full (since only a small number will be at the practice regularly, whilst most only when feeling unwell or injured which is random).

It's just a convenient excuse to avoid scrutiny over choosing your customers.

The GP practice on the corner of my street has a sign up out front (and on their website) saying they are full and not taking any new patients (for at least the last 10 years) yet my new neighbour who just moved in downstairs just started going there. How was this possible if they are genuinely full? Its possible because its all BS and just a way some practices are able to maximise profits by favouring younger fee paying patients (of which they can have more because they generally go to GP less). In reality if you know an existing patient as my neighbour did and they make a recommendation, and you fit the type of customer they want then magically the practice has capacity for you.

I have read your multiple posts with interest. I currently live in a regional area that is well serviced. I would be interested in how you would suggest practices/patients in poorly resourced areas west of the range in NSW should prioritise things. It is an interesting discussion but I am not sure how you would cope in areas where of NSW where you wait weeks or drive over an hour to see a GP-you are not alone but there are some very city centric views get posted on this forum

 

[Flashback]

Well as a retired person, anyone who thinks you have lots of time on your hands is delusional and I don't even have grandkids. Trying to catch up with some friends for even a coffee can take over 2 weeks before you can both find a mutually convenient time

I resemble that remark. As someone who is (semi?) retired, I also find it difficult to arrange catch ups with people. Largely though, that's because they're all working

 

[MARTINE]

I have read your multiple posts with interest. I currently live in a regional area that is well serviced. I would be interested in how you would suggest practices/patients in poorly resourced areas west of the range in NSW should prioritise things. It is an interesting discussion but I am not sure how you would cope in areas where of NSW where you wait weeks or drive over an hour to see a GP-you are not alone but there are some very city centric views get posted on this forum

There used to be a similiar thread theme on the elderly using post offices for banking selfishly holding up the queues but don’t think I have seen those posts in a while