* was told by someone who saw it himself that, yesterday morning, a dugong was happily feeding just off the rock wall at Manly (Brisbane) yacht harbour. Some other guy there, apparently an old timer who has lived and fished in the area for many years, said he has never seen one, or at least, one so close to shore. [I knew that there were dugong in the southern part of Moreton Bay - in fact, this website from 2009 says there are about 1,000. But they are are not a common sight so close to shore, obviously. It augurs well for a healthy local sea environment, I presume, so it pleases me.]
* was speaking recently to a surgeon in the Queensland public health system. Asked how our public system here was going - pretty well, he said. In fact, he said if people need a major operation, he thinks the equipment and staffing of Queensland public hospitals is such that he considers it is a better choice than going private.
These were both nice things to hear.
I agree that the care in Queensland hospitals is excellent. However there is a problem with timely care as the waiting lists to be seen remain extremely long if the disease isn't life threatening. A hernia or back problem may make you unable to work but you still won't be seen for a very long time (months/years). The other issue is the rationing that happens for expensive procedures and devices - pacemakers etc, that you don't see in privateland. So we have a good system once your seen, if its urgent but with lots of gaps in care and long waits.
ReplyDeleteGeoff
Hi Geoff. First comment I've seen from you for a very long time! Unless you were behind some other anonymous ones...
ReplyDeleteSame in NSW. since i have very good private cover I am in and out and have an enjoyable time. Not so in Public hospitals.
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