Royal great, but why not private choice?

MY 86-year-old father was admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital presenting with a chest infection, later to be diagnosed with pneumonia and oedema as a result of congestive heart problems.

He was asked by the paramedics if he had a preference of hospital, and when chose to go to Hobart Private, they phoned through, only to be told Hobart Private didn’t want to take him (no explanation was given). He was subsequently taken to the RHH and was seen within half an hour and admitted later that day. He did have to spend over 24 hours in emergency before being moved into a ward but received excellent care while there. From the moment he was wheeled through the door to the moment he was discharged, he was given nothing but the best care possible, with doctors, nurses and allied health staff treating him with patience, kindness and respect, plus tests and diagnoses were achieved in good time. I have three issues:

1. Mum and Dad have been paying private health insurance for over 50 years and he should have had access to the hospital he wished to go to.

2. He was admitted to a public hospital (having private health insurance), taking up bed space, having X-rays, pathology and other tests in an already stretched hospital system obviously adding to its stress.

3. All we read and hear on the news are complaints about the RHH, and after Dad has had two trips in three months, I could not find fault in his care.

I would like to know what is being done to take the private hospitals to task with what seems to be their picking and choosing over who they want and who they don’t want.

Judy Halton Sandfly