As the great northward migration swings into top gear, grey nomads are once again being urged to ensure they make adequate preparations for their medical needs.
Doctors say many grey nomads are setting off north with pre-existing medical conditions and inadequate medication.
The potential problems can be compounded by the fact that many hospitals and medical facilities in areas popular with travellers are put under huge pressure during the dry season influx.
At Western Australia’s Exmouth Hospital, for example, the Health Department says emergency department admissions jump 50% during the tourist season.
Pilbara-based GP Rob Whitehead told the ABC that older tourists create extra demand at hospitals and local clinics.
“I think it’s great that people can get to see a very special part of Australia but it does put an added strain on health services that are already overstretched at times,” he said. “So I think making sure that your health has been checked over by your GP before you leave, is probably a really useful thing to do.”
Yes, I send my elderly parents off with a folder with all Drs business cards in as well, to save time if they are needed. They get a recent Drs patient summary printed off as well. All their meds are done in advance as well in blister packs
We always find a Dr to renew scripts for my husband although we come back to a Dr we found on the Sunshine Coast to have full medicals yearly. Never had a problem with doctors although each state will not write scripts for some things that are given in another state so beware of that.
I have done the Medicare online registration etc but the system is embryonic and the hold up is with my doctors putting my records up. I am about to go to the specialist and dream of having a medical strategy eg map out expected script requirements and foreshadow actions to take when I have bad episodes. But it is a long way from happening, each episode has to be treated as one off with stilted response and having to educate each new doc from scratch. Long way to go.
The Doc may be right but on the other hand the fact that you are charged $76 plus as a new patient every time you need a script for medications you have been on for years and no bulk billing leaves people little option except the emergency rooms in hospitals.
We started out with a 6 month supply of our regular medications and letters from our local GP and specialist but we still have to jump through hoops and pay up to $100 to get a script for those medications and that is not to mention the additional camping fees while you wail days to see the money hungry buggers. Perhaps if we got a fair go we could bypass the hospitals
I make sure I pack my Viagra scripts!
A real must have hey harry..lol
My husband and I both have medications we see aour GP before leaving and carry medical summaries and extra medication. Anyone can have an emergency while travelling not just grey nomads! Plus we do have to pay if we see a GP, if we use an emergency department I can understand that it affects the hospitals budget if there is an influx but surely all the taxes we have paid entitle us to this use!!