The serious financial struggles of private hospital operator Healthscope have alarmed many patients. While reassurances have been given that hospitals will remain open while a buyer is sought. Some patients are now questioning the value of their private health insurance and whether they will get the care they need in a timely way.
00:00Within four days of Vicki Purnell's cancer diagnosis, she had surgery at Healthscope's
00:09Hobart Private Hospital. She believes if she'd had to wait to be treated in the public
00:13system, she may not have survived.
00:16It would have probably meant that the cancer, which had grown very quickly, would probably
00:21have meant that it would have metastasised and I would be having a very different outcome
00:27today.
00:28Jess McCluskey won't be having the birth she planned for her second child after Healthscope
00:34shut down maternity services at Darwin's only private hospital.
00:39The main concerns are the public hospital, the one that we've got here in Darwin is overcapacity
00:47often.
00:49She's weighing up whether to continue paying for private health insurance.
00:53Yeah, it's just a waste of money. If you can't use it, why would you pay for it?
00:58Not only are patients questioning the value of their private health insurance, the uncertainty
01:03around the future of Healthscope hospitals has many worried that regional areas and small
01:09cities will struggle to attract the specialist doctors they need.
01:14because we can't afford to lose any more.
01:16Healthscope's 37 hospitals will continue to operate as normal, while receivers oversee the
01:23sale of its assets. The Australian Medical Association says private hospitals play a crucial
01:30role in Australia's health system.
01:32nearly 70% of our elective or planned surgeries are done in the private sector, which just highlights
01:40how critical our private hospitals are.
01:43It's led to calls for governments, health insurers and private hospitals to work together to
01:49ensure their survival around the country.
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