Well, there's bad news and good news...

[pride_of_erin]

The bad news is, the goddamn hospital keeps pushing back my father's prostate surgery date. Because, you know, it's not like cancer is a time-sensitive disease that needs to be treated ASAP or anything. They pushed back his date three times, but the most recent was the worst because that time he actually went to the hospital and waited around for three hours, before they finally casually informed him that the surgery wouldn't be taking place because there were no beds left. So infuriating! Apparently this a common thing - there was another poor guy there, even older than Dad, who'd been left waiting seven hours for prostate surgery before they told him to just go home.

So anyway, that was the last straw for my eldest sister, who contacted our local MP (member of parliament), told him the situation, and basically said, 'this is a fucking disgrace, you have to do something about it'. Anyway, she must have bugged them enough because - as a complete shock to us - Dad got a phone call the other day from the hospital. And not just from an admin flunky either, from an actual doctor, which never happens.

Which brings me to the good news - after fearing he'd have to wait until January or even February, he now has his surgery date set for 19th of December, and it's unlikely it will be cancelled again, because apparently the state Health Minister launched an inquiry into the matter, so the hospital is probably falling all over itself not to look bad now. Likely, they also want to avoid what would have been our MP's next step, which would have been plastering Dad's story (and similar stories) all over prime-time current affairs shows.

So, yay! for Dad finally getting his surgery, but boo! that it took going to these kinds of lengths to make it happen. And thanks to our MP for actually listening to my sister and getting the wheels turning.

Which means that Christmas will be a tiny, low-key affair in our house this year, as Dad will likely be sore and cranky less than a week after his op, but I'm more than willing to sacrifice Christmas (me! Xmas's biggest fangirl) for my Dad's health.

Comments

[maddiec24.livejournal.com]

Wow! Go Erin's sister! Glad your dad is finally getting the surgery. I can't understand waiting. It's cancer!

[pride-of-erin.livejournal.com]

I can't understand waiting. It's cancer!

Unfortunately that's the problem with the public healthcare system in Australia - you may not have to pay, but by god you'll have to wait. And even when you do finally make it to the top of the waiting list, you'll get the most basic care possible while they get you in and out of hospital as quick as they can to free up the bed.

Yes, we're lucky that we even have this option, compared to the nightmare of the American healthcare system, but there's a reason why pretty much everyone who can afford private healthcare will spend the money to get it, even though the free public system is open to everyone. For instance, a friend of my dad's was also diagnosed with prostate cancer, but he has private healthcare, which means that even though he was diagnosed about a month after my dad, he already had his surgery two or three months ago. It's ridiculous.

[roguemarch.livejournal.com]

WoW, I'm very glad for your dad! Count on my prayers :)

[pride-of-erin.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie. Surprisingly enough they changed Dad's surgery time to an even closer date, and he actually had his surgery today. The operation took an excruciating 6 hours, but he came through okay. Now we'll just have to wait and see how he recovers, and if they got all the cancer.