"Choice"

Dear foxtrotzz83

Thank you for your feedback. Australians who hold a valid Medicare card have the right to choose to be treated as a public or a private patient when they come to hospital.

Making an informed choice about admission to hospital is very important and I acknowledge it can be a daunting process; particularly, understanding the difference between being admitted to hospital as a public or a private patient.

If a Medicare eligible patient does not have private health insurance they will be admitted as a public patient. For patients who do have private health insurance they can also elect to be admitted to the Sutherland Hospital as a private patient.

Admission to hospital as a public patient means that you will be treated by doctors nominated by the hospital, you will not be charged for hospital accommodation, medical and diagnostic services, prostheses or other relevant services. Patients will usually be provided with follow up care in an outpatient clinic of the hospital.

Choosing to use your private health insurance and admission as a private patient means that you can choose the specialist doctor who will treat you, there may be added expenses which your doctor will inform you of and your follow-up care is usually in their private rooms after you leave hospital. As a private patient you may also be eligible to transfer to a private hospital for further treatment or for follow-up care.

Please do not hesitate to speak with staff at the hospital should you have any concerns regarding the public and private patient election process. Our staff will be happy to discuss your circumstances and the admission choices available to you.

Kind regards

Valerie