Contact List – Services and Help
Medical Expenses
Private Health insurance – you may have to wait up to 12mths when starting a new policy if you have a pre-existing condition before they will cover you, if you end up in hospital of in need of it before then there will be an assessment done on your condition if it directly relates to a pre-existing one, you will not be covered for it in those 12 months.
IF you have an injury/multiple injuries or long term chronic conditions private insurance is worth investing in. It is worth it also for the extras, massage, and chiropractor for a well person. If you use all of your extras you will be paying e.g. $1200 per year extras of $600 to spend per year, so if you use them all you are only paying $600 per year for top hospital cover and the rest.
Over the past 10 years, prices for extras, which in some cases are for stabilisation. Have doubled, due to private insurance. Making it unaffordable for managing major chronic issues. For example I would run out of my private insurance in the first three months of the year. Therefore making me have to pay for the extras insurance, in full and paying in full for treatments.
They are not taking into account actually injured people. Most injuries are chronic and depending on lifestyle will incur reoccurring stabilisation and recovery. It seems the actual market slipped through their fingers.
Make sure you do your calculations. Add it to your pay out from the insurance company. Physio/Chiro and massage can assist in stopping and managing degeneration and helping with stabilisation. I never needed nor wanted a massage, in fact had no muscle issues. I am not a relax for no reason ‘type’ of person. I was studying massage at the time of the accident. I was surprised how many did need them. Other people, and my life are not the same. There are some me’s out there. I am saddened that I had to forgo this care. Due to neglect from the 3rd party insurer and associated doctors/lawyers. There is a fraud occurring and it is through these insurance companies/doctors/lawyers all clearly provable, working on both sides actually. It is completely lawless. They are running their own little world. I pray for the justice system to throw the book at them and come down with a heavy hammer. Things must change.
Need to Know
www.rta.nsw.gov.au – Disabled Parking
www.smarttraveller.gov.au – to get travel insurance (for accident purposes), and arrange/find out special needs information.
www.bobjane.com.au – tyre care tips
www.pfizor.com.au – do a first aid course
At Home Care: Bedridden NEEDS:
An alarm that will go off to tell you when to take medication may need to go off several times a day.
Timetable of what to take and when, keeping records.
A bell to call for assistance.
Extra pillows, Latex pillow.
A pillow for under the feet. And knees, and/or a rolled up towel. Will help with aching in the feet/legs. Pressure stockings.
Walking stick / Crutches to move around / Wheelchair when you leave the house, or full-time.
Chair in the shower, face washers, baby powder.
A Tray to eat from in bed or sitting.
Legal Advice/Help
www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au
www.youthlawact.org.au
www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
www.nswbar.asn.au
Let’s protest to have all nurses to write in CLEAR letters their names on paper work, from now on. Insist upon it.
Making a complaint:
Office of the Legal Services Commissioner
Taking care of someone:
If you are a parent/guardian/significant other/other of someone and are taking care them financially you may want to keep a financial diary, of all medical and other payments you are now paying on their behalf for compensation purposes
Stay organized; keep ALL receipts, medical report and related information in one place. (In a box, flexible file and or binder)
Keep a personal note book of events, doctor appointments/pain/ and travel keeping all kilometers in a notebook.
Centrelink needs to know about your compensation payout you will need to give them claim information. Your lawyer will be involved as will the insurance company in you paying back money etc
Financial Help
www.centrelink.gov.au – Disability support pension / Newstart allowance
www.australia.gov.au
www.craustralia.gov.au
www.reachout.com.au
www.facsia.gov.au http://www.ag.gov.au/ Attorney General, Government Site
Having trouble with Centrelink? – also see Complaints/Concerns contacts
www.ssat.gov.au Freecall 1800 011 140
Finance Managers for claim settlements for Investments, future living expenses (medical & other), housing, retirement, and superannuation.
If you are a parent/guardian/significant other/ someone taking care of a person financially you may want to keep a financial diary, of all medical / travel other payments you are now paying on their behalf for compensation purposes.
Charities
www.salvos.org.au
PH: 1300363622 – Salvation Army
www.rmhc.org.au
Ronald Macdonald House – If you’ve missed time at school, or need to travel for medical treatment
www.redcross.org.au
www.stjohns.org.au
St Johns – Ambulance Service
www.careflightrescue.com
NRMA Careflight Ph: (02) 9891 6144 email: info@careflight.org
www.angelflight.org.au
Transfer patients
www.arrow.org.au
Bone marrow transplant Foundation (cancer)
dir.yahoo.com – Directory-search for directory of charitable organizations
Young and need a place to stay a new organization recognizes the lack of accommodation
www.youngcare.com.au
Home Care
www.apcare.com.au
www.agedcareonline.com.au
www.seniorshousingonline.com.au
www.amhomehelp.com.au
www.planetamber.com
If you are looking after someone at home who is bedridden go to NEED TO KNOW for an inventory of needs, and the immediate action pamphlet.
Agencies/Services to Contact for any further help
www.disabilitycoordinationofficer.com.au
www.wwda.org.au
Suicide Prevention/Support Groups
www.wwda.org.au – go to suicide prevention there is a very complete contact list with all the necessary contacts!
www.wwda.org.au/portsui.htm
www.psychology.org.au – learn about suicide.
www.psychology.org.au/publications/tip_sheets/preventing_suicide
www.bmdi.org.au – Bone Marrow Transplant Support Group (cancer)
Disability Products:
Rent/HIRE or Buy
www.ovomobilityequipment.com.au
www.automobility.com.au
www.acomstairlifts.com.au
www.renthire.com
www.finlease.com.au
www.enablement.com
They should have most if not all equipment you can HIRE/BUY a wheelchair from most chemists, and should be able to get crutches from the hospital.
You can ask for a wheelchair at ALL public Venues/Places and one must be supplied.
There is a range of equipment on the internet for paraplegic/Amputee/geriatric/elderly/handicapped and physiotherapy equipment.
Complaints/Concerns
Health care Complaints Commission – there is one in every state, their names do differ state by state making it more difficult to pin down Start with the hospital you attended and go from there.
Hospitals request you bring forward any concern as soon as it happens so as they can sort out the issue.
If you find you are too debilitated to do this, and do not have the strength do not have someone else do it for you, or to maybe write in a letter in your behalf. Phone the hospital immediately and speak to the Complaints Officer. If one is not available and it is an emergency then ask for the head of the department that you have a concern with. If it is an emergency and the officer is not available for instance the neglect is far too great to wait for a response contact an agency like the health care complaints commission, and even the police, You should expect a speedy response from them, and even from the hospital.
If you’re scared or do not think you should, or do not want to be a problem, don’t believe this is not true and there is no need to feel that way all of your concerns from hygiene, handling of your body in critical times/medication, mistakes, things that have made you uncomfortable, neglect or put your life in immediate danger even if it did not result in death/or serious injury will help them determine where procedures and people need to be pulled into line.
These mistakes and neglectful acts are unacceptable and you should not accept anything less then how you would treat others and how you really needed/need to be looked after.
If time has passed, it is still ok to inform the hospital and outside agencies to assist them with re-modeling the healthcare system. And to help you to resolve any issues.
Complaints need to be made in the state that it happened e.g. if an accident in Melbourne the complaint must be sent to Melbourne.
You need to give full names and addresses of the person/s with whom you are complaining about. (Direct them if necessary)
hccc@hccc.nsw.gov.au – NSW
www.hccc.gov.au – or search (health care complaints commission)
info@hqcc.qld.gov.au – queensland
http://www.ag.gov.au/
Health Commission Council
www.health.gov.au – to find out current health minister and other info such as careers
www.safetyandquality.gov.au – health care commission
Health Commission on safety and Quality in Health care
If you think something needs to be added or changed to the disability discrimination act start at:
www.acif.org.au
Relating to Human Rights
www.hreoc.gov.au
Trauma Accidents 