Re: Everyone please read this and especially PYRETTA.

[Guest guest]

That's probably exactly what Abbott's response would be! It a

state issue!

L

> >

> >

> > Its Pyretta's call - and I am more than happy to write if she

gives

> us

> > the nod!

> >

> > Nx

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, but I thought considering we are a Sydney based group and he fact

Pyretta lives in Melbourne, the Vic. Minister might not care what her

group buddies in Sydney think!

If we could strike a chord with Abbott I thought he might refer it on

to the state Minister.

We could send a copy to both, I can copy here at work if necessary.

We will need to wait to see what Pyretta thinks first though. M.

>

[Guest guest]

Maree,

Well what can I say. I am so touched by this, words just can't express

how touched.

I really don't know that the federal minister for health can do much,

after all 's own premier, Mr. Steve Bracks, stated just 2

months ago that he had increased public health funding to tackle the

obesity issue.

I feel the real issue is with the surgeon whos list I'm on. I know he

only has limited access to the hospital which will accomodate my size.

I feel (just my opinion here) he is choosing however to perform

surgery for which he can receieve more rebate. His receptionist

actually stated " public Lap banding isn't his priority at the moment " .

So I don't think the surgery is being delayed on any medical grounds.

I have spoken with Dr. Di...n this morning and he is outraged. He

has told me to go back to the Alfred hopstial, a hosptial he has an

association with and the original hosptial I went to when I was put on

a 7 year waiting list, and demand to be reassesed by them. He has told

me to drop his name and put up a fight. I'm off to the GP on Tuesday

for the referal, so it is another option.

I just wanted to clarify the situation.

Pyretta

[Guest guest]

Charlie Mosse tells me he has been talking to Tony Abbott about this. I don't think he is name dropping - they go to the footy together or some such thing! lol But ... he said one of the problems is that the government looks at the cost short term and not at the overall picture in ten years time. The budget allows for a certain amount and they think there will be a "blow out" with people lining up for the surgery in the short term, subsequently creating a blow out on the waiting lists. Dr Mosse told me that he told him to be a bit more long sighted and look at the overall savings to the health budget in terms of co-morbidities. I guess at least we know there is someone talking on our behalf and I think letters can't hurt! I wrote to him this week. Even if the government paid for the band itself it would help so much. The last figure I was given was 4 - 5 thousand for the band but this could

be surgeon speak. They do tend to pump some things up! Beverlee

On Yahoo!7 360°: Your own space to share what you want with who you want!

[Guest guest]

What we should really do is each state group do a petition and each

member take it and get as many signatures as possible and send it off to

each individual state health minister and then send a copy off to the

federal health minister. This is just my humble opinion.

Mazz

maree wrote:

> Yes, but I thought considering we are a Sydney based group and he fact

> Pyretta lives in Melbourne, the Vic. Minister might not care what her

> group buddies in Sydney think!

> If we could strike a chord with Abbott I thought he might refer it on

> to the state Minister.

> We could send a copy to both, I can copy here at work if necessary.

> We will need to wait to see what Pyretta thinks first though. M.