21-year-old fed up with Australia’s broken medical system

A young woman with polycystic ovary syndrome has shared the huge flaws in Australia’s medical system after paying to “introduce herself” to a gynaecologist.

A young woman with polycystic ovary syndrome has shared the huge flaws in Australia’s medical system after paying to “introduce herself” to a gynaecologist.

Hunter Roberts, from Sydney, went home flustered after having the appointment. She declared she had to “rant” about the Australian medical system.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal condition that impacts a woman’s reproductive organs.

The 21-year-old was diagnosed two years ago. She’d never had a period before.

“I just thought I was really late. But then all my friends started getting their periods and I was like, ‘Oh, this is weird’,” she told news.com.au.

It prompted her to go to the doctor. Scans found approximately 30 cysts on each of her ovaries. Before that point, she’d never heard of the condition, which impacts one in 10 women in Australia.

Since, it’s been a “sh*t show”.

Ms Roberts has been to countless doctors and specialists for the condition.

However, it was a recent appointment with a gynaecologist that tipped her over the edge. After paying a “couple hundred” dollars to see her GP — who Ms Roberts said is amazing — she was referred to the specialist.

This was due to the discovery of a lump that her GP advised her to get removed. She then paid a few hundred dollars to “introduce” herself to the doctor after months of trying to get an appointment.

The gynaecologist decided Ms Roberts didn’t need to have surgery. The young woman was essentially told “when you get scans, you’re going to find things”.

She was referred for more blood tests and an ultrasound. Ms Roberts was in the appointment for 10 minutes. She felt like she just went there to get referred to someone else.

“I got riled up about it. The system doesn’t care. They tell me to just go on the pill, but that’s not what I want to do,” she said.

“This is nothing against nurses and doctors. It’s not them. The whole system in Australia is really bad. The last year I’ve been going to different appointments to just go around in circles.”

Hunter Roberts has PCOS. Picture: Supplied

She said some of the appointment cost up to $300. At only 21, it’s an expensive endeavour.

“You just go around in circles and they just give you nothing,” she said.

The young Aussie explained that she goes to all these appointments because, if her doctor is telling her to go, then it must be important.

She said there is no consistency in care and communication between the GP, the specialist and people who perform scans and blood tests.

“I feel like there is a disconnect between the GP and the gyno,” she said.

Ms Roberts added her GP has since referred her to the same specialist because she was unhappy with the response.

“I feel like I’ve come off easy. I know some people have it far worse,” she said.

The young woman reiterated she wasn’t attacking the hard working doctors and nurses, it was the flaw in the system that she wanted to bring attention to.

Social media users had a mixed response to Ms Roberts’ video.

The young woman spoke about the inconsistency between GPs and specialists. Picture: Supplied

“You don’t know how lucky we have it here. I’m having endo surgery on Friday and no payment in the public system. Sometimes it takes some referrals but in the long run we are so lucky,” one argued.

Another added: “Had chronic daily migraines where I couldn’t work. I went to a specialist, he tapped my knees and elbows with the doctor hammer, didn’t ask me a single question and said ‘take this drug and if it doesn’t work in 3 months time come back’.

“Six minute appointment, nearly $500.”

“$300 for a consult?! I would have refused! That’s vet prices,” one social media user commented.

Her post divided. Picture: Supplied

Another commented: “I had couple of ultrasounds done because of kidney stones and I paid $0. So thank you to the Australian Health Care System. So why are you paying that much?”

“Honestly the disconnect between specialist and GP is crazy! Its like just a money making scheme,” another social media user commiserated.

One commented: “Things getting grim here in Aus! It hasn’t always been this way but the rapid decline in quality and access the last 10 years is so alarming!”

“My sister went through the exact same thing! The health care system is an actual JOKE,” a commenter added.

Ms Roberts isn’t the only one who has spoken out about the flawed medical system in Australia.

Imogen Blow was reduced to tears earlier this year after a specialist appointment set her back $354. The kicker was, the appointment was less than 15 minutes.

“What the heck is wrong with our world right now,” Ms Blow

tearfully asked while sat in her car after the specialist appointment.

“I paid $80 for my GP, and she’s amazing she gave me six different specialists. I called the up to ask the prices to see which one was the cheapest.

“I found one that was the cheapest, but only by about $20.”

That wasn’t even the worse part, the content creator said.

“But it gets worse. I know I’m not even the worst case. My income and expenses are not as terrible as they could be I know there’s people out there who have life-threatening surgeries and they can’t pay it,” she said.

“But the worst thing about my situation is this doctor put this little light and camera down my throat to see my vocal cords. She was there for about eight seconds and that got added to the bill.”

Ms Blow was referred to another specialist for her vocal cord issue. Many other social media users flooded, sharing their own experiences. Ms Blow told news.com.au at the time it made her feel validated.

Earlier this year, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ 2024 report found the average cost of a 20 minute GP appointment rose to $36.86. This is up from $34.91.

Dr Nicole Higgins, the college’s president, told The Guardian the gap was the “highest it’s ever been”.

When Medicare was launched 40 years ago, the rebate covered 85 per cent of the appointment. Now, it’s just 45 per cent.

Originally published as 21-year-old fed up with Australia’s broken medical system